The Johnson-Su Bioreactor: Rebuilding Soil Biology from the Ground Up

Healthy soil doesn’t start with products—it starts with biology.

Across Saskatchewan, farmers and ranchers are asking deeper questions about soil function, resilience, and long-term productivity. How do we rebuild biological diversity? How do we reduce dependence on inputs without sacrificing yield? And how do we create systems that work with nature, not against it?

One approach gaining global attention is the Johnson-Su bioreactor, developed through the research of Dr. David C. Johnson and Hui-Chun Su Johnson. Their work focuses on restoring soil microbial communities as a foundation for productive, profitable, and resilient agricultural systems.

In February 2026, Saskatchewan producers will have the opportunity to learn directly from Dr. Johnson when he speaks at the Soil Health Conference in Saskatoon (February 11–12).

What is the Johnson-Su Bioreactor?

Dr. David Johnson and co-creator Hui-Chun Su Johnson with the Johnson-Su bioreactor. Photo Courtesy of Dr. Johnson

The Johnson-Su bioreactor is a static, aerobic composting system designed to grow highly diverse, fungal-dominant microbial communities. Unlike conventional compost piles, the system emphasizes:

• Long composting duration (minimum 12 months)

• Bioreactor design maintains aerobic conditions throughout the composting process

• Undisturbed once built (no turning)

• Maintains 70% moisture content throughout the entire composting process

  
  

The resulting compost is a biologically active inoculant for soil and seed, not a fertilizer. When applied at low rates (2lb/acre or 2.2 kg/hectare), with either cover or commodity crops, this inoculant jump-starts soil biology, strengthening plant–microbe relationships, and improving overall soil function and plant productivity.

The construction of the Johnson-Su bioreactor allows for oxygen to move up and down the compost without turning and maintains a mininum 70% moisture content through out the 12 month process. Photo courtesy of Dr. Johnson.

Why Soil Biology Matters

Dr. Johnson and Hui-Chun Su Johnson’s research explores how beneficial soil microbial communities influence plant growth, nutrient cycling, nitrogen fixation and carbon storage. Their findings show that optimizing plant–microbe relationships can:

• Improve soil fertility and nutrient availability

• Increase crop growth and water-use efficiency

• Build soil organic carbon and total soil nitrogen

• Reduce/eliminate reliance on synthetic inputs

• Support long-term farm and ranch profitability

  
  

In practical terms, this means healthier soils that do more of the work themselves—supporting crops through biological processes rather than chemical amendments.

What This Means for Saskatchewan Farmers and Ranchers

Prairie soils face unique challenges—from moisture variability to input costs and climate pressure. The Johnson-Su bioreactor offers a low-input, scalable tool that fits well within Saskatchewan cropping and grazing systems.

Producers experimenting with biologically driven systems are increasingly interested in:

• Improving soil structure and aggregation

• Supporting mycorrhizal fungi and microbial diversity

• Increasing resilience in dry or variable conditions

• Building soil health without increasing complexity or cost

The bioreactor is not a silver bullet—but it is a practical way to reintroduce microbial life and functionality into soil systems, promoting long-term sustainability.

Learn More at the 2026 Soil Health Conference

Dr. David Johnson and Hui-Chun Su Johnson will be speaking at the 2026 Soil Health Conference, where they will share research insights and results of real-world applications of soil microbial community restoration.

February 11–12, 2026 | TCU Place | Saskatoon, SK

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The conference brings together Saskatchewan producers, researchers, and practitioners to explore soil health from multiple angles—biology, resilience, Indigenous knowledge, and on-farm experience.

For producers curious about soil biology, regenerative systems, and practical tools like the Johnson-Su bioreactor, this is a conversation worth being part of.

Register Now

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Want to explore more of Dr. Johnson’s soil health research?

Biologically Enhanced Agricultural Management (BEAM)

A key part of the Johnsons’ work is Biologically Enhanced Agricultural Management (BEAM)—an approach that prioritizes soil microbial function as the driver of productivity.

Learn more or read the manuscript: Adoption of a biologically-enhanced agricultural management (BEAM) approach in agroecosystems for regenerating soil fertility, improving farm profitability and achieving productive utilization of atmospheric CO2 - Read Now

Adaptive Multi-Paddock (AMP) Grazing

Dr. Johnson’s research on Adaptive Multi-Paddock (AMP) grazing demonstrates how intentional grazing management can positively reshape soil food web communities, leading to increased pasture forage production and higher soil organic carbon levels. His work in southeastern U.S. ranches also shows that healthier, more biologically balanced soils under AMP systems can reduce soil respiration rates, helping retain more carbon in the soil while improving pasture resilience.

Read the manuscript: Adaptive multi-paddock (AMP) grazing management’s influence on soil food web community structure for: increasing pasture forage production, soil organic carbon, and reducing soil respiration rates in southeastern USA ranches - Read Now