How Plants

Grow

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Presented By

Hugh Lovel

2 Worendo St., Wiangaree, NSW 2474 Australia

hugh.lovel9@gmail.com quantumagriculture@gmail.com

For The

Food Summit, Tennessee State University, 2015

How Plants Grow

Soil Biology and Plant Roots

Legumes do NOT fix nitrogen. So,

what do they do?

Root Exudation:

Legumes Acid—Grasses alkaline

Cover illustration:

pH changes

in the rhizosphere of

chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

and maize (Zea mays L.)

fertilized with nitrate.

An agar sheet containing bromocresol

purple

(pH indicator) was placed

on the root/soil surface.

Bulk soil pH 5.0;

chickpea 3.9,

maize 6.5

(Courtesy of Barbara Dinkelaker).

How Plants Grow

• Roots take up nutrients via their

woody interior, known as the xylem.

This feeds cell division, chlorophyll

production and photosynthesis in the

tips and leaves, building up sugars.

• Each type of plant sends a different

mix of its surplus back to its root tips

via the outer root layer just under the

bark, known as the phloem.

• These root exudates act as a food

source for various microbes which

elaborate nutrients from clay/humus

complexes, solubilise phosphorous, fix

nitrogen and provide digestion and

nutrient release.

(Fixed Root)

(Growing Tip)

Actinomycetes Primary Silica Solubilizers

Lamb’s Quarters with Vesicular

Arbuscular Mycorrhizae

Rhizobacter

Azotobacter

Buckwheat

Valerian

Phosphorous

Solubilizers

A Grass Plant clotted with

microbes solubilizing

silicon and phosphorus,

fixing nitrogen and

releasing nutrients

Rhizobia

Azotobacter

Nettle

Chamomile

Nitrogen Fixers

• Vertical Axis

• Photosynthesis

• Blossoming

• Fruiting

• Ripening

• Physical Element

• Refines The Essence

• Parallel Leaf Veins

• Elongates Things

• Cell Wall

• Levitational

• Grasses

Silicon works in Summer

Cosmic By Day

Silicon is the most ignored element in agriculture Fungal transport tissue

Calcium works in Winter

Earthly By Night

• Horizontal Axis

• Nitrogen Fixation

• Digestion

• Nourishment

• Growth

• Etheric Element

Calcium fixes nitrogen and provides for cell reproduction

• Reproduces Things

• Branching Leaf Veins

• Fattens Things

• Cell nucleus

• Gravitational

• Legumes

Bacteria in

solution

Mined Clay Humates Biodynamic Horn Clay

Clay moderates between Lime and Silica

Clay and Humus

Pottery Clay

Plants Animals Microbes

Biological

Diversity

What Plants Do In Nature

Ectomycorrhizae Endophytic

Actinomycetes

Vesicular Arbuscular

Mycorrhizae

Symbiotic Fungi and Bacteria

Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria

(Azotobacters)

Protozoa Dung Beetles Ants Collemboles Mite Nematode

Digestion and Nutrient Release

Bees Cows Earthworms

The effect of soil animals on soil structure

Ginger as a

“Ruminant”

Builds Biology

Rich

Symbiosis

Rich

Symbiosis

Small Area, High Value

Soil Condition After Ginger

A “Lucky” Farm