Benefits of Using Soil Biologicals
• Reduce Planting & Transplanting Shock
• Increase Nutrient Availability
• Increase & Enhance Nutrient Absorption
• Minimize Nutrient Loss Through Leaching
• Promote Nitrogen Fixation
• Accelerate Cell Division
• Increase Photosynthetic Capacity For a Greener Plant
• Improve Humus Levels in Soil
• Provide Increased Resistance to Environmental Extremes (heat, drought, cold)
• Kill or Control Fungal & Bacterial Diseases and Plant Pathogens
• Stimulate Root Growth & Root Formation
• Improve Soil Structure
BACTERIA
Bacillus organisms, isolated by soil sprinkle technique, are responsible for producing antibiotics.
The most antibiotic activity was seen in Bacillus subtilis MH-4. Other antibiotics that Bacillus subtilis form are polymyxin, difficidin, subtilin and mycobacillin. Polymyxin is effective against Gram-negative bacteria. Bacillus subtilis bacteria secrete enzymes such as amylase, protease, pullulanase, chitinase, xylanase, lipase, among others.
The ability to maintain an alkaline soil pH with Bacillus laterosporus is the equivalent to the use of tons of lime per acre per year. Bacillus laterosporus is used in controlling plant pathogenic organisms. Ammonia nitrogen which is easily lost into the air is converted in alkaline pH soil to nitrate nitrogen which is fixed in the soil and easily assimilated by plants.
B. licheniformis isolates can mitigate the effects of fungal pathogens on maize, grasses and vegetable crops. As an endospore-forming bacterium, the ability of the organism to survive under unfavorable environmental conditions may enhance its potential as a natural biocontrol agent.
Treatment with B. megaterium resulted in a greater than 40% reduction in nematode penetration and gall formation compared with non-treated roots, and, in a separate study, colonization of roots with B. megaterium decreased migration of M. graminicola to the root zone by nearly 60% compared with that of non-treated roots.
Bacillus subtillis-Bacillus subtilis GB03 is a PGPR organism with activity against soilborne fungal root pathogens. Treatment of seed with GB03 has been reported to promote growth and increase yields in several crop species.
FUNGI
Trichoderma harzianum competes in the soil for nutrients and rhizosphere dominance with phyto-pathogenic fungi. In presence of sufficient organic carbon it produces enzymes having lytic effect on target fungi and in contrast in adverse conditions it produces toxins which are equally harmful to target fungus.
Trichoderma viride - Trichoderma viride is a fungus and a Bio Fungicide. It is used for seed and soil treatment for suppression of various diseases caused by fungal pathogens.
Trichoderma koningii - Acts as an antagonist of several phytopathogenic fungi
Trichoderma polysporum - Like the trichoderma koningii, this also acts as an antagonist of several phytopathogenic fungi
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