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Within the natural world there exists a complex balance among living organisms known as the “food web.”  

Plants, animals and microorganisms are all instruments in an orchestra; each plays a crucial part in the natural symphony of life. If even one of the players is out of tune, the whole soil food web suffers. However, when everything is in order, the results are beautiful.

A healthy soil food web occurs when...

Ahealthy soil food web is very similar to the food web we all learned in middle school (see image below).

The soil food web occurs when three key events are met.

1. All the organisms that a plant requires are present in the soil and functioning.

2. Nutrients in the soil are in their proper forms for
    the plant to uptake.

   It is one of the functions of a healthy food web to hold nutrients in non-leachable forms so they remain in the soil, until the plant requiresthem.

   The plant then “triggers” the right biology to convert the nutrients into forms the plant can uptake (but which are typically very leachable).

3. When the correct ratio of fungi and bacteria to protozoa (Prey to Predator) is present, the soil pH, structure and nutrient cycling occur at optimum rates.

   This produces the right forms of nutrients for the plant at the appropriate times.

Balancing the ratio between predator and prey in the soil food web

One of the biggest problems our soil is facing today is a poor ratio representation of predator and prey.

When we treat lawns with chemical products, the ratio typically appears as a narrow triangle (see image to the left).

In this triangle, there aren’t enough predator or prey present for balance to occur or for plants to be healthy.

Protozoa, nematodes, amoeba and ciliates are examples of predators. These predators feed off of bacteria and fungi.

When food and micro-bacteria are added, the triangle enlarges and levels are increased (see figure 3). With more food sources available, balance in pH and food for each species occurs naturally.

As an individual in the green industry, your number one goal is to enlarge this triangle to achieve a healthy balance.

How do you enlarge the triangle?

Utilizing a compost tea or evolved versions like Holganix allows you to “feed” the predators and prey and enlarge the triangle! 

Watch our video below to learn how Holganix helps balance the soil food web.