Dr. Christine Jones, Evening Keynote: The Liquid Carbon Pathway and Common Mycorrhizal Networks MP3

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A global soil health revolution is taking place, one based on plant diversity. In parallel with research into the human gut microbiome, understanding and supporting the functioning of the soil microbiome is being increasingly recognized as the future for agriculture.

In this keynote address, Dr. Christine Jones will explain that due to the soil priming effects of multispecies crops and pastures, farmers in many parts of the world are finding they are able to significantly reduce or even eliminate the need for inorganic fertilizer. Plant roots exude hundreds of different biological compounds, many of which act as signals to soil microbes. Root exudates vary continuously over time, depending on the plant’s immediate requirements. The greater the diversity of plants, the greater the diversity of microbes and the more robust the soil ecosystem.

Plants in diverse communities assist each other by linking together via vast underground superhighways termed "Common Mycorrhizal Networks" through which they can exchange carbon, water and nutrients. Common mycorrhizal networks increase plant resistance to pests and diseases as well as enhancing plant vigor and improving soil health. Sure to be an amazing presentation from one of Acres U.S.A.’s most popular interviews ever.

(36.00 MB) (1 hour, 5 minutes) Recorded at the 2017 Acres U.S.A. Conference, Columbus, Ohio, Wednesday, December 6, 2017.