What exactly is MicrobeBio® soil enhancer?
MicrobeBio® Soil Enhancer is a formulation of beneficial microbes that complement each other to promote soil quality and plant health.
What are the agricultural benefits of MicrobeBio® Soil Enhancer?
Correct application and usage of our products can lead to significant increases in crop yields and reduce fertilizer use by up to 100%. MicrobeBio® Soil Enhancer is also safe for humans, animals and the environment.
What kind of crops can MicrobeBio® Soil Enhancer be used on?
MicrobeBio® Soil Enhancer can be used for any crop. Application, number of applications and concentration can vary by type of crop.
Are there any restrictions for MicrobeBio® Soil Enhancer use?
There are no minimum restrictions on the amount of water required per acre. There are no grazing restrictions or waiting periods after application.
How should MicrobeBio® Soil Enhancer be stored?
MicrobeBio® Soil Enhancer can be stored for up to two years at temperatures between 40F and 85F. Protect it from freezing, as freezing will diminish the products performance.
What kinds of microbes are found in a typical field or turf grass, and how abundant are they?
The most numerous microbes in soil are the bacteria actinomycetes, fungi, soil algae, cyanobacteria and protozoa. These microbes are generally in huge abundance and their combined mass is also quite large. (It can range from several hundred to thousands of pounds per acre)
What beneficial processes do soil microbes carry out?
Soil microbes are important in cycling nutrients like carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur. They also regulate the amount of nitrogen that is available to plants. It is through the actions of soil microbes that the nutrients in organic fertilizers are released for plants and used by other microbes. They also degrade pest control chemicals and other hazardous materials that reach the soil.
What factors control the rates of growth and activities of soil microbes?
Generally, microbes grow best in soils that have a neutral pH (7.0), a balance of air and water filled pore space and abundant organic substrates. The most limiting factor for microbe growth in soil is the abundance of available organic carbon sources. The majority of microbes use organic carbon in order to oxidize it for energy and to build the organic constituents of their cell bodies.
What can we do to increase microbial activity in soil?
To increase activity, you need to create an optimal environment in terms of aeration, moisture, pH level and amount of organic substances needed to fuel the population. It’s also known that the number of microbes in soil is directly proportional to the organic matter content.
Do inorganic fertilizers and other chemical inputs harm the soil’s microbial population?
There is a misconception that chemical fertilizers will kill off microbes or sterilize the soil. Since there are so many types of microbes in the soil it would be extremely hard to exterminate all the microbes. Certain applications such as ammonia can cause reductions of microbial numbers in the immediate vicinity, but this quickly equilibrates with soil solutions in the form of ammonium ions.
Why are biological products more variable in producing desired results?
Each soil has its own microbial population that is selected by the biotic and abiotic factors unique to that soil. This makes it difficult to add or displace microorganisms to a system. This means each soil has a stable community of microbes which makes it hard to get consistent results from biological products used across different soils.
What does 10 to 12th power mean?
Our MicrobeBio® soil enhancers guarantee at least 2.0 x 1012 CFU/Gallon of beneficial agriculture microbials. That is around 2 trillion bacteria ready to work in your soil.
Why is organic important? What is the key challenge that the agricultural industry faces today?
There is a growing demand for organic agriculture farming products due to the overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides which has stripped the soil of its natural nutrients. The use of organic fertilizers will restore the soil back to its natural state and provide healthier and stronger plants.
What is the advantage of using MicrobeBio® soil enhancer vs. chemical fertilizers?
MicrobeBio® soil enhancer doesn’t contain any salt or other toxins that could damage the soils natural nutrients. Chemical fertilizers contain high levels of salt and other toxins that do not benefit the soil or plants and could cause more harm than good in the long run.
How does the cost compare with chemical fertilizers?
The cost of organic fertilizers is more favorable then chemical fertilizers. Organic fertilizers are also more cost effective because they contain short and long season nutrient release properties.
