Johnson Su Bioreactor

As we mentioned in our update last week, we built our first Johnson Su Bioreactor with the IU Sustainable Ag students. This is something we stumbled upon while doing research on different composting methods.

This composting method is unique in that it doesn't involve "turning the pile". Essentially, the Johnson Su bioreactor focuses on the development of healthy fungi that enhance the microbes within the soil. After the fungi have grown and used up the available nutrients, they will produce spores (about 1 year). We will then capture these highly concentrated spores and inoculate our fields with them as a natural fertilizer. Some farmers have seen incredible results in rebuilding the natural soil nutrient levels without any additional fertilizers. We are very optimistic about this natural, low cost way to quickly rehabilitate soil. If all goes well, we hope to get other farmers to transition to this and help them realize the benefits.

This method seeks to show that microbial diversity is the key to regenerating soil carbon!