Bright Endeavors Now (BEN) located in Tanzania, East Africa was started by Biology professor Dr. Regina Herbert, PhD and her husband, an Electrical Engineer, Ricardo R. Herbert, MUP, MBA.
The BEN program provides an environment where budding engineers, designers, scientists and doctors are introduced to concepts in the sciences, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM), through engaging, developmentally-appropriate activities.
Bright Endeavors Now classroom
Bright Endeavors Now (BEN) located in Tanzania, East Africa was started by Biology professor Dr. Regina Herbert, PhD and her husband, an Electrical Engineer, Ricardo R. Herbert, MUP, MBA.
The BEN program provides an environment where budding engineers, designers, scientists and doctors are introduced to concepts in the sciences, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM), through engaging, developmentally-appropriate activities. Preschool, weekday, weekend and summer programs for children ages 3 to 16 are offered. BEN aspires to travel around the globe providing STEAM education.
Recently, microBIOMETER® was utilized as part of the “Soil and Microorganisms” series in their multi-age science class with students aged 3 to 15. Earlier in the school year, the students established Winogradsky Columns to observe microbial communities. The students then tested the soil with microBIOMETER® to see how specific ratios of fungi and bacteria can have an impact on soil health. In addition, it helped lead to a discussion on how different types of soil can have different ratios which can have an impact on how they grow plants and crops.
We love the microBIOMETER® soil test kit and will continue to test different samples with students as we travel to the US.” – Regina Herbert
David Purdy,, Territory Business Manager at John Deere and Soil Health Specialist, utilized the microBIOMETER® soil test in his study titled Assessment of the mircoBIOMETER Soil Biology Test for Agrovista LTD.
Background:
There is an increased level of interest in soil health and a greater demand for more analytical approaches, in particularly for soil biology, for its assessment from farmers and advisors. This short report reviews the use of a recently developed rapid on-site soil microbial carbon testing tool called microBIOMETER® using a replicated 5 year cover crop experiment.
David Purdy, Territory Business Manager at John Deere and Soil Health Specialist, utilized the microBIOMETER® soil test in his study titled Assessment of the mircoBIOMETER Soil Biology Test for Agrovista LTD.
Background:
There is an increased level of interest in soil health and a greater demand for more analytical approaches, in particularly for soil biology, for its assessment from farmers and advisors. This short report reviews the use of a recently developed rapid on-site soil microbial carbon testing tool called microBIOMETER® using a replicated 5 year cover crop experiment.
Location:
The experiment was carried out at the location of the Agrovista LTD. trials site is near Lamport in Northamptonshire about 8 miles north of Northampton in the UK. It has a longitude of 52.372234, and latitude of -0.874273. The field site history is of arable farming rotations on a slightly southerly sloping topography.
“The tests, although time consuming, provided an “in field” test that when conducted well seems to suggest it is a reliable, consistent, replicable, and relatively simple test to evaluate soil biological activity.” – David Purdy
BioHub Solutions, an Australian company that provides biological solutions to the agricultural industry, has incorporated microBIOMETER® into their business. BioHub Solutions believes measurements should be simple whenever possible to ensure their implementation and repeatability. microBIOMETER® has become an integral part of the BioPlan processes. Growers also like it because it provides instant feedback and accountability for Biohub’s biological strategies.
“Our trees continue to do well against the control in areas such as average plant height growth, trunk to height ratio, and fungi to bacteria ratio utilizing microBIOMETER®. This is pleasing so far and we will continue measurements.”
Green bean study in North Queensland.
Green bean trial in North Queensland (above). Initial samples taken 2 weeks before harvest. So far overall bean numbers are 36% improved over control. More importantly, marketable sized numbers are improved by 52%. This is where the margin is for the grower. Microbial biomass is also 28% higher than control which is pleasing. Looking forward to the full harvest figures if they reflect the initial samples taken.
Olive rootstock (below). The data has indicated on average, a 17% increase in stem diameter over the control. Root weight improvements of 47%, biology biomass improvements of 46% and fungal to bacterial ratio improvements of 56% over control. This illustrated that the BioHub solution achieved results in the manner the team had predicted. Photo depicts an example of the treated plug on the left and control on the right.
Olive rootstock – treated
Olive rootstock – control
Created and performed by microBIOMETER® intern, Leanna Ramus, environmental science student at Siena College, this sample experiment is appropriate for high school and advanced middle schoolers.
The research project is designed to help students study soil health and understand the impact of soil biology on soil health and plant growth. Supplies are minimal cost and nothing recommended is dangerous or controlled. We expect students to use this as a guide to develop their own experiment.
We love supporting young minds with a passion for soil science. They are the future of soil health! If you are an educator that would like to bring microBIOMETER® soil testing into the classroom, we have three Academia Kits available for purchase. We are also happy to cater supplies to your specific needs. Please contact us for more information!
