1. sustainabilityBenefits of the Soil FoodwebTM
soil microbiology explained
Australian Soil Additives & Products Pty Limited
PO Box 121, Bangalow NSW 2479 Australia
Phone: 61 2 6688 2324 Mobile: 0414 580 788
Email: greg@asapsupplier.com
Healthier soils without chemicals
ASAP designs the BioActive CompostTea Brewers www.asapsupplier.com
2. 1
Australian Soil Additives and
Products Pty Ltd (ASAP) is
committed to establishing healthy
soils increasing profitability
for farmers and landowners,
while reducing toxicity in our
environment.
In doing so, we aim to make
a lasting contribution to the
sustainability and profitability of
agriculture and land management
practice.
ASAP is the manufacturer of
BioActive CompostTea Brewers and suppliers of SFI-certified microbe nutrients, and all
compost tea supplies and monitoring equipment.
Our history in brief
In 2004, Footprint Directions presented its first Australian Soil Symposium in
Byron Bay with the Soil Foodweb Institute (SFI) and a boutique farm.
Another successful Soil Symposium was held in the Byron Bay hinterland in
June 2005 with SFI (and another compost-producing farm).The opportunity to
address several supply and design issues was presented to us when more than 250 farmers,
developers, agronomists, scientists and advisors participating in the Soil Foodweb™ approach
contributed to our emerging development.
In the following months, LookTropical’s principal, PaulTaylor, merged with Footprint
Directions (Jane Oliver and SFI Advisor, Greg Hallett) to form Living Proof Systems.We
worked with SFI Advisor Nick Rodgers to pick up the fledgling compost tea application
service,ASAP, and formed a full company in September 2005.
About ASAP
Collaboration brewing well:ASAP with SFI
Standing: Jane Oliver, Merline Olson (SFI Australia President), Nick Rodgers
Seated: Greg Hallett, Dr Elaine Ingham (SFI International President), PaulTaylor
3. ASAP is now a supplier of all products for BioActive Compost and CompostTeas.We
distribute throughout Australia to:
• Horticulture and agriculture,
• landscaped developments (including
Aborist remediation),
• biodiversity programmes and
• leisure enterprises such as golf courses,
football fields, and public parks.
All our products are independently tested by
SFI – down to the individual ingredients we use
in the Bioactive Compost
Tea Brewers.To support
quality management of services and products, we also provide a range
of scientific monitoring equipment. Our network of allied BioActive
compost producers helps us supply (licenses permitting) Australia-wide.
ASAP provides comprehensive advisory services in all aspects of
BioActiveTea brewing and applications. We are proud to represent
Australia in the growing Actively Aerated CompostTea industry.
Our quality approach
2our products are proven to stimulate soil biology
4. Assessment and design
ASAP advisors design property-specific management programmes that
are based on improving your soil biology.This is done using BioActive
CompostTeas or compost and other required soil additives and products.
Growers programmes involve five steps.This includes independent testing
and results (assays) from the SFI Laboratory, and a Quality Assurance
Grower’s Programme SFI Stamp of Approval from Dr Elaine Ingham at SFI’s head office in the USA.
An SFI Growers Programme can only be designed by an SFI Certified Advisor.
Step One: Site Analysis and initial consultation
The site analysis looks at your site and considers the following:
a) detailed look at the site’s management and ecological history
b) an outline of what a programme involves
c) an estimated range of fees involved considering the site’s size
and scope
d) a discussion about the practicalities of transition to the SFI approach
e) dates and costs associated with getting two soil tests completed
f) options for other sustainability processes to be integrated into the
site’s design and management.
StepTwo: SoilTests
ASAP can collect the soil or advise you how to collect the soil sample yourself.The soil has to be
quickly sent to the Soil Foodweb Institute (Lismore, NSW,Australia) and kept cool to preserve
the life in the soil.Two qualitative tests are carried out – one through
the SFI Laboratory for microbiology, and the other on campus at the
Southern Cross University’s Environmental Analysis Laboratory (EAL) for
chemistry.
A fee for both these tests is required.The Microbiology tests are
detailed, complex and take up to five days to mature and correlate in
supervised laboratory conditions with technical counting of many species
of microbiology.
StepThree: Soil Results
The ASAP Advisor contacts you with your SoilTest Results. Here we have the scientific advice of what
is actually happening in the soil.This helps us develop a programme specifically for your property.
At this point we determine what is possible for your site in terms of improving soil food health and
achieving your management goals.We look for the life in your soil and what we can affordably aim to
improve.
Developing A Soil FoodwebTM
Growers Programme with ASAP
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www.asapsupplier.com
excellent fungal strands after
compost tea applications.