Do MicrobeBio® soil enhancer products need to be applied every year?
It is recommended to apply MicrobeBio® soil enhancer annually to reinforce microorganisms in the soil and to protect the plant rhizosphere.
How does MicrobeBio® soil enhancer improve poor soil?
MicrobeBio® soil enhancer releases trapped nutrients and makes it available to plants. It also produces agglomerations with clay in the soil which leads to healthier soil and better organic matter in the soil.
What is the best time of day to apply MicrobeBio® soil enhancer?
The morning to early afternoon is the best time to apply the soil enhancer.
Can the products be applied with herbicide or pesticide?
Yes, all products can be safely used with herbicides, pesticides, fungicides and insecticides without harming the microbials.
Are the products safe for children and pets when applied to the ground?
Yes, our products are 100% safe for pets and children.
Do I need to wear protective gear when handling these products?
No, protective gear is not needed when handling our products.
How should MicrobeBio® soil enhancer be stored?
MicrobeBio® soil enhancer should be stored in a well-ventilated area and indoors if possible.
If I premix with organic matter, how long do I have to use it?
If the organic matter has a moisture content of less than 15% then you have at least a year to use it otherwise you should use it within 3 to 6 months.
Do I need any fertilizer?
It is good to add fertilizer at the same time, so you can accelerate the bacteria into their growth phase. Once they begin to divide they will start to convert unusable matter into nutrients for the plants and will require less fertilizer.
How long do the microbes live in the soil?
They live for the entire season and then start to gradually decline in number after you have harvested since there is less sugar in the soil. Most of the bacteria will become dormant spores, but some will die off which is why it is a good idea to reapply the MicrobeBio® soil enhancer in the next season.
Is MicrobeBio® a fertilizer?
MicrobeBio® is not technically a fertilizer, it is a biological soil conditioner. MicrobeBio® breaks down unusable matter in the soil so the plants can use it as nutrition and also increases the fertility of the soil.
How does MicrobeBio® reduce the effects of soil salinity?
When put into the soil the bacteria will start multiplying which breaks down organic matter and transforms it into organic acids. The acids then start to combine with various matter in the soil including salt. This is known as chelating. Chelation is when a coating is formed around matter such as salt or metals. This coating allows plants to absorb more nutrients from it while taking in less salt. As the bacteria continues to multiply and chelate, water starts to penetrate deeper which causes salt to move downward. This chain reaction allows water to reach deeper in the soil while also removing salt from topsoil and moving it deeper into the ground giving your plants access to more nutrients.
How much deeper will water penetrate my soil when I use MicrobeBio® soil enhancer on my fields?
MicrobeBio® will drastically increase how deep water penetrates the soil. A recent sample from a field that was treated with MicrobeBio® for 10 days showed that water was penetrating almost 12 inches into the soil. While another field under the same conditions, but without MicrobeBio®, only penetrated 5 inches of soil.
Can I use too much MicrobeBio®?
Not really. We have had farmers use up to 6 times the recommended amount on troubled soil and they have had success with it. They believe the decrease in tractor time and water consumption more than pays for the heavy usage.
Why did some of my plants/ fields turn a little yellow after I first applied MicrobeBio®?
Some slight yellowing or wilting might occur when you first apply MicrobeBio®. This happens when MicrobeBio® is put into fields that has previous compost that has not been processed yet. The bacteria begins breaking the old compost down which deprives the plants of some nutrients like nitrogen. After a few weeks the nutrients is put back into the soil and your plants will return better than ever.
What are the benefits of healthy soil?
You will have reduced water usage, improved nutrient cycling, increased drought resistance, deeper root growth, improved soil structure and increased disease resistance.
Can these products be used in a hydroponics system or other soilless media?
Typically, these products will benefit the biological processes in all operations that grow plants. For more detailed information feel free to contact us.
Why should I add soil microorganisms, aren’t they already in my soil?
