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for Biologicals
Biological crop protection products, also known as “biologicals”, serve as an important part of crop management systems. Biologicals represent a broad category of plant protection products that contain living, beneficial, naturally occurring microorganisms or microbial derivatives such as strains of bacteria and fungi, often called “bugs in a jug”. They can be used stand-alone or they can complement chemistry programs. Biologicals are used for many purposes: crop protection, root development, seed treatment, plant vigor, nutrient uptake, nitrogen fixation, soil compaction, residue breakdown, unlocking nutrients in the soil, and so much more! Introducing biologicals to your agriculture practices will benefit your farm year after year as the organic matter and living microbial activity increase. The results will speak for themselves when you see better soil health, higher yields, improved plant health, and a more sustainable agricultural system.
What's the difference between a biological and a biostimulant?
Biologicals vs. Biostimulants: A bio-stimulant is a product that promotes the increase of microorganism populations by enhancing the environment in which they live and/or by providing food for them to consume. Bio-stimulants do not contain living microorganisms. A biological is a product that contains cultures of living microorganisms. Biologicals are sometimes known as ‘bugs in a jug.’
Understanding the different beneficial bacteria and their roles is very important. Some of the most common bacteria and enzymes we work with are listed below.
Bradyrhizobium Japonicum: Bradyrhizobium are nitrogen-fixing bacteria that occur either as
free-living soil bacteria or in interaction with the roots of leguminous plants. Cohabitation leads to the development of root nodules. Bradyrhizobium is the N 2 -fixing partner of soybean.
Azospirillum Brasilense: Azospirillum Brasilense is a free-living nitrogen- bacteria grouped in plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria. Azospirillum increases the number of lateral roots and root
hairs length, which maximizes the surface area available for nutrient absorption, resulting in a greater capacity for nutrient uptake and improved water status.
Azospirillum Lipoferum: It is best known for helping plants to survive during stress by promoting changes in cell wall elasticity and osmotic adjustments to protect against the adverse effects of salts, and increase resilience when faced with toxicity and pollution within their environment.
Azotobacter Chroocuccum: It is a bacterium that can fix atmospheric nitrogen. It can convert atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia, which in turn is taken up and utilized by the plants.
Azotobacter Vinelandii: Azotobacter Vinelandii in the soil can be an important alternative to chemical fertilizer because it provides nitrogen in the form of ammonia, nitrate, and amino acids without the situation of overdosage. It also helps to sustain plant growth and yield even in soil conditions with low phosphate content.
Thiobacillus Ferrooxidans: One of the primary roles of Thiobacillus is its involvement in pH regulation. By oxidizing ferrous iron, it contributes to the acidification of the soil, making it more suitable for certain crops. This process is especially beneficial in regions with alkaline soils, where pH levels can hinder nutrient availability. The bacterium helps create an optimal pH range for various crops, promoting better nutrient absorption. Thiobacillus enhances water use efficiency by aiding in
nutrient absorption. This in turn allows plants to thrive with reduced water inputs.
Paenibacillus Azotofixans: Helps to reduce the amount of synthetic fertilizer being used, enhances root proliferation through the release of growth-promoting hormones, helps produce hydrolytic enzymes and antibiotics against harmful plant pathogens, helps improve and restore the soil health, help the plant’s absorption of phosphorus, and soil porosity.
Bacillus Amyloliquefaciens: Improve soil nutrient availability, including improving nitrogen supply, solubilizing phosphate, and potassium, and producing compounds. It secretes hormones and volatile organic compounds associated with plant cell growth and root development and further improves nutrient uptake by plants. It enhances plant resistance against biotic stresses from soil pathogens through competition of niches and nutrients, producing substances to antagonize pathogens directly.
Bacillus Licheniformis: It is good in preventing and controlling plant diseases and is used to improve the soil micro-ecological environment and increase fertilizer efficiency. It secretes photo
stimulation hormones around the rhizosphere of the crop and promotes root growth thus increasing crop yield. The layer of biofilm formed on the root surface can protect the root system from pathogen infection. It can effectively improve the ability to resist freezing and cold.
Bacillus Megaterium: Megaterium has been studied intensively for its phosphorus dissolving function in soil and has become a common microbial fertilizer strain, playing an exceptional role in dissolving phosphorus and potassium, promoting growth, and controlling plant diseases. It improves and extends fertilizer efficiency and reduces the use of chemical fertilizers.
Bacillus Subtilis: Bacillus subtilis competes with other microorganisms by producing antibiotics that either kill competition or reduce their growth rate. It is reported to induce SAR (systemic acquired resistance) against bacterial pathogens, whereby the plant's defenses are triggered prior to pest incursion. Additionally, Bacillus subtilis hinders spore germination in plant pathogens and prevents pathogens from attaching to the plant. When soil-applied, Bacillus subtilis works symbiotically with numerous beneficial bacteria to solubilize phosphorus. This makes it helpful in areas where phosphate-heavy fertilizers have traditionally been used, allowing plants to absorb what is already in the soil. It’s heavily competitive in the soil and commonly outcompetes other soil microbes making it exceptional for fungal disease control in growing media and on foliage.
Trichoderma Harzianum: It provides disease control and enhances root growth. Its spores survive in the soil, but the food it lives on is mostly secreted from the root surface. Since the fungus multiplies on its own, it is different from seed-applied fungicides. It protects roots from certain physical stresses, allowing the roots to grow faster. Trichoderma kills several major root rot fungi such as Pythium, Rhizoctonia, and Fusarium. Trichoderma secretes an enzyme that dissolves the cell wall of the other fungi by getting inside the bad fungi and consuming them.
Mannanase: Mannanase breaks down starches in the exudate that surrounds the outermost layer of the root tips. This chemical reaction creates a draw of water and nutrients to the root zone and releases sugars to the plant. This in turn boosts root growth and increases microbial activity.
Lipase: Lipase breaks down lipids in the root exudates. It helps in the humification process of plant residues in the soil and aids the sprouting and rooting process in the initial development stages. It improves crop's resistance to water flow and nutrient uptake by the roots.
Methylobacterium Gregans: Methylobacterium offers nitrogen and phosphorus sources to plants as well as to protect plants from pathogens. Methylobacterium are involved in maintaining the balance in carbon cycling between plant and environment, increased efficacy in nitrogen fixation, enhanced phosphate acquisition efficacy, and maintaining abiotic stress tolerance mechanisms.
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