Do inoculants and ag-biologicals have an impact on long term soil fertility? We know soil microorganisms can be beneficial for plants, but do they improve overall soil health too? On this week’s edition of Growing Possibilities, we will discuss the importance of your soil’s health and how soil microorganisms (specifically bacteria) can help to shape soil fertility and nutrient content.
Soil fertility is an umbrella term used to describe the ability of soil to sustain crop yields and provide essential nutrients for plant growth (1). Components of soil fertility include nutrients, soil structure, water retention ability, and carbon content (2). Maintaining soil fertility requires avoiding nutrient loss, maintaining carbon content and minimizing soil contamination (1). Methods for maintaining soil health include a combination of chemical fertilizers, organic manures and bioinoculants as well as farming practices such as cover crops, crop rotation and no till farming (1). Today we will focus on soil bacteria’s impact on soil nutrients.
Although patented premium quality liquid ag-biologicals and bioinoculants are a relatively new concept, farmers have been reaping the benefits of microorganisms before their processes were understood (3). For example, for centuries farmers have known that including legumes in their crop rotation boosts soil fertility (3). This is because of the symbiotic relationship that the soil dwelling bacteria Rhizobia forms with soybeans (3). Rhizobia help to cycle nitrogen through the ecosystem and contribute to bioavailable nitrogen in the soil by taking atmospheric nitrogen and converting it into ammonia and nitrate (4). Legumes that have been inoculated with Rhizobia can efficiently return stored nitrogen from nodules formed in the roots of soybeans to the soil through decay, resulting in increased soil fertility (5). This leads to more long-term nitrogen content within the soil, that can be utilized in future growing seasons (2).
Soil nutrients are not only beneficial for the current growing season but also help maintain soil structure and moisture content (2). Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) like Bacillus firmus boost soil fertility by solubilizing phosphorous and making iron more available in the soil (6). These nutrients are important for plant growth and help to maintain soil structure and prevent erosion (2).
XiteBio’s premium liquid inoculants support healthy soil microflora and in turn increase soil fertility. If you would like to learn more about bioinoculants’ impact on soil fertility or receive information on any of our inoculant products, please contact one of our sales agronomists or give us a call at 1-855-XITEBIO. Until next time we wish you healthier plants and better yields.
References
- https://farmersedge.ca/dig-deeper-5-reasons-to-make-soil-testing-a-priority/#:~:text=Continuous%20cultivation%20without%20soil%20management,matter%20content%2C%20and%20microbial%20activity.
- https://rosagalvez.ca/en/initiatives/soil-health/
- https://www.manitobacooperator.ca/news-opinion/news/biologicals-in-agriculture-whats-old-is-new-and-improved/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10748132/
- https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/crop-management/forages/print,benefits-of-including-forages-in-your-crop-rotation.html#:~:text=Increased%20Soil%20Fertility,-Legume%20forages%20such&text=Because%20inoculated%20legumes%20are%20very,subsequent%20grain%20crops%20to%20utilize