Soil-borne diseases cost farmers millions of dollars in lost yield every year. Chemical pesticides and fungicides may be effective but they can also deplete the soil biology and be difficult to manage with strict criteria for handling and use, as well as withholding periods and residue considerations. So could the use of beneficial bacteria be an alternative?
Nitrogen fixing bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen (N2) (that is, the nitrogen freely available in the air) and convert it into more plant available forms such as ammonium (NH4+). There are numerous strains of diazotrophs, both free-living and endophytic (living in plants).
Commercially viable options for reef safe fertilising are vital as regulatory restrictions are rolled out in Central and Northern Queensland reef zones. There is also plenty to be learned for farmers across the nation, as similar regulatory overview is likely to be applied to all waterways in the future…
Sap testing tells you what nutrients are mobile within that tissue at the time of sampling. There are several nutrients vital for pollination, fruit set, fruit development and fruit quality or marketability. Two nutrients of worthy mention are Calcium and Boron.
A large portion of damage noted to be caused by frost, is actually not icing or the cold temperatures itself causing the damage but bacteria living on the plants’ surface. These bacteria release a protein and it is this protein that is causing the damage to the plant during periods where the temperature drops drastically….
Whether you’re looking to reduce input costs, improve soil health or increase crop yields, nutrient use efficiency should be a major consideration. The more efficiently your fertiliser inputs are used by the plants, the less needs to be applied. This reduces the risk of environmental damage, decreases costs of production and produces healthier plants. Vital…
Attaining predictable and high germination rates is the first step in achieving a strong and profitable crop. Research over the years has documented the affect of light, temperature and moisture on germination but more recently, the effect of beneficial microbiology on germination has also begun to be understood. The ability of beneficial microbes to stimulate…