Soil Food Web On November 2, 2000 soil samples were obtained from Bonesteele upland prairie and taken to Soil Foodweb for anaylsis of microscopic organisms that live within the soils. To give context to the analysis, soil samples were also obtained from a remant native prairie called Shoulder to Shoulder Farm (S2S).
The following table summarizes the ratios of organisms and gives standards for prairies/agricultural fields in the Willamette Valley.
Overview of desired range:
1. Row crops: 0.6-1.2; early successional grass: 0.5-0.75; late successional grass: 0.8-1.52. Warm spring, early summer: 0.25-0.95; early spring, late winter & mid-summer: 0.10-0.15; fall rain: 0.15-0.20. Higher values mean organisms are not recovering from a negative impact. Lower values mean organisms are not recovering and help is needed, typically addition of their food source is required.3. Generally 1:1 results in good crop soil aggregate structure. Values above 1:1 mean soil pH may be decreasing, values less than 1:1 mean pH increasing. Anaerobic conditions generally will result in extremely low soil pH. 4. Based on release of N from protozoan and nematode consumption of bacteria and fungi. Often protozoa and nematodes compete for food resources. When one is high, the other may be low. also, if predator numbers are high, the prey may have low numbers.5. Identification to genus.