What if someone told you that the more you use most insecticides – the less they work to eliminate plant pests? Have you seen mites on your plants, used a strong insecticide with early success, only to find them return stronger? Repeated use builds resistance in pests, reducing effectiveness over time (Sparks & Nauen, 2015)….

Igniting Plants to Bloom and Prosper Introduction Potassium (K) is the spark that sets plant growth ablaze, fueling everything from vibrant blooms to hearty harvests. As one of the top three nutrients—alongside nitrogen and phosphorus—potassium is essential for plants like flowers, vegetables, and crops, helping them manage water, power photosynthesis, and build strong cells. This…

The Importance of Nitrogen for Plant Health and Productivity Introduction Nitrogen (N) is like the fuel that powers plant growth, driving everything from lush green leaves to bountiful harvests. As a vital nutrient for all life, nitrogen is especially crucial for plants like cannabis, vegetables, or flowers, helping them build strong cells, capture sunlight, and…

Why Phosphorus Matters Phosphorus (P) is a crucial nutrient, driving plant growth, health, and productivity. It supports root development, disease resistance, nutrient absorption, flower production, and bud potency (e.g., cannabinoid and terpene content). This white paper explains how P works in cannabis, the challenges of ensuring its availability, and practical solutions to boost its use,…

Plant nitrogen uptake drives rhizosphere bacterial community assembly during plant growth Bell, C.W., et al. (2015). Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 85, 170–182. Highlights Abstract When plants establish in novel environments, they can modify soil microbial community structure and functional properties in ways that enhance their own success. Although soil microbial communities are influenced by abiotic environmental variability, rhizosphere microbial communities may also…

Rhizosphere stoichiometry: are C : N : P ratios of plants, soils, and enzymes conserved at the plant species-level? Bell, C., et al. (2014). New Phytologist 201(2): 505–517. Summary

High-throughput Fluorometric Measurement of Potential Soil Extracellular Enzyme Activities Abstract Microbes in soils and other environments produce extracellular enzymes to depolymerize and hydrolyze organic macromolecules so that they can be assimilated for energy and nutrients. Measuring soil microbial enzyme activity is crucial in understanding soil ecosystem functional dynamics. The general concept of the fluorescence enzyme…