Boron deficiencies may be related to lack of VAM, as boron deficiencies may CAUSE a lack of VAM, or a lack of VAM may exacerbate boron deficiencies.
Best,
Hugh
Thanks Hugh,
I'm also begging to explore mycroryzia fungi. Does anyone have expierence with inoculating fields and maintaining viable communities of VAM in fields. If so what are your expierences. I heard somewhere that boron defiency may actually be lack of VAM. Has anyone else heard this?
Thanks,
Daniel
----- Original Message -----
From: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>Hugh Lovel
To: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Wednesday, June 19, 2002 7:54 PM
Subject: Re: Refractometer
Hi All,
I'm new to the concept of measuring brix with a refractometer. I was wondering how valuable a tool people considered it and how accurately it measures produce quality.
Thanks,
Daniel
Dear D,
I have a refractometer and I use it from time to time. But what am I?--from the old school?
When I took chemistry my freshman Chem major's prof pointed out, as his opening statement in the course, that we carry around with us the two best methods of chemical analysis that have ever been developed, Taste and Smell.
Time and again it proves true.
The refractometer measures (roughly) the percent of dissolved solids.
Well, a plant is either salty and watery and thus weak, or it is chock full of sugars and dissolved solids. Naturally we want to eat the latter, while (interestingly) insects prey on the former. Since sugars, both simple and complex, are ordinarily such a high percentage of plant sap, brix commonly is taken to mean sugar content.
It ain't. But that's close.
One of the troubles is that complexity of plant sap is NOT measured by brix. So you've measured your percent dissolved solids by the refractometer and it's high? Great! But how complex is it? The tongue is a better indicator of complexity. If you get that strong, harsh, sap that puckers the tongue and rasps the throat, you can bet your can-tush that it is complex, and the insect pests aren't going to have anything to do with that plant. It has immunity by virtue of its complexity, which is a measure of its organization, and organization is the basis of life--so you've measured its vitality.
Like I say, I use my refractometer. It's a good instrument. People don't argue with it, where they might argue with my taste. But it's grammar school stuff. ( I wish they taught it in grammar school!) But, if I might venture an opinion from the old school, learn to use your senses, particularly taste and smell. Human senses are just a jigger in the great spectrum of vibrations, but they are--in aces and trumps--what is most important to human life.
Back in the BDnow archives is another post I wrote about the refractometer. It was about high brix in the morning indicating boron deficiency. You might look it up.
Good luck with your refractometer. It is probably accurate, very useful, and can be lots of fun. It can help enormously to educate your taste and smell, which you should learn to use above all else.
Best,
Hugh Lovel
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