Soil-Life can be used as an inoculant to create living soils. The microorganisms in Soil-Life are known to produce bioactive substances, vitamins, hormones, enzymes, amino acids, and antibiotics, which enrich and detoxify the soil. Soil-Life directly enhances plant growth and produces high yielding crops, which are drought, frost, pest and disease resistant without the need of any agricultural chemicals.

Soil-Life consists of a wide variety of effective, beneficial, non-pathogentic aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms cultured in diluted molasses that are mutually compatible with one another.

Soil-Life is produced through a natural fermentation process and not chemically synthesized or genetically engineered. This mixture of selected microorganisms including lactic acid bacteria, yeasts and photosynthetic bacteria are native to Australia. Soil-Life has been used successfully to:

• improve soil quality and the growth, yield and quality of crops
• improve the quality and shelf-life of fruits and vegetables

Soil-Life can be used to accelerate the soil building process and promote beneficial microbial communities. The soil building process revolves around soil aggregate formation. Soil aggregates form as mineral and decomposed organic matter particles are bound together by microbial secretions that act as glues. Stable and well-formed soil aggregate is the key to overall soil function. Soil-Life produces high levels of polysaccharides and other beneficial enzymes and organic acids that help build stable aggregate and soil structure. Increased aggregate stability prevents the pore spaces between the aggregates from collapsing during heavy, saturating rains and reduces compaction caused by machinery. Furthermore, improved soil aggregate stability reduces soil erosion and run-off. Soils are better able to absorb and retain moisture, as well as cycle nutrients.

Many nutrients are held in the top layers of soil due to the cation exchange capacity (CEC). The CEC increases as aggregate formation mature because the aggregate are providing the surface area for the nutrients to adsorb or stick to (not absorb). Soil-Life efficiently breaks down organic matter into stable humus, a key component to aggregate formation, by reducing oxidative forces that primarily rob the soil of Carbon and Nitrogen in the form of methane and ammonium gases, respectively. This is achieved from a reduction of available Hydrogen ions due to a favourable change of organic acid composition and concentration in the soil. The result is that a greater amount of organic matter is converted to humus, aiding in aggregate formation.

Nitrate is an anion (not involved in CEC), and is prone to leach into the sub-soil if not readily used, and becomes part of amino acid chains. Amino acids are not negatively charged and can be utilized as plant food over a long period of time. Soil-Life helps to improve Nitrogen cycling at two points. First, when Soil-Life creates a reducing environment as raw organic nitrogen is decomposed eventually into nitrate ,reducing the amount of mineralization of Nitrogen and Carbon. Second, when forming amino acids that provide a slow release food source for plants.

Added Benefits

The benefits of Soil-Life are not just limited to direct soil applications. The foundation of a healthy plant is healthy soil. Crop quality standards can be strict and Soil-Life foliar applications can be an important technique to improve crop quality and consistency. Soil-Life foliar treatments help build leaf, stem, fruit, and flower tissue. The use of Airborne diseases spread from plant to plant by wind, rain, and insects. Soil-Life can significantly improve the plant's ability to fend off these disease vectors by reducing the space and moisture available to the pathogens on the plant surface. Improved crop sizing, consistency, post-harvest shelf life, colour, flavour, and density are all benefits of foliar treatments. Results will vary depending on the crop. Spraying crops with Airborne diseases spread from plant to plant by wind, rain, and insects. Soil-Life can significantly improve the plant's ability to fend off these disease vectors by reducing the space and moisture available to the pathogens on the plant surface. Improved crop sizing, consistency, post-harvest shelf life, colour, flavour, and density are all benefits of foliar treatments. Results will vary depending on the crop. Spraying crops with Soil-Life on a regular basis will improve overall crop quality during harvest and maintain quality during storage and pack-out.

The use of Soil-Life to improve soil structure, organic matter management, and nutrient cycling compliments efforts to reduce reliance on mechanical and material inputs. Establishing Soil-Life in soil ultimately results in increased profitability and sustainability.
***Note to first time users: It is important to apply Soil-Life consistently the first few years to establish the cultures in soils. Once Soil-Life is thoroughly established it works with reduced dependency.**

Summary:

1. Maximize the conversion of organic matter into stable humus and the efficiency of C and N cycling in the soil.
2. Improve crop consistency and post harvest quality.
3. Resistance to soil compaction and erosion due to improved soil structure and aggregate stability.
4. Promote the native beneficial microbial populations that naturally occur in your soils.

Soil Treatment:

Soil-Life to irrigation water at a rate of 5 litres of Soil-Life per hectare. This can be done 4-8 times a year depending on climate. Dry or cold climates require more frequent treatments. If you do not irrigate, Soil-Life can be drilled into soil at a 3-6 inch depth and a rate of 2.5 - 5 litres per hectare. If soil organic matter is below 1% additional molasses may be added to the Soil-Life application at a rate of 1/2 litre molasses per 1 litre of Soil-Life. The molasses will help accelerate the production of stable organic matter colloidal particles (humus)

Extending and Activating Soil-Life

200 litre drum
160 litres water. (good clean water, not town water or water treated with alum)
20 litres Soil-Life
20 litres Molasses

Mix all ingredients in 200 litre drum, stir with compressed air for best results.
Leave cap/top off for first 2 days stirring for a couple of minutes each day.
A white yeast will appear on top when product is starting to activate.
Keep top on drum but release the pressure from built up gases, from microbes, periodically.
When white yeast disappears the product will be ready for use – this is usually about a week to 10 days depending on temperature. (weather conditions)

Mix with water and spray out in the evening or early morning, avoid the heat of the day.