Soil FoodwebTM
Institute Approved
5. Step Four: Confirm the Grower’s Programme
We confirm a suitable programme for you and consider:
a) topology, climate, water availability and history of the site’s use
b) your management plans for various crops, design and yield
c) management history (including use of additives and pest controls)
d) crop history and weather patterns
e) soil analysis from a usage and yield suitability perspective
f) cycle of compost and/or compost-tea applications required to elevate the life in the soil
g) seasonal or annual investment associated with the application of compost tea and compost, what
dilution rates are required and what’s affordable
h) access to BioActive compost and compost-tea, delivery and whether application is required by
ASAP or whether you’ll use your own equipment
i) level of coaching and education required to ensure the best chance of success with the SFI
Grower’s programme
j) transition from a traditional chemical regime or a chemical/organic regime to a Soil Foodweb
programme
k) brewing equipment and supplies, access to genuine approved data.
This is provided in writing, tailored for your property or
properties. It is personally approved by Dr Elaine Ingham.
Highly complex remediation is sometimes co-managed
with the SFI Laboratory.
Step Five: Monitoring and documentation of
progress
Over the life of the programme – usually from one
to three years – you will see us provide advice by
telephone and email, visit your site, carry out compost
and compost-tea applications (or assist you as ordered),
and deliver test results.
Where there are extraordinary soil biology and crop
changes or events we will also invite Dr Elaine Ingham
and/or Merline Olson to review progress.
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Developing A Soil FoodwebTM
Growers Programme with ASAP
A nursery gardenia – the right side of the
plant has had two ASAP BioActive Compost
Tea folia applications and the left side has
not. Note strong leaf recovery from mould,
and increased foliar and flower growth on
right side. Pests are now completely absent
from the plant.
Soil FoodwebTM
Institute Approved
6. Introduction
to soil microbiology
1
In healthy soil with good organic matter and diverse biology, a Soil Foodweb is created.
Plants exude simple sugars, proteins and carbohydrates in hundreds of different forms.These
then trigger responses from the soil biology.
The bacteria, protozoa, beneficial nematodes and fungi respond to these triggers to provide
the plants with nutrition and to protect the plants from disease.The biology holds the plant
nutrients within their own bodies and their own systems (non leachable forms) and “trades”
them with the plants for mutual benefit.
Fungi have the ability to move water and nutrients from many metres below the soil surface
up to the plant roots and thereby reduce water needs by more than 30%.They also have the
ability to produce inhibitory compounds to combat pathogens.And, they occupy infection
sites on plant roots and compete with pathogens for foods.The other important fact about
fungi is that they build soil microaggregates.
Bacteria also have the ability to generate antibiotics to fight off plant pathogens.They also
store vast amounts of nitrogen that are made available to the plants through the actions of
a healthy soil foodweb. Both beneficial fungi and beneficial bacteria successfully fight plant
disease by occupying the sites on leaf and root surfaces where pathogens would otherwise
attack.
6
The Soil Foodweb™ concept was researched, developed and registered
by Dr Elaine Ingham, the president of the Soil Foodweb International.
Dr Ingham is also an adjunct professor with Australia’s
Southern Cross University. Head Office Laboratories
are in Oregon & NewYork with Australia lab in
Lismore, New South Wales. Much of the data
and many images in this document are supplied
by the Soil Foodweb Institute of Australia (www.
soilfoodweb.com.au) and SFI Inc (USA)
(www.soilfoodweb.com).
5 sustainability: every year more productivity from less energy input
7. From PaulTaylor, ASAP – Manufacturer of the BioActive Brewer
We make BioActive compost tea from aerobic compost.
Properly made aerobic compost has thousands of
bacterial and fungal species (whereas anaerobic
compost can be toxic to plants).
Most commercially available compost is not biologically
active. Ours is.
We then take the aerobic compost and add it to highly
aerated water held at a desired temperature, add
microbe nutrients that feed and thus select the species
of microbes desired for the conditions as determined by
the SFI laboratory testing and make a highly cultured “brew” full of beneficial fungi and bacteria
to apply to the soil.
Our compost tea programmes will make soil more productive, less toxic and more sustainable.
By sustainable we mean that every year your soil will improve in health and productivity and
every year you will need fewer inputs (fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, water and energy) for
greater, more profitable and healthier production.
Introduction
to soil microbiology cont’d
6
Fungal Hyphae
Merline Olson, President SFI Australia with PaulTaylor of ASAP,
and Dr Elaine Ingham, President of SFI International.
SFI has Laboratories in Lismore Australia, NewYork, Oregon,
Canada, Mexico, England, New Zealand and South Africa.
ASAP is the first Australian comprehensive supplier service
and brewer designer that has Directors who have achieved
SFI Certified Advisor Status (2003) and continuously submits
its Grower Programmes for Dr Ingham’s scrutiny under the SFI
quality management programme.
sustainability: every year more productivity from less energy input
8. ASAP manufactures and distributes brewers that
produce Bioactive CompostTea.
