Date: 12-May Sample: Compost Compilation -Notes about fungal food 7 days after sample: ALL ASSESSMENTS DONE

AT 400X TOTAL MAGNIFICATION Dilution used: Field # Bacterial # Actinobacteria Bacterial size/shape Dilution used for fungi: Fungal Diameters / color 1 to 10 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1:10000 for bacteria 1 2 27 32 Could stop at 5 fields for bacterial count 5 6 7 28 44 60

3 46

4 32

Dilution used for protozoa: Flag & Am Ciliates F, A, 0

1 to 10 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Scan the slide at 1:5 dilution Nematodes 12.5 B, F, P, R All B

Bacteria should always be above 600,000,000

But then: Always require more than 300 ug per gram soil for healt Must balance with fungi for the plant desired Less than 300 ug, will have trouble holding nutrients, wi

Bacteria need to be properly balanced with fungi BASED ON THE PLANT DESIRED Protozoa and nematodes conv ag weeds annuals:; vegetables productive pasture: shrubs, decid forest CILIATES SHOULD NOT BE PRESENT FOLLOWING IS FOR FLAGELLATES AND AMOEBAE no prots, no good nemas Less than 0.7 per field 1 to 1.5 per field IN SPRING 1.5 to 5 per field IN GROWING SEASON 3 or more per field through the growing season OR

conifer/old growth

EITHER 1 to 2 protozoa per field OR

TEST FOR YOUR particular dropper

1 drop of sample, multiply by 20 2 drops, multiply by 10 drops in a

at 5 fields for bacterial count 8 36

9 32

10 40

11

12

13

14

15

16

0 0 0 0

0 0 0

0 0

han 300 ug per gram soil for healthy systems, unless weeds desired gi for the plant desired have trouble holding nutrients, will have poor soil structure, will have trouble protecting roots

owing season OR

NEMATODES Root-feeders present Root-feeders typically present At least 1 bacterial feeder and possibly fungal feeders present 1 - 2 bacterial feeder and possibly fungal feeders present 1 to 5 bacterial-feeders, 1 to 3 fungal-feeders; 1 predatory nematode desirable

1 to 5 bacterial-feeders, 1 to 3 fungal-feeders; 1 predatory nematode desirable

1 drop of sample, multiply by 20 drops in a ml 2 drops, multiply by 10 drops in a ml Dilution factor 10000 5

17

18

19

Mean 20 of 20 fields 37.7 #DIV/0!

StDev 10.1 #DIV/0!

Mean # fungal strands 0.2 0.42

10

0.20 0.20

0.42 0.42

5 5

12.50

160 = #of fields in at 18 X 18 mm coverslip 240 = # fields in a 22 X 18 mm cover slip 1 bacterium on average weighs 2 picograms Organisms per gram Micrograms per g or ml 1206 #DIV/0!

Each strand observed = 2.5 ug/gram of fungal bio

603,200,000 #DIV/0!

Fungal strands / gram 6400

Micrograms of fungi per gm or ml 528

avg diameter 2 2.5 3 3.5

1 fungal strand is assumed to be at least 50 um long. 2.5 um diameter I cubic cm of fungal biomass = 0.33 g per cubic cm

3200 3200

62.5

m on average weighs 2 picograms

d observed = 2.5 ug/gram of fungal biomass on average

Mult factor 0.00000016 0.00000025 0.00000035 0.00000048