It’s possible – try these three ways!
The horticultural, orchard and agricultural market continues to grow. New ways are emerging to improve the quality and efficiency of production. On the other hand, consumers and end customers are paying increasing attention to the naturalness of the production process and the elimination of chemicals from it. A discovery of recent years is the support of plants in the fight against diseases and pests with biological products containing microorganisms. The fungi and bacteria in the formulations help fight insects, prevent disease and increase nutrient assimilation. How to introduce the so-called. biology into production and what results can you expect? Learn our tips!
Way 1: Bet on microbiology
Have you heard about preparations based on mycorrhizal fungi (endomycorrhiza)? If not ? it’s time to get to know them in order to accelerate plant growth through better water and nutrient supply, stimulate the production of growth hormones, or provide more oxygen to the root zone. The fungus’ tufts penetrate the cells of the root and develop within it. Interestingly, without the presence of the root, the fungus remains in an inactive form and does not develop. After penetrating the plant and ?rooting? it begins to develop in the substrate (it does not matter whether it is soil, cultivation substrate or rockwool).
– Greater production of components valuable to the final value of the crop is the goal. Whether it be the starch content of potatoes or the sugar content of tomatoes. However, significant increases in the content of substances that indicate the quality of medical plants provide a more complete picture of the possibilities. For me, they are one of the most important indicators of the value this new approach to cultivation brings. The biggest surprise? Raising, thanks to microorganisms, the amount of sugar in the fruits of plants grown on rockwool, making them even tastier. This is a groundbreaking observation that I think will have a big impact on changes in the approach to this product group in the near future ? says Przemyslaw Kowalewski, a Ceres International specialist.
An example of a product using this formula is Klozer. In addition to the function described above, it has found use in reducing losses caused by the feeding of larvae and adult insects underground. Fungi contained in this preparation, improve the quality of the substrate by getting rid of insects. They feed on the chitin contained in insect carapaces. On the other hand, the same fungi bind to plant tissues and directly nourish them with ingredients extracted from dead insects. This leads to stronger plants and faster growth without wasting energy on ingredient acquisition.
– The introduction of Klozer to the Polish market was carried out in our country under the slogan ?Zero residue? Customers have gone from a phase of initial disbelief in its performance to confidence in its effectiveness and boldly recommending it to others. We are extremely pleased with these recommendations. Thanks to the success of Klozer, the introduction of more products of this type was a natural process? Kowalewski tells us.
In addition to symbiotic fungi, the components of these biological preparations include other fungi, bacteria or yeasts, whose functions are different for each preparation.
- Clozer helps to minimize losses due to insects feeding in the ground (swellings, wireworms, spider mites, agroids, turmeric and even thrips)
- Blanka reduces insect losses in greenhouses
- Matozill is an ally in the fight against nematodes
Likewise, Baly, BAS, Sphera, Foxy and Triash help plants pass through the stage of diseases occurring in the underground or above-ground parts.
Way 2: Use biostimulants
As in the case of microorganisms, knowledge about biostimulants, has been collected for decades, but only now are they being implemented in crops on a significant scale. Regular use of biologically active preparations obtained from single-celled algae results in the strengthening of the plant translating into better growth and development, as well as strengthening its resistance to disease and pest attack stress. After using natural biostimulants, we get stronger plants. We can also expect a quantitative and qualitative increase in yields (both in ground crops and inert substrates).
– The quality of biostimulants is influenced by the origin of the raw material for production. At Ceres, we offer products derived from single-celled algae such as Spirulina. What the manufacturer, Biorizon of Spain, provides us with is the result of decades of research by scientists on algae grown under controlled conditions. It turned out that, depending on the environmental conditions, Spirulina produces different substances that actively affect the growth of the plants to which it was used. Controlling these conditions we get algae, from which in the process of extraction we extract compounds that stimulate root development, disease resistance. And even those that cause the production of substances that discourage insects from attacking plantations ? Przemysław Kowalewski explains.
Before using biostimulants for the first time, it is worth checking their origin and consulting a specialist.
Way 3: Take care of water oxygenation
Oxygen is an important nutrient necessary for root growth. However, his role is not limited to just that ? Its presence in the subsoil on the fundamental impact on the processes occurring there.
– In recent years, interest in water oxygenation equipment for irrigation systems has grown significantly worldwide. The change in the oxygen abundance of irrigation water is a natural phenomenon. At different stages of production and at different locations in the irrigation system, oxygen saturation of water varies. A world leader with a holistic approach to the subject of root nutrition and improving the quality of the root environment is the Dutch company Agrona, manufacturer of a device called OXYBULL. It recommends constantly maintaining water at levels close to 100% or even exceeding 100% oxygen saturation ? Przemysław Kowalewski says.
A complementary measure can be the administration of AG-STIM nutrient solution. It consists of readily available amino acids and several dozens of different minor nutrients, those that are available in the soil but not present in nutrients and which are not supplemented by ordinary fertilization.
– There is still no term for elements of lesser importance than micronutrients, for our purposes we have adopted the term ?nanoelements? Thanks to these nano-elements, the root environment in the mat suddenly becomes richer in components it did not have before. This has a clear impact on the quality of microbial life in the root environment – Kowalewski says. Of course, plants also benefit from these ingredients. Interestingly, in a study at one seed company, it was found that one can see a clear effect of AG-STIM fertilization on the increase of pollen quality in plants which directly translates into pollination quality and fruit size.
We have a truly holistic approach to the growing environment when we also take care to provide the right, nourished and ready-to-go microorganisms in the soil. And here the possibilities turn out to be enormous. Bacteria that are in the root environment (described above) should be supplied with oxygen and nutrient solution to gain a permanent advantage over, for example, Pythium.
All of the above methods are discoveries of recent years. Feeding at least mycorrhizal fungi gives unexpected results, and this is just the beginning of what we have learned about the influence of microorganisms on plant development. The ability to feed any strain of microorganisms in a state of full vigor, ready for action offers unlimited possibilities and is a great opportunity to improve the quality and quantity of production. Before taking the first steps with biological agents, it’s a good idea to talk to experts about them. Their application will pay off. All the more so as consumers are increasingly turning to products that were created without the use of chemicals.