Over used and over fertilized soils tend to lose their microorganisms. They are also lost due to fires, floods, drought and freeze. Soils under these conditions can see up to 99% loss in their microorganisms which has a major role in the health of your soil and plants.
What are Microbial Inoculants?
Microbial inoculants are microorganisms that are added to the soil. The idea behind this is that adding more microorganisms will change the indigenous microbial community. Since microbes are the first stage of the food web, microbial inoculants change the dynamics of the soil.
What’s the difference between microbial inoculants, biofertilizers, soil inoculants, biological soil amendments, soil probiotics, and probiotic fertilizers?
There isn’t much difference between any of these. They all describe the process of adding beneficial microorganisms to soil to improve soil quality and improve the health of the plants.
Where do the organisms in MicrobeBio® come from?
MicrobeBio® soil enhancer contains natural occurring soil microorganisms. These microorganisms are isolated from soils using special techniques.
Are the organisms in MicrobeBio® genetically modified?
No, all the organisms in MicrobeBio® are found naturally in the soil.
What is humus?
Various organisms breakdown organic and mineral materials in the soil by enzymatic action and by taking the materials in as nutrients and metabolizing them further. Most of the breakdown products are used as nutrients by the plants. The breakdown products that are not used as nutrition become resistant to further decomposition and are more or less stabilized. This stabilized product is known as humus.
What do humic substances do for the soil?
They increase absorption of minerals, increase absorption of organic compounds, increase the water holding capacities of the soil, increase the soils buffering capacity and they darken the color of the soil.
What is Leonardite and how is it used?
Leonardite is a mined product that can contain up to 85% humic substances depending on the source and the processing. It contains both humic and fulvic acids. It is sold as a combination fertilizer, soil amendment and biological stimulant. The rate of application is important as adding to much can tie-up soil nutrients and reduce their availability to plants.
What is humin?
Humin is a highly condensed humic substance. It is an extremely stable material with a half-life that can extend into centuries. It is highly resistant to microbial attacks.
What are soil polysaccharides?
Polysaccharides are non-humic polymers that have sugar like structures and they help stabilize soil aggregates and contribute to soil tilth. Around 25% of the humus in soil is in this form. They are less complex and less resistant to microbial attacks than other materials of the humic group.
Why is MicrobeBio® better than compost?
MicrobeBio® has several advantages over compost. Including:
Healthier, sturdier plants.
Healthier soil.
Reduces soil erosion and nutrient runoff.
Greater resistance to pest and disease.
Improved water efficiency and holding capacity resulting in decreased water needs.
Composting also has many shortcomings compared to MicrobeBio®. Compost cannot usually be used on a commercial basis due to lack of materials, while MicrobeBio® can be used on any plot of land small or large. Compost can carry risk of bacteria such as salmonella. MicrobeBio® only introduces beneficial bacteria and microbes that feed of off bad bacteria. Composting creates salinity problems which can have negative impacts on the health of your soil. MicrobeBio® is designed to combat salinity and make your soil healthier to produce bigger and healthier crops.
Do your MicrobeBio® soil enhancer products solve Carbon Dioxide problems?
Yes, the bacteria are able to take carbon atoms from organic compounds and convert them into organic acid chains. This means that they can take the carbon atoms from CO2 and link them together into organic acids that plants can benefit from in the soil. The bacteria decrease CO2 during carbon cycling and sequestration.
How does carbon sequestration work from our products?
See above. C-C-C-C linkages occur to remove Carbon from CO2 before it emits the CO2 into the atmosphere. This directly reduces CO2 and carbon.
What percentage of current CO2 emission can be directly traced to industrial and conventional agriculture practices?
I don’t know the number, but there have been several government studies that attribute a large proportion of CO2 emissions coming from Ag practices as well as from other industries like power plants. In the US, the EPA is expected to regulate CO2 emissions much more strictly in the near future, so this is an important topic in the US as well.
