Sugar Sources &why they matter
Following our recent time to talk events where we discussed all things carbon, the subject of sugar naturally crept in too as sugar is a carbon source. As we know there are many different types of sugar sources which each one having a different goal. Sugars are important for both soil biology and natural processes in the plant.
Olivia Bye
Reading time: 8 minutes
The purpose of sugars to plants:
As we know, the same way we look at food, there are different types of sugar. We have sucrose, lactose, fructose and glucose. Each one is chemically different. This chemical difference leads to the deviation between simple and complex sugars. To a plant, having access to basic sugars, fructose and glucose, is important for energy production and metabolism. Whereas sucrose is important for both energy storage/ transport.
Sugar in the plant comes down to the process of photosynthesis to make glucose. When we apply a carbon, or therefore a sugar source, we’re mimicking the plants natural process to excrete exudates through the roots to feed biology and earthworms!
The purpose of sugars to biology
Having access to a depth of sugar sources is important to ensure all of the critters are being fed and can multiple sustainably. When looking at biology and sugar sources we must look at the whole soil food web:
Source: Center for Food Safety | The Soil Food Web
The soil food web comes back to the classic scenario of we feed the plant, the plant feeds the soil, the soil feeds the biology and the cycle goes around. This symbiosis creates a healthy rhizosphere around the plant to ensure that everything works in unison for a healthy, nutrient rich, plant. Once the cycle establishes itself and is maintained, it’s the perfect example of how a small amount of maintenance can lead to long term factory sustainability. Biology that benefits our agriculture practices come across the whole soil food web. Each biology level feeds on a
different type of sugar and carbon source. More complex biology needs more complex food sources. This is due to the more complex biology being able to break down more complex sources.
Single to Complex Organic Matter
Bacterial foods
(alkaline enzymes)
Sugar
Amino acids
Unbranched carbon chains
Unbranched sugars with N (NH2 – Amide group)
Bacteria and Fungi
compete for these foods
Protein
Lipopolysaccharides
Hormones
2 or more (can be 1,000s) Amino acids bonded
together. Can be branched.
Branched, PO4
Long Protein chains, cyclical
Fungal foods
(acidic enzymes)
Ulmic acids
Fulvic acids
Humic acids
Highly branched, rings
More highly branched, tan
Extremely branched, complex, brown in colour
During our time to talk events, the topic of ulmic acid came up a few times. So to touch on it briefly, ulmic acid is the early, less constant part of humic decomposition of soil organic matter.
Why biology is important for farming:
When we consider healthy soil, we are aiming to be ever so slightly more fungi dominated than bacteria. This means that we have to consider all levels of biology feeding from the diagram
above to ensure no one is fed to fall behind, and the other become more dominant. Soil organisms are responsible for general soil health (and therefore long-term plant health!) including structure. Due to nutrient cycling and soil organic matter decomposition which is also known as humus- that lovely smelling/ crumbly texture we want. And from last year we know how important good soil structure having is to allow that water to drain away! Unless we have a good starting point for a seed, in the soil, the plant growing from that medium will never match up to one grown in a heathier soil system. Biology really is the turning point for any farm wanting to grow better crops on a lower input system. Something I get asked quite often is “is it too late to improve my biology?” and the answer is no! Biology will go dormant but it will never fully die out. If you have a host plant in the soil, even nutrient poor, ploughed year on year, degraded soils can be turned around by placing biology into the seed bed. It’s never too late to implement anything on this journey, its your farm on your timeline. When we talk about biological inoculants, we discuss Aiva’s Consortium and Bioplus T. Each of which we put with a carbon/ sugar source, Aiva Nurture N or Aiva Citadel, to ensure the biology has an appropriate packed lunch for multiplication. These can either be as part of a seed drench, seed dressing or a part of a soil applied application.
What do you think?
Let us know your thoughts. At AIVA, we may not have all the answers, but we are good at asking the right questions. Your system is unique, and we’re here to help you find the best solutions. Reach out to one of our consultants today to discuss how our products can benefit your farm.