Microbe Science for Gardeners

Secrets to Better Plant Health

Robert Pavlis

$44.99

Paperback

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English

New Society Publishers
01 January 2024

Microbiology (non-medical); Self-sufficiency; Gardening; Specialised gardening methods; Trees, wildflowers & plants

Series: Garden Science Series

Your garden's little helpers – the role of microbes in growing great plants.

Microscopic organisms are as important to plant growth as water and light. Microbe Science for Gardeners highlights the essential role of microbes in plant biosystems and soil health, provides practical how-to gardening advice for enhancing plant microbiomes, and debunks common gardening myths.

This accessible guide goes beyond soil biology to examine the crucial role of microorganisms in cultivating a productive garden. Coverage includes:

The vital interrelationships in microbe populations and between microbes and plants Understanding microbes such as bacteria, yeast, mycorrhizal fungi, and protozoa, both in the rhizosphere and above ground Scientific breakthroughs about microbes that live in the leaves and roots of plants, forming symbiotic relationships How practices such as tilling, crop rotation, and mulching affect the microbe community How the savvy gardener can influence microbial colonies to encourage beneficial organisms while discouraging those that cause disease or other undesirable effects An objective, common-sense analysis of recently popularized practices such as controlling fungal-to-bacterial ratios and applying biostimulants, compost tea, or plant probiotics Prevention and cures for dozens of bacterial, viral, and fungal plant diseases.

Whether you're a home gardener, market gardener, or micro-farmer, Microbe Science for Gardeners will help you leverage the incredible power of the mighty microbe to grow healthy, strong, thriving plants.

By: Robert Pavlis
Imprint: New Society Publishers
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 11mm
Weight: 304g
ISBN: 9780865719774
ISBN 10: 0865719772
Series: Garden Science Series
Pages: 192
Publication Date: 01 January 2024
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

1. Introduction Why Learn About Microbes? Terms Used in This Book 2. The World Under a Microscope Microbes by the Numbers Microbes Are Important to Plants Microbes Can Harm Plants Gardeners Affect Microbes How Do Microbes Move Around? How Much Do We Really Know? 3. Bacteria How Do Bacteria Eat? Where Do Bacteria Live? Life Cycle of Bacteria Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria 4. Fungi What do Fungi Eat? Where Do Fungi Live? Life Cycle of Fungi Pathogenic Fungi Mycorrhizal Fungi 5. Yeast Life Cycle of Yeast Yeast-Plant Interactions Yeast in Hellebore Nectar Yeast Creates Alcoholics Yeast on Leaves Yeast in Soil A Bioindicator of Air Quality A Possible Solution to Plastic Pollution 6. Nematodes 7. Protozoa Life Cycle of Protozoa Nutrient Cycling Protozoa-Plant Interactions Plant Diseases 8. Viruses Viruses in Soil Life Cycle of a Virus The Spread of Viruses Virus Infection of Microbes Virus Infection of Plants Rapid Mutation Beneficial Interaction with Plants 9. More Microbes Archaea Actinomycetes Cyanobacteria Algae 10. Microbe Communities Microbe Communities and Microbiomes Signaling Between Microbes Microbes Attack Microbes Mycorrhizal Interactions Lichens 11. Plants Love Microbes Nutrient Availability The Phyllosphere Rhizosphere Rhizophagy Cycle Seed Microbiome 12. Manipulating Microbes Fungal-to-Bacterial Ratio Effect of Agriculture Biodiversity 13. Bioinoculants for the Garden Bioinoculants for Seeds Bioinoculants as a Foliar Spray Bioinoculants for Soil Microbes Are No Longer Living Should Gardeners Use Commercial Bioinoculants? Compost Tea 14. Pathogens You Suspect a Disease—What Now? List of Plant Diseases Fighting Plant Diseases Commercial Pesticides Human Diseases Endnotes Index About the Author Also by the Author About New Society Publishers

Robert Pavlis is a Master Gardener with over 45 years' experience in the art and science of horticulture, with a particular focus on soil chemistry and health. He is the owner and developer of Aspen Grove Gardens, a 6-acre botanical garden featuring 3,000 varieties of plants. A sought-after speaker, and lecturer, Robert has published many articles in magazines such as Mother Earth News and Ontario Gardening. He maintains two widely read blogs – gardenfundamentals.com and gardenmyths.com – and a popular YouTube channel with tens of thousands of subscribers. Robert is the author of Compost Science for Gardeners, Plant Science for Gardeners, Soil Science for Gardeners, and Building Natural Ponds. He lives in Guelph, Canada.

Reviews for Microbe Science for Gardeners: Secrets to Better Plant Health

"""Robert Pavlis' newest book, Microbe Science for Gardeners beautifully breaks it down in his usual no-nonsense way. If you want to learn anything about the science of soil, and what's in it, this book will help you easily understand the vital role microbes play in bringing soil (and everything growing in it) to life!"" –Joe Lamp'l, founder, joegardener.com, The Online Gardening Academy™, creator/ executive producer, Growing a Greener World® ""Robert Pavlis' Microbe Science for Gardeners is an accessible and understandable dive into the amazing relationship between microbes and plants. Useful and practical gardening advice."" –Jeff Lowenfels, author, the Teaming Series and DIY Autoflowering Cannabis ""Microbe Science for Gardeners is deeply in-tune with the current science and Pavlis also introduces us to lesser-known and developing ideas in soil microbiology that we will see grow over the next few years. No matter your understanding of soil biology, I suspect Microbe Science for Gardeners will leave you deeply enriched, as it has me. From backyard to farm-scale, this is a book every grower should possess."" –Jesse Frost, author, The Living Soil Handbook: The No-till Grower's Guide to Ecological Market Gardening ""This fascinating book by Robert Pavlis presents the latest science on what is known (and not known) about the multitude of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes that fill the soil, cover leaves, and interact with roots. This is an outstanding resource and should be in the hands of anyone interested in gardening!"" –Linda Gilkeson, author, Backyard Bounty: The Complete Guide to Year-Round Organic Gardening in the Pacific Northwest ""A must-have for gardeners who want to understand the unseen worlds above and below the soil, Robert Pavlis' latest book explains the hidden life keeping our plants thriving."" –Rebecca Martin, technical editor, Mother Earth News ""Robert Pavlis has a unique ability to communicate complex topics with ease and clarity. He has done it again with Microbe Science for Gardeners. This comprehensive exploration of soil ecology examines the dynamic relationships between plants and the microbiome of the soil, providing the reader with a guide to understanding the role of bacteria, viruses, fungi and other microbes in the creation and maintenance of healthy soil."" –Darrell Frey, owner, Three Sisters Farm, and author, Bioshelter Market Garden: A Permaculture Farm"