We collected some information that states: “The average conventional horticulture soil has been supplied by 1000 CFU to 5000 CFU (colony forming units) of profitable soil microbes. Organic farms are expected to heavily improve in the next 12 to 15 years, which could lead to microbial counts around 1 million CFU’s per gram of soil.” Should we use this information to explain our products?
Yes, once microbial products are applied to soils consistently, microbial populations and CFU’s will increase exponentially. This improves biodiversity and protection of the plants and roots. The more CFU’s that are available in the soil then the more the plant will thrive and grow with a greater yield potential.
How many strains of organisms in our nematode products are saprophytic?
Saprophytic means they encumber all carbon sources, crop residue and dead roots in the soil. 4 out of 5 strains of nematode are strong saprophytes.
How many days are in the plant parasitic nematodes life cycle?
Pathogenic nematodes life cycles are approximately 30 days.
How many days do the nematodes protect the root? And what percentage of the root is protected?
The biological nematode bacteria will protect the root for the first 2 days after they have been applied to the soil and root zone. The bacteria are able to control and reduce damage to the roots by >75% – 85%. It is important to apply when planting or very soon after planting to protect the germinating plant. The first 45 days of a plant’s life cycle are the most important because of its immature immune system.
Do our nematode products kill nematode species such as Ring, Stunt, Stubby Root, Lance, Sheath, Dagger, Cyst, Root Knot, Spiral, Lesion, Sheathold and Sting? Would you please provide us with what general microbes will help protect against these?
Yes, the bacteria are proven to control and protect the plants against all of the nematodes mentioned above. The Bacilli bacteria is one of the primary nematodes for controlling bacteria.
What are soil microbes?
Microbes are single celled organisms found in the soil. They are diverse at metabolizing a variety of organic food sources and converting them into useable by-products for plant use.
What do soil microbes do to the soil?
Bacteria work to accelerate the breakdown of organic matter into inorganic material. This process is called nutrient recycling. Microorganisms are excellent recyclers of soil nutrients and minerals for improved plant uptake. A majority of nutrients are present in the soil in an insoluble form, unavailable for plant use. Microbes are the only organisms on earth that are able to convert them into plant useable forms for improved crop yield and soil health.
Do the microbes damage the soil?
No, microbes do not damage the soil, even in very high doses. In agriculture, the ‘salt index’ of a product determines how much damage to crop fertility will be done if a product is overapplied. For example, Urea has a salt index of 74.4, DAP has a salt index of 29.2 whereas beneficial microbes have a salt index of 0. As a result, beneficial Ag microbes has no potential to damage soils or crops, even at higher than recommended dosages.
Are there any risks involved with MicrobeBio® organic fertilizers?
No risks exist by using organic fertilizers produced by MicrobeBio®. All fertilizer inputs and beneficial microbes are naturally derived, non-GMO and beneficial to the environment and ecosystem.
Can MicrobeBio® work with any soil?
Yes, MicrobeBio® has a proprietary testing and formulation platform that enables it to produce and customize product formulations specific to the changing climates and soil types.
What are the benefits of organic fertilizers? Soil, plant, and human benefits?
Organic fertilizers are superior to conventional fertilizers in the marketplace because of their low risk profile and use. Organic fertilizers improve soil structure, water and air channeling in the soil that directly improve soil and plant health. Also, organic fertilizers are stable, do not leach into the water table or rivers and are considered slow release. Their slow release characteristics allow them to be a reliable food source for crops and plants all season long.
Due to the application of organic fertilizers and beneficial microbes, the mineral and nutrient content that has long been “locked” in the soil will be released into the plant. As a result, mineral, vitamin and nutrient content in crops, vegetables and fruits will be increased over time. This will directly and positively affect human health and the overall health of the population.
What differences are there between chemical and organic fertilizers?