Our brewers, tested with the Soil Foodweb Institute, provide a
consistent, reliable quality bioactive compost tea.
The brewers are available in three sizes: 1,000,
1,500 and 5000 litre capacity.
We also distribute highly portable stainless steel
brewers.
The main features of the BioActive
Brewers are:
• Designed for heavy duty, continuous use in
an agricultural environment
• Professionally fabricated to an industrial
standard
• The 1500 and 1000 litre brewers are
portable and fit to towable trailers
• Australian designed and made
• High quality, easy to clean design
• Easy maintenance
• Durable side work-platforms, ideal for accessing tea and carrying out dissolved
oxygen tests
• Bioactive brewing process is easy to monitor
• Includes: fibreglass tank and lid, long-life reusable compost-tea bag, aeration pumps, all
high quality fittings for brewing process and drainage; easy-clean air diffuser; and a top
quality thermostat-controlled heating element
• Purpose-built that minimises risk of bio-film formation and ensures consistent oxygen
circulation
• Two SFITesting Coupons for qualitative results are included
• Instructions for set-up, brewing, cleaning and safety are simple and easy to follow.
BioActive Compost
Tea brewers
7
www.asapsupplier.com
economically competitive and tested supplies
9. Brewing Suppliers
ASAP also supplies independently tested BioActive
CompostTea brew supplies and additional soil additives.
Each of these products have written results proving their
efficacy in stimulating soil biology.This allows plants to
grow in a disease-free environment where the biology
naturally moderates pH.The biology also makes plant-
available nutrients from “parent material” already present
(but usually not active) in our soils.Technical data is
available online at www.asapsupplier.com.
SFI advocates that when buying a tea brewer you should ask the
manufacturer to provide information about oxygen levels during the
tea brewing cycle in the compost basket or bag. SFI also recommends
you insist on being given analysis
of diversity which should include
total active bacteria and fungi.
Also examine the protozoa results
present in the tea made under
standard conditions.
These test results are available on all ASAP distributed
brewers and products.We do not stock supplies that
do not improve the Soil Foodweb™.
BioActive Compost
Tea brewers cont’d...
8economically competitive and tested supplies
Dissolved Oxygen
Meters are essential
equipment for brew-
ing compost tea.
10. 9
1. Retain nutrients so they do not leach or volatilize from the soil.
The nutrients include nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and calcium.
Reduction or complete removal of inorganic fertilizer applications is
possible and highly desirable.
2. Cycle nutrients into the right forms at the right rates for the
plant desired.The right ratio of fungi to bacteria is needed for this
to happen, as well as the right numbers and activity of biological
predators.
3. Build soil structure so oxygen, water and other nutrients can
easily move into the soil and into deep, well-structured root systems.
Roots should go down into the soil for at least several to tens and
perhaps hundreds of metres, but the compaction that humans impose
on soil results in toxic materials being produced.This compaction
prevents good root penetration.
The only way to deal with compaction is to have the proper biology
build the structure in the soil again, so oxygen and water can move
into the soil.
When the biology is functioning properly water demand is reduced, the need for
fertilizers is reduced and plant production is increased. Significant cost-benefits are found
after initial investment in composting or application of brewed liquid compost solutions
(compost tea).
4. Suppress disease-causing organisms through
competition with beneficials, by setting up the soil and foliar
conditions to help the beneficials instead of the diseases. For
example, root-feeding nematodes are controlled by beneficial
nematode species.
Seven Functions of a
healthy foodweb
A 14-week old turf root
system after four applica-
tions of compost tea, pho-
tographed by Hendrikus
Schraven (Seattle, USA,
www.soildynamics.com)
A nematode being trapped by
beneficial fungi
measuring the life in the soil
11. 10
Seven Functions of a
healthy foodweb cont’d
5. Protect plant surfaces above or below ground by making certain the foods the plant
surfaces release into the soil are used by beneficial (not disease) organisms.This is to make
certain that infection sites on plant surfaces are occupied by beneficial and not disease-
causing organisms.
6. Produce plant-growth-promoting hormones and chemicals.This can result in larger root
systems.
7. Decompose toxic compounds.
and microarthropod
(soil structure builders and transporters)
measuring the life in the soil
Protozoa fungal hyphae
12. 11
Compost tea is a brewed liquid produced by leaching soluble nutrients and extracting
bacteria, fungi, protozoa and nematodes from compost. It is easier to produce, transport and
apply than compost.
The compost-tea brewing process is many thousands of
years old. However, to produce a high-quality product, a
precise scientific procedure and specifically targeted and
tested ingredients must be used.The brewing process
takes 24 hours.This ensures high quality beneficial fungi
and bacteria grow and survive until application time.
