A Christmas puzzle

What might a microscope tell us?

Last month a marvellous opportunity presented itself. I spoke with a UK grower, who had just completed a trial. They were interested in how different soil treatments might impact growth of annual flowers. These might possibly be perennial, if it was a mild winter (though effectively they are treated as annuals).

The grower had taken 6 planting containers, grew the same plants in each, “just” treated the soil differently.

They gave me 6 soil samples to have a look at under the microscope, but haven’t yet told me how well things grew in which pot, only how each sample was treated.
My challenge was to guess which soil sample came from which pot, purely based on a soil microbiological assessment.

Now, this had some flaws:

  • They had only one pot of each, so any finding could be a chance finding, as soil is highly variable. Having had at least x3 pots each treated the same way would have been preferable.
  • I wasn’t able to assess them all at the same time. This is likely to have impacted soil biology. I kept them all in open bags, so oxygen was available to the soil organisms.
  • I am not yet a qualified soil food lab technician. I am learning, and mistakes are likely.
  • I haven’t seen enough soil diversity yet. One reason why I jumped at this opportunity was to expose myself to soils I had no personal relationship with.


But what fun! It was intriguing to see how the soil was so significantly different in the 6 pots, given they grew the same plants, and were, apart from the amendments or growing containers, treated the same. Even the seedlings planted in the pots were graded so that each pot to start with was as similar as possible.
I met some soil critters that I had never encountered before. Wish I had my camera sorted to share some good images here (Camera not connecting to software, and thus my white balance is off – any help welcome!).

Here are the growing conditions:

All pots were planted up with shop-bought soil (think John Innes type, felt a little sandy), to which some composted manure was added. Then they were treated as follows:

  1. Control – just watered
  2. One plant pot received composted pumpkin
  3. One plant pot received composted pumpkin plus urine
  4. One received more composted manure
  5. Instead of a plastic pot, the plants grew in a wooden box (made from a local tree). No additional amendments.
  6. Instead of a plastic pot, the plants grew in a cone-shaped clay pot. No additional amendments.

I don’t know yet which plants grew strongest, had the most flowers, most pollinators and fewest pest problems. Was there any difference at all?
I am in suspense to finding out the answers, but don’t think I will know until next year.
So, to share the cliff-hanger, here are the soil biology assessments. Have a go – which sample (T-Y) was treated with which soil amendment (1-6)?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
Resolution to follow (drop me a line through the contact section if you want to know the answer).

Sample
Evaluation date
T 16/12/20U 15/12/20V 07/12/20W 10/12/20X 10/12/20Y 30/11/20
Biomass
Bacteria microgram/gram144123164103164191
Fungi
microgram/gram
503544971444.991.856
Fungi:Bacterial ratio3.4:14.2:15.7:14.2:10.6:10.3:1
“Oomycetes”/possible pathogenic fungi029.2019.43.90
Actinobacteria Microgram/gram4.16.14.82.62.28.2
Protozoa in numbers/gram326082445640760

+ 8152 ciliate
57064  4076017119
Nematodes in
numbers/gram
00000210
Biodiversity
Types of bacteria presentcocci, coccobacilli, bacilli, actinobacter


cocci, coccobacilli, bacilli, actinobacter


cocci, coccobacilli, bacillicocci, coccobacilli, bacilli, actinobactercocci, coccobacilli, bacilli, actinobactercocci, coccobacilli, bacilli
Types of protozoa presentTestate amoebaAmoebaAmoeba (arcella)
Flagella
Ciliate (single ciliate in one drop)
Amoeba (arcella, testate amoeba)Amoeba (testate, arcella)Testate amoeba
Types of nematodes presentN/AN/AN/AN/AN/ABacterial feeder
Microarthropods
in numbers/drop
(1 drop = 0.05ml)  





Group
00000



1    


 
Crustacean
Types of beneficial fungi



       

Present in 6/50 FOV. Diameters 3, 3, 4 and 6 micrometer, septate, clear (5/6) and dark brown (1/6)  Present in 5/50 FOV. Diameters 2, 2.5 and 5 micrometers, clear, septate  Present in many frames.                Single strand in 1/50 FOV                Small strands in 3/50 FOV (tan/clear)            Few strands in 4/50 FOV, ? 3 species (clear/brown/tan)            
Possible pathogenic fungi:
(classified as oomycetes according to Dr Elaine Ingham, though there is some discussion around the accuracy of this classification)
  Single strand in 1/50 FOVSingle strand in 1/50 FOV  Single strand (very small) in 1/50 FOV   
Other  Unidentified multi-cellular organisms, with rotavators.
? free swimming rotifer
  Rotifer (extend/contract
movement)
Table of soil food web measurements in 6 differently treated soil samples
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