Chemical/conventional fertilizers are typically derived from petroleum and oil sources. These are synthetic, manmade chemicals that convert petroleum hydrocarbons into a nutrient-salt complex. Once applied to the soil, these salt complexes break up and a portion of them are quickly locked into the soil, becoming insoluble and unusable, whereas the remaining percentage leach into rivers, ponds and other bodies of water causing pollution and eutrophication (algae overgrowth).
Organic fertilizers do not contain nutrient-salt complexes but are loaded with organic material that slowly releases for season long nutrient absorption by crops. The conversion of the organic fertilizer into plant usable nutrients is facilitated by microorganisms. Microbes are the only species on earth that can convert nutrients in the soil into forms that plants can use. No other chemicals or mechanisms are able to perform the functions of beneficial bacteria. This is the reason why organic fertilizers and beneficial bacteria are essential to soil health and crop production.
What bacteria are involved in these microbes and their functions?
The MicrobeBio® microbial line is diverse and takes into consideration the soil and climate requirements. The microorganisms comprised in our products are carefully and scientifically selected to metabolize a wide scope of simple and complex polymers commonly found in different soil types, taking into consideration salinity and pH. Our bacteria are within the groups of Bacillus, Paenibacillus, Diazotrophs (Nitrogen fixers), Streptomyces, Phosphaticum (Phosphorus releasers), Trichoderma, Saccharomyces and many other organisms that work to complete the soil food web cycle in the soil and to optimize plant nutrient uptake and utilization. These microbes are superior at recycling nutrients in the soil all year long, providing timely nutrients to plants when they need it the most. Additionally, a subset of microbes work in synergy to form a competitive exclusion perimeter surrounding the rootzone (rhizosphere) to protect the plant from disease and invaders.
What products can you grow using organic fertilizer? Ex: wheat, corn (maize), soya beans, vegetables, tomatoes, etc.
There are no limits to the types of crops available for treatment with organic biofertilizers. All crops and soil types are accessible and can be improved through microbial action in the soil. The end result will be enhanced soil tilth, and improved microbial biodiversity throughout the rootzone.
How does the climate and weather patterns affect the microbes or soil?
Climates and soil types have a varying effect on soil biodiversity. MicrobeBio® is the first company to be able to answer this challenge through the use of its novel biochemical screening platform that identifies, characterizes and selects specific microbes in a soil profile for optimal use and application in specific climate regions. Through our identification platform, we are able to rapidly isolate and optimize specific microbial biofertilizers for selective and optimal use. Thus, what was previously a barrier is no longer a limitation to our microbial technology.
What are the application requirements for microbes based organic fertilizer?
MicrobeBio® Vigor Boost™
1 kg to treat 1 ha (3 applications: 500g – 250g – 250g)
Brew the product for at least 24 hours into at least 5 liters of non-chlorine water to activate the microbes.
Dilute the brewed mixture into at least 250 liters of non-chlorine water to treat 1 hectare
MicrobeBio® Nature Foliar™
1 liter to treat 1 ha (2 applications: 500ml – 500ml)
Dilute 1 liter of Nature Foliar into 250 liters non – chlorine water to treat 1 hectare.
MicrobeBio® Hydro Activator™
8 liters to treat 1 ha (3 applications: 4L – 2L – 2L)
Dilute every 1 liter of Hydro Activator into 100 liters non – chlorine water
MicrobeBio® Nature Activator™
25 kg to treat 1 ha
Broadcast the product evenly to the soil around each plant/along planting rows. Water well after each application
How do microbes help improve the soil on a long-term basis?
Improves soil tilth, lessens soil compaction, and improves water channeling and aerification. Additionally, the microbes are excellent nutrient recyclers and decomposers, resulting in an abundance of nutrients and minerals in the soil over a long-term period. As a result, most, if not all the major and minor nutrients will increase in the soil horizon profile and will be available for new plant growth as well as carryover into the next planting season.
Can MicrobeBio® provide solutions to challenges such as army worms or persistent pests?
Yes MicrobeBio® has identified and is able to supply biological solutions for common insect pests, including most piercing and sucking insects and the army worm.
