Doug weatherbee craigsponholtz_quivira_2010_presentation

Bringing Life Back to Your Land
moisture, microbes, and climate change
Craig Sponholtz
DrylandSolutions.com
Doug Weatherbee
SoilDoctor.org
Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

90%
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soildoctor.org

Location:! Lane-Hooper Rancho, Jalpa,
! ! Guanajuato, Mexico
Soil:!! Compacted, Expansive black
! ! Clay (Vertisol - Smectite Clay)
Crop: ! Corn
Irrigation:! Rain
Climate:! Tropical Rain Season Savanah
Elevation:! 7000ft/2100m above sea level
Past Use:! Corn, Millet Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

Sampled Soil for Soil Foodweb Oregon
Lab on May 12, 2009
May
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Field Prep:!
Rainwater Harvesting Contour
Swales(ditches)
Date:!
June 16-19, 2009
Note:!
Field compacted because of
excavator use
May June
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Planting Date:! June 22, 2009
! ! ! Horse Plowed Planting
May June
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Treatment:
- 10 gallons compost tea
- 2 gallons humic acid
- ¾ gallon homemade local ﬁsh
hydrolysate
App. Rate:!! per Hectare
App. Date:!! July 9, 2009
May June July
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soildoctor.org

Rainfall:! Very dry rainy season
2008 July:! 7.5 inches
2009 July:! 3.8 inches
Buffering:! Soil structure and humus
increase raised water holding capacity
plus rainwater harvesting swales
Date:!! July 10, 2009
May June July
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soildoctor.org

Informal Control:! Photographic
! ! ! ! Comparison with
! ! ! ! local non-treated
! ! ! ! organic corn ﬁeld
! ! ! ! planted on same
! ! ! ! date
Date:!! ! ! August 5, 2009
May June July Aug
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soildoctor.org

Non-treated Organic
Corn
SFI-treated Organic
Corn
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Stalk Growth:!
5% corn kernels have 4 stalks
65-70% have 3 stalks
20-25% have 1 or 2 stalks
Date:!
August 5, 2009
May June July Aug
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soildoctor.org

4 Stalk Corn Kernel
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Pests:
Biologically treated stalk = very
few worm bores, no pesticide
sprays used.
Non-biologically = manu worm
bores, lots of ﬁelds usin pesticide
sprays
Date:
August, 2009
May June July Aug
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soildoctor.org

Rainwater Harvesting Contour Swale
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Informal Control:
Photographic Comparison with
local non-treated organic corn
ﬁeld planted on same date
Date:
Sept 14-18 2009
May June July Aug Sept
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Non-treated Organic
Corn
Soil Doctor biologically
treated Organic Corn
2009, Mexico, worst drought in 6 decades
Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

0
60
120
31
105
poundsfrom735sqfeet
Biological
Control Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

0
110
220
330
440
550
114
527
poundsfrom735sqfeet
Biological
Control Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

CLAY
SILTSAND
LOAM

So what about
Soil Organic
Matter?

Humus molecule is
comprised of long
chains of Carbon.

Na+
Na+Na+Na+
Na+
-- - -
-
- - --- - --
+ + + + + + ++ ++
+ + + + + + ++ ++
Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

Na+
Na+
- - --- - --
+ + + + + + ++ ++
-- - - -
+ + + + + + ++ ++
-
- - - -
C+C+
C+ C+
O-
O-
O- O-
O- O-
Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

Oxygen
Aerobic
No Oxygen
Anaerobic

Cation Exchange Capacity
Ca
Ca Ca
Ca
CaZn
Zn
Zn
Zn
Mg
Mg
Mg
Mg
Mg
Cu
Cu
Cu
Fe
Fe
Fe
Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

80-90%

So how is
Organic Matter
created?

O Horizon
A Horizon
B Horizon
C Horizon
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soildoctor.org

http://soils.usda.gov/SQI/concepts/soil_biology/soil_food_web.html

http://www.blm.gov/nstc/soil/foodweb/images/FOOD%20WEB.jpg

CO2
O & H20
Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

>60%
CO2
O & H20
Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

Bacteria are decomposers
and mutualists that eat
simple sugars and high N
content organic material.

800 million individuals
25000 species

60%
-20%
40%
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soildoctor.org

Fungi are decomposers and
mutualists that eat
more complex C chains of
lignin, cellulose, tannins.

