Biologicals Can Support Plants Throughout the Growing Season
Not long ago, the agriculture industry approached biologicals much like they did conventional controls.
“A lot of the objectives in the early days of the biological industry was to look at one single component and see how it affected the yield output of a crop,” says Shannon Pike, Business Development Manager at Agrauxine by Lesaffre.
Now the industry understands many factors — some still unknown — work together to protect crops.
“We're dealing with nature, and nature is very sensitive,” Pike says. “The things that are not seen by us are very, very recognizable to the small elements in nature. Diversity is really the key. Diversity in the soil and the diversity of microorganisms that live on and within the plant is most important.”
To Pike, the best pest control program is holistic.
“Biocontrol products in general will aid the plant’s ability to ward off pests. [Control] products that are also designed for the soil and improving the soil diversity increases the ability of the plant to draw from the soil to help itself. A healthy plant is able to redirect insects and pathogens easily,” Pike says.
Biological products can be incorporated into every stage of production, he says.
“There’s something that can be imported into a protocol for a crop, from prior to seeding all the way to up to harvest time and even afterwards,” Pike says.
There are products that address certain phases of the crops’ lifecycle, whether it's germination or the vegetative stage, the reproductive stage, or the mature stage of the plant, Pike says.
Although the industry understands how the products help at each stage, there’s a growing realization that more is going on than first realized.
“We are, as an industry, working diligently to try to identify specifically what these biological products do during different stages of growth,” he says.
That variability by product and crop stage makes it critical for growers to understand what all the products can do. Keep communication with your sales reps and local Extension open. Some products that may be beneficial at the vegetable vegetative stage may not work well during the reproductive stage, for example.
“There's a lot of work that's being done to identify where the individual biological products work best during the crop cycle,” Pike said.
Before Planting. Products like humic and folic acid are good to prepare the field for the season. These products help with organic composting, which invigorates and feeds microorganisms in the soil structure before the plant and the root system is present, Pike says.
“There are also other technologies like Trichoderma and Rhizobium that are applied to the seed or drenching of the roots,” he says.
During Planting. Products designed for transplanting, again, such as Trichoderma and Rhizobium, attach themselves to the root structure.
“They'll become part of the plant,” Pike says.
During Crop Growth. Fertilizer efficiency tools are microorganisms — various species of bacteria and fungi — that help break down complex fertilizers or nutrients.
“There are also biocontrol products — aerobic-specific bacteria and fungi species — that could be applied to the plant or to the root system and/or to the soil that helps it competes against organisms that are going to do harm to the plant, or to organisms that are going to multiply and dwell in the soil and cause problems with the plant down the road,” Pike says.
A healthy plant producing a high level of sugars will feed the soil microorganisms. It can then, in turn, draw from what those microorganisms have to offer, he says. If a plant produces an excessive amount of sugars, it has enough for its own growth and it's flushing sugars down to the root system to feed the microcosms and the soil.
“Those are the nutrients the plant receives in order to defend itself naturally,” Pike says.
Lipids are an important factor. They equate to protection, he says.
“The shiny waxy on the leaves is protection. In effect, a healthy plant dependent on a healthy soil will then provide its own defense mechanisms or biocontrol mechanisms itself,” Pike says.
All biological products can impact the plant in such a way that it is able to maximize sugar production, he says.
“When a plant is not under stress, it can more efficiently produce sugars. When the plant is able to produce ‘extra’ sugars, enough for its own metabolism and feeding of the soil microbiome, it is able to store excess sugars as plant fat — lipids. This is the waxy coat you often see on the leaves and stems of healthy plants. It’s ultimately a protection mechanism against insects and pathogens.”
Another type of product gives microbial pests competition — living yeasts that are not harmful to the plant, for example.
“The living yeast will compete for food and real estate on the plant and/or fruit’s surface. They outcompete for real estate and outcompete for food sources,” he says.
Other products invigorate the plant and create a natural cascade effect within the plant. Good examples are metabolites that contain proteins, minerals, vitamins, and other products such as enzymes
“[The cascade effect] can either help with root development or nutrient movement or defense mechanisms, stimulations within the plants,” he says.
Preharvest Applications. Biologicals are ideal just before harvesting due to their low to no impact on residue or human health.
“There are zero-entry type products that are more harvest-employee-friendly. And friendly to the to the end consumer, as well,” Pike says.
We asked Pike how he would use biologicals to improve pest control. His response was simple.
“I would layer the biologicals on top of what they’re already doing,” he says.
He says doing so avoids introducing two variables at once — the introduction of something new and the reduction of something known.
“Let's just keep in mind that biologicals enhance the plant's genetic ability to do what it can do naturally,” he says.
Many new studies show a diverse soil microorganism population has much more to offer. Intriguingly, these studies showing more than increased nutrition for the crop. They can also make the resulting food more nutritious for humans.
And a bonus?
“There can be a reduction in some of these higher environmental-cost type items that are used in agriculture right now,” Pike says.