How does too much chemical fertilization affect the contents of the soil over time?
Chemical/conventional fertilizers have an extremely high salinity associated with them. As a result, over salting of the soil is common in conventional fertilizer applications. The NPK nutrients in chemical fertilizers are highly available once put down in soils, however there has been much research that has proven only 30% of all nutrients in synthetic fertilizers are used by plants. The remainder of the NPK and micronutrients are either leached into water tables or volatilize into the atmosphere. This is not a desirable outcome and has proven time after time to cause environmental pollution in water, soil and air.
How do these soil bacteria survive undesirable conditions such as salinity, drought, abiotic and biotic factors and PH?
The microbes that MicrobeBio® provides are stable and spore formers. These unique characteristics of our bacteria enable them to survive extreme environments like abiotic and biotic factors until better conditions present themselves.
What is the shelf life of these soil bacteria?
Liquid (minimum 2 years) and powder (minimum 5 years)
What is the impact of humic acids, molasses and sugar added directly to the soil, rather than adding bacteria?
The addition of sugars directly to soil is usually a mistake. The reason is that soil imbalances commonly occur as a result of numerous biotic and abiotic factors in the environment. Also, after crop harvest an imbalance and deficiency in nutrients is commonly seen in the soil due to crop uptake throughout the season. These deficiencies reduce the number of beneficial bacteria living in the rootzone. As a result, much research has proven that opportunistic pathogenic fungi like Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Phythopthora, and Fusarium take over the field and are present in high numbers prior to next season’s planting. Since fungi are microscopic, the grower is unable to determine that his soil is infected with crop pathogens and plants new seedlings into infected soils. Adding molasses and sugars to imbalanced soils is a very bad idea because the sugars will work to proliferate the pathogens in the soil prior to seed planting and germination. Therefore, MicrobeBio® always recommends treating soils with our beneficial and highly scientific bacteria first to control soil pathogens and to protect the sensitive seedling as it begins to germinate.
How can these bacteria help soil in the off-farming season or during winter?
The beneficial bacteria colonize the soil and reside in the small rock pores and structures within the soil. Once the microbes form colonies, then they will become part of the overall microbiology profile in the soil. Since the microbes excel at mineralizing nutrients from rock forms into plant usable forms, then a greater concentration of nutrients will be made available over the winter and will be available for rapid use by the Spring planting season.
What are the yield difference in farms using chemical fertilizer and organic fertilizer per hectarage?
Crop yield improvements increase annually as the soil health is restored to a greater balance and microbial colonization in the soil is increased. Typical yields can range from 20-75% over conventional fertilizers.
What treatment is there for soils that are acidic to make the microbes work effectively?
Organic fertilizers are optimal food sources for beneficial microbes to help them work more efficiently and effectively. The organic fertilizers have a slow release characteristic to them that allow for season long feeding of the microbes. Once the microbes begin to grow then they will reduce the pH of the soil as a natural byproduct of growth. These pH reducers produced by bacteria help plants interact with their environment in a more effective and better way since plant roots prefer a pH soil environment.
Questions of Soil Borne Pathogens:
Do our products solve the problem of soil borne pathogens?
Yes absolutely. The bacteria we include in the bio fungal packages is very strong at containing and killing off fungal pathogens.
What microbes will work on soil borne pathogens in general?
Many of the bacteria in our packages such as Actinomycetes, Pseudomonas and Bacillus work against soil borne pathogens.
You answered that your MicrobeBio® soil enhancer products can take Carbon Atoms from CO2 and link them together into beneficial organic acids that plants can utilize. Based upon that, what is the percentage increase of organic carbon in soil after 3 months, 6 months…?
Our customers really need to know the analysis of this information. It can vary by type of soil and the original organic matter in the soil. However, if a healthy dosage of microbes is added to the soil, then it is not unreasonable to see improvements up to 15% – 60% over the course of a year or year and a half. It can be sooner if multiple treatments are applied.