A teaspoon of healthy soil contains billions of microbes.
Microbes feed the plants, strengthen their roots, and increase their yields. A plant sends signals to attract the microbes it needs at any given moment. In chemical-free agriculture, there is a good marriage between plants and microbes. In a complex, self-regulating system, plants and microbes work harmoniously, nourishing each other.
The chemistry of a plant sends specific nutrients to attract microbes to strengthen its immunity. The plant is not only capable of diagnosing its needs, it also makes its own medicine. When chemicals interfere with self-regulation, the plants are weakened. What should you do to improve the health of your plants? Build your microbial biomass by building your soil. Soil structure is the microbial home. A couple ways to build your soil structure are composting and cover crops. The roots in the soil are home to microbes. In nature, soil is covered, not fallow. The global soil degradation and desertification affects us all.
The microbes found in soil are also found in our gut. The health of the soil impacts the nutritional value of our food and our health. The immunity of a plant impacts our own immunity. What we eat is essential to our own wellbeing. By taking care of the land and our agriculture, we are also taking care of ourselves. In this interview with Dr. Judy Fitzpatrick, microbiologist and diagnostic developer, we deepen into the importance of microbial biomass, the ratio of fungi to bacteria, plant – and human – immunity, and how to build soil
structure.
This article was featured in the April 2022 issue of Heart & Soil Magazine Rooted in Wisdom.
Click here to listen to the full interview on Heart & Soil TV.
Janet Atandi, a nematology PhD student in Kenya, is currently working on an assessment of banana fiber paper on soil health as part of a Wrap and Plant technology study. In brief, she is testing the long-term effect of using modified banana fiber paper to manage plant-parasitic nematodes and its impact on the beneficial soil microbial communities.
The banana fiber paper is used as an organic carrier for either ultra-low dosages of nematicides (abamectin and fluopyram) or microbial antagonists (Trichoderma spp.) and is to be compared to unmodified paper.
This study is being conducted using potatoes and green peas as the test crops over five consecutive seasons. With the aid of a microBIOMETER® test kit, Janet will be able to assess the impact of the paper on the soil microbial biomass and thus will be able to determine whether the banana paper is effective or detrimental to soil health.
Wrap and Plant technology sources:
NC State explores promising pest-control strategy with high-impact potential for sub-Saharan Africa
Banana’s Waste, potatoes gain
Potato farmers conquer a devastating worm—with paper made from bananas]
University study demonstrates legumes are more efficient at improving soil MBC than grasses
Under the direction of Assistant Professor Denise Finney, Kylie Cherneskie, biology student at Ursinus College, conducted an experiment on the impacts of nitrogen fertilizer addition on soil microbial communities. Kylie measured microbial responses using microBIOMETER®.
Click here to view the finished poster presentation. If you would like to incorporate microBIOMETER® into your classroom studies/academic research, we offer a selection of Academia Classroom Kits.
Austin Arrington of the Plant Group
Austin Arrington of Plant Group NYC performed a research study on hemp’s capacity to sequester carbon. Austin utilized microBIOMETER® in this research. We originally had the pleasure of meeting Austin through Indigo Ag’s Terraton Challenge. Plant Group is a fellow semi-finalist and alumni.
Hemp has the promise of being a twofer: a financially successful crop as well as a carbon crop that increases soil carbon for carbon credits and increased fertility. Austin used microBIOMETER® to evaluate two organic fertilizer regimens for a hemp crop; an early fertilization during the vegetative phase and a month later during the flowering phase.
Honeysuckle Hemp 2021: Research Notes
One hectare of industrial hemp can absorb up to 22 tonnes of CO2 per hectare. The fact that industrial hemp has been proven to absorb more CO2 per hectare than any forest or commercial crop makes it an ideal tool for carbon farming (Vosper, 2011).
Two acres were hand seeded with Maya hemp grain on 05/23/21 in a silt clay loam soil in Council Bluffs, IA. Prior to tilling (with a rear tine tiller) and seeding with hemp the area was covered with white clover. The area was split into two zones that each received organic fertilizer at different times. The Early Fertilizer Zone was fertilized on 07/25/21. The Late Fertilizer Zone was fertilized on 08/08/21. Mega Green (2-3-2), the organic fertilizer applied for the study is derived from squid waste and was diluted with water for application across the field.
The microBIOMETER® spectroscopic tool was used to estimate microbial biomass carbon and fungal to bacterial ratio. Microbial biomass carbon is a measure of the carbon ( C ) contained within the living component of soil organic matter (i.e. bacteria and fungi). Microbes decompose soil organic matter (SOM) releasing carbon dioxide and plant available nutrients. The measurement unit of the device is ug C / g (micrograms microbial biomass carbon). Click here to read full study.
