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WORKING WITH PARAMAGNETISM any of the soils you mention. Paramagnetic levels range from Graeme: I'd like to ask you a few questions about the 3,000 to 10,000 cgs. The interesting thing is that, even at these mechanics of paramagnetism for my own benefit and for the _ elevated levels, there is still a difference in yield between soils readers. Is there any relationship between paramagnetism and measuring 3,000 and those measuring 10,000 cgs. Even more Brix levels? interesting, soils measuring 7,000 were still showing a visible Phil: A recent article in Acres USA [September 2000] cited benefit from the application of basalt crusher dust which mea- research where there was a six-point difference between low sured just 2,000 cgs. Can you explain this? and high paramagnetic soils. It's not the complete answer, but it Phil: Here you are looking at remineralising benefits. It may certainly plays a role. be cobalt or iron. Phil Wheeler suggests that nickel is often the Graeme: In your book you suggest that compost, micro- missing link. Whatever the case, the response from the crusher organisms and paramagnetism are the principal ingredients in dust isn't coming from paramagnetism here. Paramagnetism sustainable agriculture. We use a lot more inputs than that, and stimulates bacteria to increase the bio-availability of micro- and from experience I feel that this analysis is too simplistic. macro-nutrients, but if you don't have those nutrients present, Calcium, potassium, phosphorus and trace elements are often you won't get the desired results. You could theoretically have still necessary inputs. a soil measuring 15,000, but without calcium it would not pro- Phil: I'm not anti-chemical. Like Arden Andersen and Phil duce. Wheeler, I believe that muriate of potash is indefensible; but the Graeme: How reliable is paramagnetism as a plant growth point I am making is that if you don't have paramagnetic energy stimulant? Can any grower source a good crusher dust, apply it in your soil, then the fertilisers you are applying are simply not —_ and expect to see results, assuming that his existing soil levels being utilised. The family farm is at risk because money is are low? being wasted. Phil: No, definitely not. Soil life is the thing. If you need nitrogen, then use the best source for your soil, Paramagnetism works with compost. There may be hundreds but don't use anhydrous ammonia. I'll tell you something about —_ of organic growers out there doubling their yields, but when this product. Research has been cited, suggesting that earth- you apply the same material to a dead, chemically farmed soil it worm counts can increase follow- won't work. If you don't have a ing an application of anhydrous minimum level of organic matter, ammonia. Now, earthworms are paramagnetism doesn't work. I've considered the epitome of high fer- even trialled it at home. Both of my tility. The fact here is that ammo- .the point l am making is that turnip plots have had paramagnetic nia attracts insects, and it also if you don't have paramagnetic material added, but one has also had attracts earthworms. Dead roots compost. There is no comparison outgas ammonia, and earthworms energy in your soil, then the between the growth: compost is the track this emission because dead fertilisers you are applying are key. organic matter is what they feed on. . . ae Graeme: That's interesting. I You really have to understand the simply not being utilised. had no idea that the link was so bigger picture when analysing strong. Is there a one-on-one rela- anything. The tendency toward tionship between increasing organic rigid, narrow-minded disciplines, matter levels and response from considering just a little part of the paramagnetic materials? picture, is dangerous. A holistic approach is essential. Phil: It's pretty complicated, and we haven't yet done the Graeme: We offer a free service to growers, measuring local research to be able to be that precise. There's another 10 years crusher dust to determine the fertilising potential of these mate- of work here, and I can't do it all. rials. Basalt is the predominant paramagnetic material in Graeme: One of your strengths is your capacity to bring Australia. There is a huge variation between samples, witha together the threads of many different disciplines to offer a variation between 100 and 3,000 cgs on the meter. Why is more holistic explanation. This is in direct contrast to the there such a variation? What exactly is it that determines levels reductionism of modern science. Has this broad-stroke of paramagnetism? approach proved to be a handicap in terms of mainstream Phil: This is pure speculation. I'm not a volcanologist, but credibility? there appears to be a relationship between the amount of Phil: The generalist approach is not for anyone who wants to magma in an eruption and the paramagnetic level of the rock win a Nobel Prize. Chuck Walters gave me a prize last year—a erupted. Magma is from down low; many small eruptions sim- little glass plaque—and I said: "This is my Nobel Prize." It ply don't contain this deep material. Heat is the key ingredient. wouldn't mean a hill of beans to me to win the Nobel Prize. I Even simple composting can lift paramagnetic levels. Compost mean, the guy who invented DDT got the Nobel Prize. Credit alone can lift a soil from 30 to 70 cgs. is rarely given where it is due. Graeme: We've increased paramagnetic readings in the soil My favourite example is the 19th-century scientific genius, by up to 700%, simply by correcting the calcium/magnesium John Tyndall. Tyndall actually discovered penicillin 80 years ratio and lifting oxygen levels in the soil. before Sir Alexander Fleming did. He discovered that scent Phil: Oxygen is the key here. It is the most highly molecules absorb infrared radiation. He actually said that this paramagnetic gas. When this magma erupts, it rains down and is the way olfaction works. Tyndall also discovered paramag- it picks up oxygen. There is a link here between the heat and netism, so both of the things I'm working on today were discov- oxidisation. ered in 1850. This is so often the case in science, but there is so Graeme: There is one interesting phenomenon I would like — much dishonesty in this industry. Egos cover the truth, and to discuss. We do some work in an area in Queensland called _ credit is not given where it is due. I actually discovered these Blackbutt. I've seen your references to optimal and high para- things myself, but then found out later that Tyndall had found magnetic levels, but this particular area reads far higher than these things before I did. .the point | am making is that if you don't have paramagnetic energy in your soil, then the fertilisers you are applying are simply not being utilised. NEXUS +37 WORKING WITH PARAMAGNETISM FEBRUARY — MARCH 2003 www.nexusmagazine.com