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Montoursville, PA

Build 'Em Up Or Knock 'Em Down Agriculture?
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So here's this patch of soil that's been farmed for decades - pretty much like all the other crop land in the county. For centuries, it was native grassland with lush growth year after year, with no added fertilizer (other than maybe some buffalo dung now and then).

And then the sodbusters came with their plows. Again, the "virgin soil" was very productive with no added fertilizer. A few farms had cow manure available, but supplies were usually limited.

And then came the big change. Enterprising chemical corporations, looking for a new market after World War II, developed NPK fertilizers in convenient granular form. Plow, fertilize, seed, harvest, plow, fertilize, seed, harvest - the agricultural equivalent of Henry Ford's production line. The soil began throwing off yields far greater than ever before and farmers bought air-conditioned tractors.

But the soil was changing. The microscopic organisms and earthworms that had provided nutrients for native plants were either greatly reduced in numbers or completely eliminated by the new procedures. The new "crop grasses", primarily corn, were now dependent on the tons of human-provided "plant food" trucked in from distant factories. The soil became nearly devoid of life and essential humic, minor and trace elements were depleted. Salt buildup and compaction were increasing problems.

9/7/2006 7:28:46 PM

Montoursville, PA

MORE....
Modern agriculture is nearing a decision point. Will we continue overusing synthetic fertilizer and ignoring soil biology until our valuable crop acreage are completely destroyed? Will it be the cost of nitrogen fertilizer or nitrate contamination of drinking water that finally forces us to change? It's
every grower's choice: continue reducing the plant-friendly organisms in their soil or begin reintroducing and rebuilding those microbial populations.

We can't promise overnight restoration of damaged soils, but using nature's powerful methods of growing plants can most definitely be used to grow abundant food crops. The beneficial soil organisms really don't distinguish between native grasses and introduced plants like corn or soybeans - although some selective breeding will be needed to identify plant varieties that are the best adapted to biological methods, just as so many varieties were bred to be chemically fed.

Those who want to explore alternatives to NPK fertilizer should contact me. Last year, a large California farmer actually ordered mycorrhizal inoculant because his Extension Agent (typically a very chemistry-oriented bunch) said his yield problems were probably due to a lack of beneficial organisms in the soil - a first! Perhaps this coming year, I'll get two or three such calls?

Hey, encouraging signs are always welcome here.

Cheers, and good growing,

Don Chapman
President
BioOrganics, Inc.
______________________

BioOrganics Inc. News
9/6/2006

9/7/2006 7:29:27 PM

San Jose garysand@pacbell.net

Hey doc, I subscribe to the news letter, I would encourage all on this site to subscribe as well

9/7/2006 7:34:21 PM

Danville, CA (petman2@yahoo.com)

What newsletter?

I know Doc knows his stuff and hopefully during the off season I can build soil so I can do what a lot of heavy hitters do...let the soil grow the pumpkin rather than adding lots of NPK fertilizer.

9/8/2006 12:29:11 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Petman...BioOrganics Inc. News...wish I had the web site addy for ya, but a google search, should bring it up. Peace, Wayne

9/8/2006 8:49:20 AM

President - GPC

Count me in too Doc, you are right on. Let me know how to subscribe to the news letter.

9/8/2006 2:26:48 PM

San Jose garysand@pacbell.net

http://www.bio-organics.com/

here it is

9/8/2006 3:39:12 PM

Williamsport, Pa.

easy, from the doc himself- rotten leaves, poop, compost,little worm castings, tea, symbex-4, maybe a little mushroom mulch, and a cover crop1

9/8/2006 8:27:40 PM

Salmon Arm, BC

Thanks for the info Don....makes perfect sense. Guess what Deb's doing next year? Just wondering...would it be as beneficial to apply now rather than the spring or both? Just wondering as I'm forking in a hefty layer of compost and chicken manure in the next week. All of my patches are brand new this season only so would like to start this before I do any more damage with ferts. I'm a huge compost fan. Thanks again! Deb

9/12/2006 1:39:29 PM

Ohio

A person that comes to mind that I have talked to through some emails, uses very little ferts and relies on the soil for a more natural growing technique is Larry @ Gerry Checkon.
Dick "the Monster Pumpkin Grower Wallace" wrote a article about him on this site about his 1469 he grew.

11/2/2006 6:40:13 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Brooks, would that be the 2005 "New World Record" Mr. Checkon that grew the 1469 Checkon '05? Must know somethin bout growin em BIG Peace, Wayne

11/2/2006 11:07:47 PM

Rhode Island

dons article is the best , most important piece of information i have ever read on bp.

people, take a second look at the message he is sending. i agree with him whole heartedly. great advise

our new patch was set up with an organic approach and the results are history now.

pap

11/3/2006 7:30:38 AM

Ohio

Wayne, Yea thats the 1469, he grows a little diffrent then other growers and I have heard that weeds dont phase him, he just lets em grow, its not because hes Lazy (Is he Gerry?,LOL), He just dont want to have to step on his patch(soil compaction) to pull them if he dont have to I think and also because he doesnt pull them because it does more harm then good when you pull the weeds that could also pull up his plant roots. Im not 100 percent sure on this but if I remember correctly this is what he does.

11/3/2006 10:21:36 AM

Ohio

And Pap just grows Monster pumpkins, I think he feeds his plants beer from that keg he talks about he has outside in the mothia pumpkin building he has next to his patch, Ha!

11/3/2006 10:25:32 AM

President - GPC

Yup for my first lesson, I have downloaded all the articles from Don.
To be the best, one must learn from the best. Lots of readin to do.

11/3/2006 11:58:39 AM

Rhode Island

hey its like rick flair says
"to be the best, ya gotta beat the best" lol

11/3/2006 2:37:15 PM

Montoursville, PA

Oh my....I just read that at least one impressive competitive grower, in another field, has a sound system built into the patch delivering music to encourage the relaxed consistant grow.

12/26/2006 9:46:04 PM