THE JOHNSON SU COMPOSTING SYSTEM & BEAM – A METHOD FOR BIOLOGICALLY ENHANCED AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT

Healthy soil is teaming with life in the form of billions of microscopic soil organisms. A teaspoon of healthy soil can contain more soil microorganisms than there are people on earth. The soil microorganisms found in healthy,  or “living soil,”  have important functions including converting nutrients for plants, building soil structure, improving how soil absorbs water, and allowing soil to draw down and sequester more carbon.

Unfortunately much of our agricultural soil is not alive or healthy – the good news though, is these soils CAN be regenerated – and in a relatively short time frame. The Johnson Su Compost Bioreactor system produces a biologically enhanced compost by creating an environment where beneficial soil microorganisms thrive and multiply. The BEAM method involves adding Johnson Su compost inoculants to soil and following other key soil health principles , for example by planting biodiverse and perennial pastures and managing grazing appropriately, which work together to revive the mutually beneficial symbiosis between soil microbes and plant roots.

In this Talkin’ After Hours webinar, presenters Dr. David C. Johnson, molecular biologist and senior research scientist at New Mexico State University (NMSU), & his wife Hui-Chun Su Johnson, will discuss this simple & low cost ‘make on the farm’ tool & method they have developed that can assist land managers to bring their soils back to life.

In the presentation Dr Johnson will also take participants through the results of his research on the impact of using Johnson Su Composting system & BEAM as a low cost alternative to the use of synthetic fertilsers on crop/pasture productivity, its impact on soil aggregation, water infiltration & retention, and the soils capacity to sequester carbon.