Our Physical Reality is Made of Minerals
Obtaining a soil chemistry test is a vital part of interpreting the health of our soil. Having plenty of available nutrients and in the proper balance sets the stage for plants and microbiology to thrive. A soil chemistry is a great tool in understanding the root cause to many plant health issues. When the soil contains efficient nutrients in the correct balance plants will be highly resistant to pests and disease.
In the soil chemistry audit I can help you understand if you have the sufficient availability of each nutrient and in the correct ratios. The calculations for optimal balance of nutrients must be done in accordance with the cation exchange capacity (CEC) which is how much nutrients your soil can hold.
Calcium and magnesium are two of the most important minerals to balance in the soil because they largely determine the structure of the soil. Too much magnesium can cause soil to collapse and tighten, while too much calcium will cause the soil particles will be loose like dust and repel water. When the calcium to magnesium ratio is in balance the soil particles will repel each other just enough to create pore spaces that allow for water and air to move through the soil.
In addition to assessing nutrient levels for deficiency or toxicity, I will also calculate at the ratios of nutrients based on the soil cation exchange capacity. The ratio that is crucial to soil health are the balance between cations: calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium. I also consider the nutritional balance of micronutrients such as manganese to iron and the zinc to copper ratio as these play a big role in the plant immune system.
I recommend obtaining a complete soil test with extras from Logan Labs which includes a standard soil analysis, saturated paste test and the extras being nitrate, ammonium, cobalt, molybdenum, selenium, silicon, and the electrical conductivity.
Standard Soil Test
A standard soil test uses method using chemicals or acids to extract the nutrients from your soil sample. This test will tell you the total number nutrients in your soil.
Saturated Paste Test
This test uses water as a solvent to extract nutrients from the soil. This test will tell you the nutrients that are becoming available to your plants each time you water.
Leaf Tissue Test
The leaf tissue test will show you the nutrients that have been assimilated by your plants.
Fractal Microbiomes
The concept of "As above, so below; everything is a microcosm of the macrocosm" is frequently interpreted by historians as an acknowledgment of the perceived influence of celestial mechanics on terrestrial events. This encompasses the recognized effects of the Sun on seasonal changes, the Moon on tides, and extends to more intricate astrological considerations. In astrology, the focus is on understanding how cosmic events may impact life on Earth, illustrating the connection between the macrocosm and microcosm.
Delving deeper into this concept reveals an endless cycle that expands both ways into dimensions beyond our comprehension. For instance, our daily actions, such as our dietary choices or environmental exposures, influence our microbiome. The chemistry and molecules in the soil also impact the microbiome, and beneath that layer lies the influence of physics on chemistry, followed by the impact of quantum physics, and so forth.
To encapsulate this interconnectedness, quantum physics serves as the microbiome of the broader physics, which, in turn, acts as the microbiome for chemistry, microbiology, macrobiology, the planet, the solar system, and ultimately, the galaxy. In essence, everything is interconnected, and every action has a ripple effect on other systems, creating a unified and interdependent existence. When dealing with soil, it is crucial to adopt a holistic perspective to foster the optimal functioning of the entire system.
Soil Health is Human Health
Most of our soils are depleted of the nutrients necessary to support plant life thus they become dependent on synthetic fertilizers to sustain growth. However, when plants are grown with synthetic chemicals they are limited to the minerals in those formulas. In most cases, our food is severely deficient in micronutrients and trace minerals that are essential to optimal plant and human health. Many suspect the lack of nutrition in our soil and thus our food, is the root cause to much of the illness and disease we see today.
The physical functions of all living beings rely on the availability and proper balances of nutrients. Since humans cannot uptake nutrients directly from the soil, we rely on plants to do this for us, thus the nutrients we need to survive come from the soil. Plants absorb these minerals from the soil, and when the soil has optimal balance and availability of nutrients then the plants pass these nutrients on to humans and animals. The plants and animals we consume become our inner soil where our microbiome digests and assimilates the nutrition from our food.
