Billions of Microbes are required for healthy soil

Billions of microbes are required for a healthy soil. Microbes communicate through Quorum Sensing (think "walkie talkie").  The situation must be right for Quorum Sensing.

• The microbes must be in close proximity to each other
• Must have enough like microbes

If there is not enough, the chemical signals can't be sent, communication is lost, and imbalances occur.

Microbial imbalance = pathogen formation = unhealthy soil and plants.

The important functions of microbes

• Assists in organic matter decomposition
• Degradation of pesticides and soil pollutants
• Rid soils of pollutants and residuals
• Helps to cycle N-P-K's and other nutrients
• "Spoon feeds" nutrients to the plants

Everybody's favorite Uncle (We all know and love)

Mycorrhizal Fungi can be seen as the "Gatekeeper" to the plant or root system.  It also helps to create the aggregates in the soil to let the roots dive deep and the water, air, and nutrients go deep into the soil instead of staying on top and washing down the streets and sidewalks.

The symbiotic Relationship

• Plant gets hungry
• Plant dials up the microbes through quorum sensing and places the order for the nutrients needed.
• Microbes source the nutrients from a storage location, grab the nutrient (absorbs), then delivers to the root meristem (mouth).
• Mycorrhiza step aside so microbes can enter the root tip.
• Microbes circulate through the plant until plant signals release.