Microbial Products

Microbial products are referred to as crop probiotics, biological or bio-fertilizers, biostimulants, biocontrols, or biofungicides, among other names. They may contain one strain of bacteria or fungi, or they may contain many.

Some are applied to the soil, others are applied to seeds, and still others are added as foliar sprays.

Some of these beneficial functions include transforming nutrients into forms that plants can use, encouraging increased root growth, suppressing plant pests, activating plant immune systems, and helping plants cope with drought.

The idea is this: adding microorganisms that perform beneficial functions should increase those functions in soils or plants. Microbial products are therefore marketed as alternatives or supplements to conventional fertilizers and pesticides, expanding the management toolbox of farmers.

As with any agricultural input, one key to the successful use of microbial products is applying them at the right time, in the right place, and at the right concentration.