The benefits of making soil healthy using
compost tea are:
1. that BioActive compost tea – when applied in a
proper management regime - conveniently returns
beneficial biology to the soil, which in turn re-builds a
soil foodweb
2. that it gives farmers/land-managers the power to reduce dependency on the rising costs
of fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides
3. that tea improves plant growth and reduces disease
4. that it significantly reduces water use, increasing profits for farmers/land-managers
5. that it encourages the
establishment of a healthy
biology that also reduces the
toxic build-up in soil as the
biology quickly degrades toxins
through natural digestive
processes, and
Benefits of using
compost tea
containing the complete foodweb:
Under the microscope, the secret life
of soil is revealed. Here a mature
Nematode is found with a young
nematode seen in the top left corner.
BioActive CompostTea being brewed
BioActiveTeas - aiming to increase nutrients in our food
13. 6. that it reduces toxicity in the soil, the outputs, the farm,
and the greater environment (especially drinking water
and estuaries)
7. that it builds better soil structure. Only biology builds
soil structre, and ALL the groups in the foodweb
are required to build successfully. You can’t just have
bacteria; you must have fungi, protozoa, nematodes
and microarthropods!
12
Benefits of using
CompostTea cont’d...
Banana plant
from the same
plantation after
the application of
aerobic compost
supplied by a
Certified Soil
Foodweb Institute
advisor.
2005 Prize-winning yield
These photographs have been supplied by GrahamTaylor from theTaylor Organic Plantation in Coffs Harbour.
Photos are also by Dr Elaine Ingham. Graham presented this data at ourinaugural Soil Symposium held in
Byron Bay, 2004.
Banana plant
previously managed
using chemical-
based pesticides,
but since 2001
organically
managed.
Photographed
2003.
Banana leaf
after application
of compost and
compost tea
(folia spray).
Photographed
2004.
Banana bell and
poor quality
organic fruiting
bunch before
compost or
compost tea
The time lapse between these two photographs is 18 months.
BioActiveTeas - aiming to increase nutrients in our food
14. Our Living Proof
Services
13 putting life back into the soil & profits back into farming
ASAP’s Sustainable Development Consultancy
Living Proof Systems provides a comprehensive sustainable
development design service. Given our backgrounds in agricultural
and landscape design, business management and the building &
development industry, we cater for all aspects of human settlement
design and management. The fundamental principle is a whole of property
site design and planning service including:
• Sustainable water and energy
management
• Architectural and building design
• Permaculture design
• Environmental rehabilitation
• Sustainability coaching (eg. greening
workplaces, achieving sustainability
profiles and certification).
Greg Hallett has worked with Australian urban development settlements, agricultural
design, and local government projects since 1997. He has also worked in the U.K. and Papua
New Guinea. In the past five years he has worked with renowned Australian architects and
landscape architects including rural development design with Gregory Burgess Architects and
eco-village design collaboration with SPLAT landscape architects in Brisbane. Greg brings a
strong sustainability focus to project teams, is a qualified Green Star professional, a BASIX
accredited practitioner and a Certified Soil Foodweb Advisor.
Jane Oliver has provided management consultancy services to
more than 450 businesses, education services and non-government
organisations. She has lived in rural Northern Rivers since 1997. Jane and
Greg formed a sustainability partnership in 2002 consulting from the Gold
Coast – Coffs Harbour and inland to rural NSW.
See www.footprintdirections.com for more information.
Contact jane@asapsupplier.com to discuss all aspects of sustainability:
ecology, equity and economy.
15. PaulTaylor arrived from the United States and became an
Australian in 1982. He was born and raised on an organic
farm, and has owned and developed seven organic farms. He
has provided more than 400 agricultural consultancy services.
Paul’s practice is grounded in permaculture principles and
comprehensive earthworks for improved water management. His
expertise in commercial and property development – particularly
with regard to biodiversity and human settlement design -
ensures a strong commercial viability to all our services.
Many advocates of sustainable agriculture imply you need
to compromise economic sustainability for the sake of the
environment. Not us.The SFI proven technology,ASAP Growers
Programmes and Living Proof Systems are helping farmers, land-
managers, developers and communities of all types and sizes
achieve remarkable results. Our combined services form an effective and efficient sustainable
development system.The results include:
• Increased plant health and yields
• Higher quality crops and nutrients in produce
• Lower watering and input expenses
• Improved design and subsequent land value
• Better community profile
• Reduced reliance on expensive chemical fertilizers and pest controls
• Higher profits
• Improved management systems that balances innovation with economical viability
• Opportunities for entrepreneurial expansion in an ethical framework
• Stronger team work and communications, and
• Multi-generational vision that provides short-term gains.
Please visit our websites for more information, testimonials and results.
www.footprintdirections.com (click on the Living Proof button)
www.asapsupplier.com (includes an online shop, technical data and education material).
Our Living Proof
Services cont’d...
www.asapsupplier.com
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