BioDynamic said:
Are you referring to the removal of all the Micro's, by flushing?[/quote
Yes that is what I meant. I'm not saying that every single microbe will be gone, but they numbers and their food will be greatly reduced to the point that they are not longer beneficial.
Absolutely.
Since we're talking microbes I'd like to add some important and interesting facts about the relationship between micro-organisms and plants most aren't familiar with yet... Plants actually control and regulate the soil microbial community within it's rhizosphere through Root-Microbe biochemical communication. (Why it is so easy for man-made chemicals to disrupt and cause chaos in the communication systems. The plants will attract and repel according to it's own needs.
Exc.S >>>
Upon encountering a challenge, roots typically respond by secreting certain small molecules and proteins
(Stintzi and Browse, 2000; Stotz et al., 2000). Root secretions may play symbiotic or defensive roles as a plant ultimately engages in positive or negative communication, depending on the other elements of its rhizosphere. In contrast to the extensive progress in studying plant-plant, plant-microbe, and plant-insect interactions that occur in above ground plant organs such as leaves and stems, very little research has focused on root-root, root-microbe, and root-insect interactions in the rhizosphere.
Our understanding of the biology, biochemistry, and genetic development of roots has considerably improved during the last decade
(Smith and Fedoroff, 1995; Flores et al., 1999; Benfey and Scheres, 2000). In contrast, the processes mediated by roots in the rhizosphere such as the secretion of root border cells and root exudates are not yet well understood
(Hawes et al., 2000). In addition to the classical roles of providing mechanical support and allowing water/nutrient uptake, roots also perform certain specialized roles, including the ability to synthesize, accumulate, and secrete a diverse array of compounds
(Flores et al., 1999).
Given the complexity and biodiversity of the underground world, roots are clearly not passive targets for soil organisms. Rather, the compounds secreted by plant roots serve important roles as chemical attractants and repellents in the rhizosphere, the narrow zone of soil immediately surrounding the root system
(Estabrook and Yoder, 1998; Bais et al., 2001). The chemicals secreted into the soil by roots are broadly referred to as root exudates. Through the exudation of a wide variety of compounds, roots may regulate the soil microbial community in their immediate vicinity, cope with herbivores, encourage beneficial symbioses, change the chemical and physical properties of the soil, and inhibit the growth of competing plant species
(Nardi et al., 2000; Fig. 1A). The ability to secrete a vast array of compounds into the rhizosphere is one of the most remarkable metabolic features of plant roots, with nearly 5% to 21% of all photosynthetically fixed carbon being transferred to the rhizosphere through root exudates
(Marschner, 1995).
As a consequence of normal growth and development, a large range of organic and inorganic substances are secreted by roots into the soil, which inevitably leads to changes in its biochemical and physical properties
(Rougier, 1981). Various functions have been attributed to root cap exudation including the maintenance of root-soil contact, lubrication of the root tip, protection of roots from desiccation, stabilization of soil micro-aggregates, and selective adsorption and storage of ions
(Griffin et al., 1976; Rougier, 1981; Bengough and McKenzie, 1997; Hawes et al., 2000). Root mucilage is a reasonably studied root exudate that is believed to alter the surrounding soil as it is secreted from continuously growing root cap cells
(Vermeer and McCully, 1982; Ray et al., 1988; McCully, 1995; Sims et al., 2000). Soil at field capacity typically possesses a matric potential of -5 to -10 kPa
(Chaboud and Rougier, 1984).
It has been speculated that as the soil dries and its hydraulic potential decreases, exudates will subsequently begin to lose water to soil. When this occurs, the surface tension of the exudates decreases and its viscosity increases. As the surface tension decreases, the ability of the exudates to wet the surrounding soil particles will become greater. In addition, as viscosity increases, the resistance to movement of soil particles in contact with exudates will increase, and a degree of stabilization within the rhizosphere will be achieved.
Due to significant advances in root biology and current National Science Foundation-funded projects on genomics of root-specific traits, roots are no longer considered an unexplored biological frontier. In contrast, knowledge of rhizospheric processes mediated by root exudates have not developed at the same pace; but the best discoveries have yet to come.
Hope someone enjoys the read