Ciliates
Flagellates
Amoebae
x

Ciliates, ﬂagellates and
amoebae are predators that
eat bacteria.

Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

Nematodes are predators
and root feeders that eat
bacteria, fungi, some
protozoa, other nematodes
and plant roots.

BUT...
enough N to
grow plants?

Organism C:N Ratio
Bacteria 5:1
Fungi 20:1
People 30:1
Green Leaves 30:1
Protozoa 30:1
Deciduous trees 300:1
Conifer 500:1
Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

Organism C:N Ratio
Bacteria 5:1
Fungi 20:1
Bacterium
Nitrogen,
Phosphorus,
Sulphur,
Potassium,
etc.
Fungi
Nitrogen,
Phosphorus,
Sulphur,
Potassium,
etc.
Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

Organism C:N Ratio
Bacteria 5:1
...
Protozoa 30:1
Flagellate Bacterium= 30:1 = 5:1
Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacterium
= 30:1 = 30:6
Bacterium
Flagellate
= 5:1
= 5:1
= 5:1
= 5:1
= 5:1
= 5:1
Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
= 5 N= 30:1Flagellate
Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
= 5 N
Enough N to grow plants?
Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacterium
Flagellate
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
=
Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacterium
Flagellate
Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacte
Bacte
Bacte
Bacte
Bacte
Bacte
Bacte
Bacte
10,000/day
Bacterium Bacterium Bacte
Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

Flagellate
8,000 N molecules/day/protzoan
=
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

50,000 protozoan/gram
Flagellate
Flagellate
Flagellate
Flagellate
Flagellate
Flagellate
Flagellate
Flagellate
Flagellate
Flagellate
Flagellate
Flagellate
Fla
Fla
Fla
FlaDoug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

500,000,000 bacteria/gram/day
Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacterium
Flagellate
Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacterium
Bacter
Bacter
Bacter
Bacter
Bacter
Bacter
Flagellate
Flagellate
Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

Flagellate
Flagellate
Flagellate =
=
=
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitr
Nitr
Nitr
Nitr
Nitr
Nitr
Nitr
400,000 N molecules/day
Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
= 7 nanogram N/
cm3 root surface/
day
Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
= 7 nanogram N/
cm3 root surface/
dia
Plants need 0.2
nanogram N/cm3
root surface/day
Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

BUT...
what about
pathogens?

Dry Season Rainy Season Dry Season
approxlevelofmicrobialactivity
Microbial Activity
Water/Microbes AND Microbes/Water
Concept from http://soils.usda.gov/SQI/concepts/soil_biology/soil_food_web.html

Depthbelowsurface
Increasing Microbial Biomass
Microbial Biomass Decreases with Depth
Concept from http://soils.usda.gov/SQI/concepts/soil_biology/soil_food_web.html
Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

Water is Life

Organic
Matter
Silt
Clay
Sand
Course
Particles
Soil Types and
Moisture
Distribution

Soil Erosion and Sediment Transport

Forms of Runoff Transmission

Sheet Flow Transmission

Sheet Flow Results in
Infiltration & Deposition

Rill Transmission

Gully Transmission

Arroyo Transmission

Erosion Processes Throughout
the Watershed
Road Erosion

Minor Sheet Erosion

Moderate Sheet Erosion

Severe Sheet Erosion

The rate of erosion on bare soil is 80 times
greater than soil covered with vegetation.

Rill Erosion

Gully Erosion

Bank Erosion

Road Erosion

Headcut erosion occurs in multiple stages
Headcut Progression Occurs in Stages
Sheet Erosion-
Rill Erosion-
Gully/ Headcut Erosion-

Landscape Scale Erosion

Is there any
life left in this
soil?

