Why we use the microBiometer at BioIQ
We use the microBIOMETER as part of our soils testing protocols in all of the BioIQ controlled soil tests.
Improving the health of your soil is essential to increasing your output, and the biometer helps us understand if we are making progress with our soil programs.
Research shows that microbial biomass (fungi and bacteria) is the leading indicator of soil health. Living soil fixes nutrients, improves plant immunity, stores water more efficiently and builds soil structure, therefore, a healthy level of microbes increases productivity while reducing inputs.
MicroBIOMETER® is a low cost, 20-minute on-site soil test for microbial biomass and fungal to bacterial ratio that allows you to quickly determine the health of your soil.
Frequent retesting will provide you with the data necessary to identify if your soil management practices are working.
Replaces costly lab tests with real time testing on living soil
Sending your soil out for lab testing is costly and can take weeks to get results. Microbes die as soon as they are removed from the soil, therefore, real time testing provides the most accurate results. Using the microBIOMETER® allows us to test your living soil on-site with results available in 20 minutes for a cost of $30 a test or less.
We find the microBIOMETER® is faster, less expensive and provides a higher level of accuracy than lab microscopy.
Monitors the effectiveness of your soil amendments
Amendments are a great way to improve your soil and crop yield, however, they can be expensive and time consuming. Use microBIOMETER® to quickly assess how your inputs are impacting your soil's microbial biomass to determine if they are effective. An increase in microbes tells you that you have increased their food, therefore, increased the food for your plant. You don't need to do anything more.
Supports regenerative agriculture
One way regenerative agriculture improves your soil is by increasing the soil microbes. Increasing your soil microbes increases the carbon stored in the soil. For instance, switching to an optimal cover crop and no-till can increase stored microbial carbon by a ton an acre or more.
The microBIOMETER® can help us determine if your regenerative practices are increasing the carbon in your soil, therefore, building healthier soil while doing your part to fight climate change.
How does microBIOMETER® work?
Soil microbes secrete a substance that binds non-living soil particles to each other and to themselves. The microBiometer extracts the microbes from the bound soil particles which then settle to the bottom.
The soil-colored microbes remain suspended in the fluid and are sampled. The sample is placed on a testcard which is scanned using a smartphone (iPhone or Android). Our smartphone application measures the colour intensity of the microbes as compared to a colour comparator surround on the testcard. Click here to learn more.
Microbial biomass results are reported as µg of microbial carbon per gram of soil and fungal to bacterial ratio as F:B, F% and B%.
How do you validate the accuracy of the microBIOMETER® results?
The results are validated using a computerized analysis of numerous microscopic images of microBIOMETER® extracts from many different soils.
The supplier has found a 95% correlation with the area of the microbes in these images and the results reported for microbial biomass and fungal to bacterial ratios using the microBIOMETER®.
How do we interpret microBIOMETER® test results?
We have collected and analysed hundreds of microBIOMETER® testing results as well as worked with customers to create a chart of microbial biomass ranges that can be used as a guide to help you better understand your data.
This chart will enable you to see where your results fall in relation to others using our test on similar media. Also included is a plant succession ladder which highlights optimal fungal to bacterial ratios for different vegetation.
What does microBIOMETER® tell us?
- The higher the microbial biomass, the more nutrients available to your plant naturally, decreasing or eliminating the need for chemical fertilizers.
- Microbes, especially fungi, are building soil structure which prevents erosion.
- If microbial biomass decreases after applying chemical fertilizer, you have used too much.
- F:B ratio of rhizosome soil will tell you if arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have colonized your plant making it more resistant to drought and pests.
- An increase in the F:B ratio indicates the green manure you used is optimal.
- Soil organic carbon is mainly the bodies of dead microbes, so if you are not increasing your microbes you are not building soil health or sequestering carbon.
- A rapid increase in MB indicates the effectiveness of cover crops and amendments.
If you require further data on the microBiometer please review their website for a list of questions and answers.
BioIQ research backed solutions
BioIQ Farm : Our products are designed to offer a cost-effective and results-driven farm solution, for better soil and farm production.
Our bacteria improve soil structure, delivers large quantities of Nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and calcium as well as trace elements in a carbon-rich, plant available, and biologically diverse form.
BIOIQ: POWERED BY LIVE BACTERIA
Contact Us Today
Interested in knowing more, request a product briefing, contact Farm Support 1300 090 261 or Mike Tyrrell Director 0402 553 235
