Using the Fungal to Bacterial Ratio with microBIOMETER®

[@johnklapperich8407]

Just what the Carbon Doctor ordered!!! Great work from a beautiful area of New York!

[@microbiometer3090]

Thank you!

[@sudhakarreddy8077]

​@@microbiometer3090 aaa

[@MariaMorton]

This is all very good information that I imagine we all have read somewhere which is why we thought your test would be valuable. What I am looking for is numbers. What is within normal limits on your test? What is low? What is high?

[@microbiometer3090]

Hi Maria, we are in the process of finalizing our range chart, information will be up on our website and in the app within the next week. Thank you!

[@danielsmith3077]

Does any one know the specific F:B ratio for turf grasses?

[@bountywoodsfarm8594]

Just started using my new microBIOMETER. I'm so glad that it can now measure fungal to bacterial ratio! I have a question: How does the total microbial mass change over winter? I assume some species would go dormant over winter. When do they start rebuilding from winter? In other words, how much less microbial matter should I expect in early spring?

[@bradytrexlermicrobiometer4959]

Hi! Yes microbial activity is seasonal, and so is the microbial biomass carbon measured by microBIOMETER®. As new growth begins, much of the carbon that plants produce by photosynthesis is transmitted through the roots to the bacteria and fungi. This promotes microbial growth, and they in turn extract nutrients from the soil that feed the plant. microBIOMETER® can provide you with a baseline now, and you will see an increase during the growing season, and then a decrease as the plant matures and flowers.

[@bountywoodsfarm8594]

@@bradytrexlermicrobiometer4959 Thanks for the reply. That makes sense. So if we want to measure microbial activity from year to year we would want to always check at the same time, I assume.

[@bradytrexlermicrobiometer4959]

@@bountywoodsfarm8594 Yes, and with regenerative practices you would expect the year over year trend at each time point to increase

[@jamesjonsy]

Very interesting.

[@hilarymajor3983]

Can I use this to just determine the amount of living bacteria in the soil? I'd like to compare living bacterial biomass to the heavy metal concentration.

[@microbiometer3090]

Hi, thank you for your question, microBIOMETER measures living microbes including those that are dormant. Please feel free to send any follow up questions to [e-mail].

[@mderekmackenzie4101]

You didn't say how you can test AMF specifically with this tool.

[@microbiometer3090]

Hi Derek, AMF is present around the root zone. If testing AMF, take the soil sample specifically from the roots. Any other questions please email us at [e-mail].

[@davidgraham5011]

Do you explain anywhere how your test distinguishes bacteria from fungi?

[@microbiometer3090]

It's a colorimetric determination based on slight but detectable color differences in the two types of microorganisms.

[@kekw9958]

@@microbiometer3090 Do you plan to publish those results?

[@microbiometer3090]

@@kekw9958 The F:B ratio procedure will be published in our patent which should be released shortly. There is another video on our channel that explains the process in more depth. Let me know if you have any other questions.