Succession
weeds
vegetables
long-lived
perennial
grasses
shrubs
deciduous
conifer old
growth
annual
grasses
Bacteria
dominated
Alkaline
Nitrates
F:B balance
Neutral pH
Nitrates/Ammonium
Fungi
dominated
Acidic
Ammonium
Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

Bacteria
dominated
Alkaline
Nitrates
F:B balance
Neutral pH
Nitrates/Ammonium
Fungi
dominated
Acidic
AmmoniumDoug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

Bacteria
dominated
Alkaline
Nitrates
F:B balance
Neutral pH
Nitrates/Ammonium
Fungi
dominated
Acidic
Ammonium
Succession is increasing soil complexity,
more humus, less compaction,
more fungi, more diversity,
more soil Carbon sequestration,
less Greenhouse Gas (N2O, CH4) emissions
Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

Fungal:Bacterial Ratios of
Selected Crop Species
Brassicas (broccoli) 0.3-0.7
Carrots, lettuce 0.5-0.8
Corn, tomatoes 0.8-1.0
Barley, oats, rye 0.8-1.0
Pastures & Rangeland 0.9-1.5
Strawberries, Blueberries 2-5
Grapes 3-5
Apples, orchard crops 5-10
Pine 50-100
Conifers 100-1000

Can succession
move
backward?

Bacteria
dominated
Alkaline
Nitrates
F:B balance
Neutral pH
Nitrates/Ammonium
Fungi
dominated
Acidic
Ammonium
Disturbances decrease soil complexity,
increase compaction, less humus,
less fungi, less diversity,
less soil Carbon sequestration,
more Green House Gas emissions
Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

…erosion, drought,
ﬂoods, overgrazing,
deforestation, burning,
inorganic fertilizers,
fungicides, pesticides,
tillage.

NPK NPK
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Fungicide Fungicide
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Anaerobic
Compaction
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35
Peter M. Wild, Boston Tree Preservation

0
250
500
750
1000
1250
1121
308
lbs Microbial CO2/acre in top 6” soil
lbs
May 2009 Microbe CO2
Sept 2009 Microbe CO2
Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

weeds
old growth
soil moisturesoil microbes
soil carbon
soil fertility
Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

How do we
bring moisture
back to land?

1.Protect and expand moisture storing areas of
the landscape (enhance the Sweet Spots).
2.Stabilize active erosion and prevent further
degradation.
3.Restore dispersed flow and increase
infiltration at every opportunity.
4.Cultivate restorative plant communities and
build biologically active soils.
5.Create site-specific solutions using natural
forms and processes.
Guiding Principles for Bringing
Moisture Back to the Land

Where are the Sweet Spots?

…Anywhere that runoff slows enough to infiltrate and build soil.

Deposition of Silt, Clay and Organic Matter
sets the stage for moisture storage.

Source
Sink

Source
Sink
Sweet Spot

Actively Developing Alluvial Fan
Source
Sink

Incised Alluvial Fan

Actively Incising and Re-Developing Alluvial Fan

MEDIA LUNA
Sheet Flow Spreader (tips UP)
Spreads runoff from channels and
initiates sheet ﬂow.
Sheet Flow Collector (tips DOWN)
Prevents developing rills and gullies
from eroding upslope.
collection point
sheet ﬂow
splash apron
Sweet Spot
Sheet Flow Structures

Growing Sweet Spots with Media Lunas

Wood can effectively be used to build
sheet flow structures.

Roads are a Runoff Resource that
should be used to create Sweet Spots
Rolling Dip

Dryland farm fields were once common in the southwest,
a search of aerial photographs reveals many abandoned fields.

…natural reservoirs of soil nutrients and moisture.
Many are found on alluvial fans…

Ojo Encino Navajo Chapter Floodwater Farming Project

Ojo Encino Floodwater Farming Project:
A modern twist on an
ancient practiceRestoring the function of alluvial fans to bring life back to abandoned
farm fields

Water delivered, but what about the soil biology?

Quivira Coalition Erosion Control Workshops at
Red Canyon Ranch Preserve

How do we
bring microbes
back to the
soil?

Assess
Assess
Assess

Bacteria
dominated
Alkaline
Nitrates
F:B balance
Neutral pH
Nitrates/Ammonium
Fungi
dominated
Acidic
Ammonium
x Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

Bacteria
dominated
Alkaline
Nitrates
F:B balance
Neutral pH
Nitrates/Ammonium
Fungi
dominated
Acidic
Ammonium
x xDoug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

...to increase bacterial or fungi
numbers - if bacterial or fungi
diversity ALREADY exists
Speciﬁc microbial foods
Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

...for inoculum and/or
reinforcements
Custom bacterial or
fungal dominated
AEROBIC composts
Doug Weatherbee
soildoctor.org

Bacterial or fungal
dominated actively
AERATED compost teas

Doug weatherbee craigsponholtz_quivira_2010_presentation

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