With an abundance of information and claims about biological products, it can lead you to wonder how these products fit into the production practices on your farm. Here is a guide to help you choose a path for using biological products.
Understanding the basics
Biological products have two main categories:
Biostimulants/biofertilizers: These are microbial organisms intended to enhance or enable plant nutrient uptake. Plus, substances derived from living organisms intended to stimulate the natural process of the plant to enhance or benefit nutrient uptake, nutrient efficiency, stress tolerance or crop quality.
Biopesticides: These products are derived from living materials that act upon a target species as a fungicide, insecticide, or herbicide.
While any biological product can be classified under one of these categories today, the least regulated and largest sector falls under the category of biostimulants. This category includes beneficial microorganisms, humic substances, amino acids, plant extracts, and beneficial elements.
How to determine where a biological product belongs on your farm
Determine where efficiency is needed:
Biostimulants/biofertilizers are used to modify the efficiency of traditional inputs by utilizing natural processes to increase production capacity.
Not a “one-size-fits-all” product:
Biology is sensitive to fluctuations in the environment, such as moisture, temperature, sunlight, competition and cultural practices. Success in one field or crop may not equate to every acre in every situation. This may require gaining experience through trials on your own farm or region.
Rely on experts:
On-farm research may seem daunting, but there are many agronomists, crop advisors, and consultants with experience who may be able to provide a starting point in your area.
Consider the return on investment (ROI):
When considering the use of biological products on your farm, think about the effect that increasing the efficiency of current inputs could have as you look to increase sustainability and profitability.
Key considerations when choosing biological products
Living versus spore-form products:
Living organisms often have a limited shelf life and narrow temperature range in which they can survive. Meanwhile, spore-form organisms are those that have reverted to a dormant state and can survive for longer periods of time as they wait for ideal conditions to grow and reproduce.
Colony-forming unit (CFU):
A label should give a CFU count for each microorganism it contains. This CFU should be looked at as the active ingredient of traditional chemistries. While some microorganisms require fewer CFUs to generate the intended effect, a CFU count of less than 1 x 106 should be questioned.
Spray water quality:
Extreme pH and water containing chlorine may neutralize some biologicals. Dechlorination or buffering of water should occur before tank mixing.
Identify the problem:
Many biologicals require a condition for success, such as abiotic stressors or nutrient inefficiency. Pick the products to address the problem at hand.
Liebig’s Law of the Minimum:
Liebig's Law of the Minimum essentially states “The local yield of terrestrial plants should be limited by the resource that is present in the environment in the least quantity relative to its demands for plant growth.” By utilizing this law and considering one’s production practices, it should be determined that biological products should be utilized where environmental availability and input efficiency are the least on one’s farm.
Understanding Soil Biology
Biological products are not new to agriculture. The inoculation of nitrogen-fixing bacteria on legumes has been occurring for more than a century, providing great benefits and decreasing the need for nitrogen fertilizer.
Soil biology is the basis of mineralization, nutrient cycling and organic matter decomposition, all of which provide essential plant nutrients and form the basis for plant growth and reproduction. Without it, the efficiency of production practices today would be drastically reduced. This is why we are increasing the efficiency of our production practices via biostimulant applications.
The Takeaway
While biostimulants are the newest class of products and some may be skeptical of the claims surrounding them, the benefits they bring to a farm are certainly evident.
Consider that as biological products advance via new research, experience with them now will help you make informed decisions on your farm going forward. As you begin to develop an approach regarding biological products or questions arise regarding these products, please reach out to your local Simplot Grower Solutions Crop Advisor.
Authors
Justin McCoy, Southwest
Our very own Justin McCoy authored this article for Agproud. Read the full article and more here.
