5 Types Of Soil Microbes To Nurture Plant And Soil Health

When You Discuss Microbes – Diversity Is A Key Theme

It’s hard to pick just a few soil microbes from an ingredient list that contains over 800 species of diverse soil microorganisms. However, while the microbe count in Mogrow is important, diversity is even more crucial. Because Mogrow is filled with a diversity of life, by using the product you prepare the soil and plant for whatever hurdle it needs to face.

Soil Microbe 1: Yeast

Species of yeast representing two genus are present in Mogrow : Debarayomyces and Saccharomyces. Species of both these genera are known to be plant growth promoting organisms. The plant growth promoting effect of yeast in these genera include phosphate solubilizing, barriers to pathogenic bacteria and fungi, production of plant growth hormones and other effects.

Soil Microbe 2: Trichoderma

Trichoderma provides proteins to the plant that produce an induced systemic resistance effect in the plant (ISR). This ISR effect triggers the plant to mount disease resistance properties and also to stimulate photosynthesis in the leaves. In addition, Trichoderma species produce and release plant growth hormones to the soil.

Soil Microbe 3: Penicillium

Penicillium fungi have a plant growth effect caused by the production and secretion of gibberellins which stimulate root growth. Additionally, Pennicillium species have an induced systematic resistance (ISR) effect on plants by secreting enzymes that trigger a plant immune response.

Soil Microbe 4: Beneficial Nematodes

It is often joked among scientists that nematodes can be found everywhere. About 90% of the ocean floor, and 80% of Earth carries populations of nematodes. They are even rumored to be one of the first organisms to develop from a single-celled organism to a multi-celled organism.

Within the nematode family, there are both beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms. On the one hand, beneficial nematodes are important in mineralizing nutrients (converting nutrients into plant-useable forms), but on the other hand, pathogenic nematodes can destroy root systems, cause disease and negatively impact mycorrhizal fungi.  Other species of nematodes are “grazers” in the environment they live in. These grazers eat bacteria, fungi and/or other nematodes (dependent on the nematode species doing the grazing). This battle is playing out in the soil under our feet every day. Mogrow contains nematodes just waiting to join this battle as reinforcement upon application to the soil..

Soil Microbe 5: Lactobacillus

Lactobacillus is a genus of bacteria commonly found in soil and the guts of animals. In the soil, these organisms promote the decomposition of organic matter. In addition to organic matter decay, they suppress disease and perform growth-regulatory effects on fungi, yeast and other bacteria.

There are over 200 species of Lactobacillus known to science, with many more waiting to be identified as knowledge of this genus expands.

How do organic-based fertilizers work and what do they do?

The use of organic-based fertilizers in sustainable agriculture benefits farmers, growers, consumers and the environment in many ways. As empirically demonstrated, organic-based fertilizers help to:

  • boost both nutrient efficiency and organic matter content in the soil;
  • nurture the soil with organic matter that reduces dependency on chemical inputs;
  • restore and maintain soil fertility to nurture plant growth;
  • enhance the biological activity and biodiversity of soils;
  • enhance the quality attributes of produce as well as yield;
  • improve the efficiency of nutrient use to produce more robust crops;
  • facilitate the slow release of nutrients in response to the dynamic needs of plants;
  • boost the efficiency of water use to render crops more resilient and drought-resistant;
  • reduce the impact of farming and safeguard ecosystems by minimizing leaching.
  • enhance crop resistance to erosion by improving the soil’s organic matter content.
  • improve the efficiency of resource use by incorporating natural raw materials.

What are Biostimulants? A plant biostimulant is any substance or microorganism applied to plants or soils with the aim:

  • To enhance nutrition efficiency
  • Increase tolerance against abiotic stresses
  • Increase in crop yield and quality
  • To contribute sustainable, high-output – low-input crop productions.

 Biostimulants are products that reduce the need for fertilizers and increase plant growth, resistance to water and abiotic stresses. In small concentrations, these substances are efficient, favoring the good performance of the plant’s vital processes, and allowing high yields and good quality products. In addition, biostimulants applied to plants enhance nutrition efficiency, abiotic stress tolerance and/or plant quality traits, regardless of its nutrient contents. Several researches have been developed in order to evaluate the biostimulants in improving plant development subjected to stresses, saline environment, and development of seedlings, among others. Furthermore, various raw materials have been used in biostimulant compositions, such as humic acids, hormones, algae extracts, and plant growth-promoting bacteria. In this sense, this chapter aims to approach the use of biostimulants in plant growth according to the raw material used in their compositions as well as their effects on plants subjected to abiotic stresses.

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What Is An Organic Fertilizer?

Organic fertilizer is usually made from plant or animal waste – think manure or compost. They can also be highly processed products with a compost or manure base.

 What Are The Advantages Of Using Organic Fertilizer?

Soil Structure

Because of the organic matter present in organic fertilizer, soil structure is improved and as a result the soil’s ability to hold onto water and nutrients increases.

Microbes Thrive

Synthetic fertilizer consists of chemical molecules without carbon. These molecules can sometimes be disruptive and are not accessible to microbes. On the other hand, organic fertilizer is rich in organic matter, which helps microbes thrive. Organic fertilizer contains carbon as part of its chemical makeup; and it is the carbon, along with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium that feeds microbes and enables them to make nutrients available for plants in a naturally occurring biological process.

Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly

Synthetic fertilizers runoff into our waterways harming marine life and water quality. Organic fertilizers do not run off as easily (if at all) and are associated with soil structure. According to the Organic Trade Association, organic fertilizer also increases species biodiversity by 30% compared with synthetic fertilizer.

Reduce Fertilizers and Pesticides

Although organic fertilizer can be more costly than synthetic, it can reduce the need for pesticides and the overall nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium requirements. Because of the reductions, organic fertilizer can be cost neutral and sometimes a cost savings.

Plant Damage Threat Avoided

Some synthetic fertilizers can cause plant damage to leaves and roots. This is less likely with organic fertilizers.

  • Organic fertilizer: a fertilizer whose main function is to provide nutrients under organic forms from organic materials of plant and/or animal origin.
  • Organo-mineral fertilizer: a complex fertilizer obtained by industrial co-formulation of one or more inorganic fertilizers with one or more organic fertilizers and/or organic soil improvers into solid forms (with the exception of dry mixes) or liquids.
  • Organic soil improver: a soil improver containing carbonaceous materials of plant and/or animal origin, whose main function is to maintain or increase the soil organic matter content.
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