Wheat Grown with Mycorrhizae Resists Lodging

The following 4 images were taken on May 3, 2013 at the experimental farm of Barkley Seed in Yuma, AZ. The trials were conducted by Barkley Seed. While they illustrate a physical improvement, crop yield is yet to be determined. This lack of lodging (falling down) may be due to the EndoMaxima Mycorrhizal inoculation. Mycorrhizae are known to improve the uptake of Calcium, Silica, Boron, and Phosphorus. All of which can be associated with improved physical structure of plants.

Wheat Seed Treated with EndoMaxima: Mycorrhizal Inoculant

EndoMaxima Applied Directly to Wheat Seed. Upright Structure, or Lack of Lodging, is Due to Improved Root System and Stem Strength.

Untreated Seed Shows Increased Lodging (laying down).

Untreated Seed is Lodging, Due to Poor Root System and Weakened Stems

Spring Fling 2013

Humic Acids and Root Development

Mycorrhizal Grow Out Trials

The Water Issue

     Arid lands across the globe are being impacted by water shortages that are having grave economic consequences. In the arid west of the United States, this is causing a conflict between cities and agricultural entities which are competing for the same water!   At the same time, arid soils have been compromised due to common management practices and therefore are not functioning at optimum capacity.  As a result, these soils provide relatively low levels of water and nutrition to vegetation. These compromised soils lack or are deficient in Mycorrhizal fungi and Humic substances; both Mycorrhizal fungi and Humic substances greatly increase a soils capacity to hold water and a plant’s ability to uptake nutrients. 

     If we do not restore compromised arid soils, we cannot maximize crop success nor the conservation of water in arid lands of the Western United States, nor anywhere else on the globe.

     Mycorrhizae associate with roots and help improve the uptake of water and mineral nutrients from the soil, particularly during times of drought or when soil pH decreases mineral availability.  “Developing agricultural practices using the fungus as an inoculum could help bring back low-input agriculture and enable cultivation of arid or semi-arid lands because the fungus promotes drought resistance in the plants it colonizes” said Dr. Lammers of New Mexico State University. 

     Humic substances, containing Humic Acids, are complex biologic chemicals, which are prevalent in healthy top soils.  Humic substances are incredibly hydrophilic (water-loving),  they significantly increase a soils Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) and they contribute to macroaggregate formation.  Combined these benefits convert arid soils, which more than likely are not providing sufficient water nor nutrients, into a soil which provides abundant nutrients and water.

Written by:

Aurora Fabry-Wood

Staff Biologist

What a Soil Should Look Like

This image illustrates 3 of the essential components of a healthy soil. 

Essential Components Include:

1. Macroaggregates - the large brown clumps. Form when Humic substances are present in a soil system.
2. Pools of water - water will penetrate and remain in a soil system when macroaggregates are present.
3. Mycorrhizal Fungi - are represented by white lines which look like roots, because they are essentially an extension of the plants root system. Mycorrhizal fungi aid in macroaggregate formation.

Salt Remediation on Cotton Fields in Arizona

I've attached photos of cotton production in Arizona, on a site that had serious salt problems. These photos show the dramatic affects of the Supramolecular Humic Acids, when we treated with 2000 pounds per acre rate (Ag Grade TerraPro).  This photo shows the cotton production increase with the total treatment. We were able to increase production by 70%! WOW!

This field historically produced significantly less than adjacent fields, due primarily to salt damage and soil type (sand). After treatment with 2,000 pounds/acre of TerraPro the field demonstrated a 70% increase in production. 

Increased production (number and size) seen in cotton bolls. 

This cotton field contained an area, 25' x 50',  which was highly contaminated with salt.

The area to the left of the tall stake treated with 2,000 pounds/acre TerraPro and Endomaxima.

Photos and data provided by John Miller with Spec International. For more info please email John, specintlinc@aol.com, or Soil Secrets, info@soilsecrets.com.