All experienced gardeners and actually everyone involved in agriculture knows about the symbiosis of the root system of plants with special mycorrhizal fungi. It is a special group of fungi that originated 450 million years ago and play a significant role in plant evolution.
The phenomenon of mycorrhiza, the symbiotic association of the mycelium of fungus with the roots of higher plants, was discovered by biologists only at the end of the 19th century. Large-scale and controlled use of this phenomenon in agriculture has become active only in the last thirty years. However, biologicals, based on mycorrhiza, are already an integral part of agriculture.
The cost of fertilizers has increased by more than 400% over the past years and control over the use of synthetic fertilizers has increased in most countries. It is logical that nowadays farmers cannot and should not rely entirely on chemicals for growing crops. This is where mycorrhizal products can help.
According to official statistics, the combined costs of American farmers for monoammonium phosphate (MAP) and nitrogen fertilizers per hectare exceed $200. For this reason, farmers from the United States began to turn more often to mycorrhizal inoculation as an excellent solution (approximate costs - $20-30/ha) for more efficient use of fertilizers. It turned out that it is possible to increase yields, on the other hand it reduces the costs of fertilizers and water by up to 30% through inoculation.
If crops are treated with biologicals according to all the rules, then plants are supplied with mycorrhiza and are guaranteed to become more effective in terms of yield indicators. At the same time, production costs decrease simultaneously. According to the data of the 7-th International Conference on Mycorrhiza (2013, New Delhi), the following increase in crop yield was achieved using mycorrhiza in different soil and climatic zones:
• vegetables — from 30 to 200%;
• soybean — from 15 to 40%;
• corn — from 20 to 70%;
• cereals — from 15 to 30%.
Why is it so important to apply mycorrhizal fungi into the soil?
Microorganisms that inhabit the soil play one of the main roles in formation of its fertility and structure, working in certain groups where each organism fulfills its role, complementing all others. This ensures a healthy agro biocenosis.
That is why our company BTU-CENTER creates a complex of biologicals to simulate such a healthy and effective consortium of soil microorganisms that will perform the entire list of functions that play expects to receive from the soil microbiota.
Mycorrhiza can form on all crops (including cereals, legumes, vegetables and fruit), except cabbage and amaranth. Growing plants with mycorrhizal mycelium you can increase the volume of the total absorbing surface of the root system thousands of times. In particular, the fungi of the genus Glomus are one of the universal mycorrhiza that forms arbuscular mycorrhiza. This mycorrhiza is the most useful and effective for agriculture. Arbuscules are growths of the fungus inside the root of the plant, which increase contact with the soil, provide it with mineral nutrition, moisture and support the biological fertility of the soil. There are three main types of mycorrhiza: ectotrophic (external), endotrophic (internal) and ecto-endotrophic (mixed).
The most important advantages of using BTU-CENTER biological MYCOFRIEND®
1. The use of the biological MYCOFRIEND® allows you to reveal the potential of the crops, which can give you better yields.
2. Under optimal soil and climatic conditions, plants that have formed mycorrhiza, extend their growing season, because they have accumulated more reserve substances and therefore have the opportunity to ensure a higher quality of the harvest.
3. In stressful conditions, the powerful root system of mycorrhiza plants provides access to moisture and nutrients at a greater depth of the soil. In the southern regions, plants tolerate dry conditions better and produce a high-quality harvest.
4. Plants that have formed mycorrhiza better tolerate short-term stress factors, such as pesticide treatments, droughts, frosts, and restore vegetation faster after the termination of the negative factor.
5. Mycorrhiza makes plants more resistant to the toxic effect of heavy metals in the soil, works well on saline soils.
6. All components of the biological MYCOFRIEND® improve the soil structure for the long term, both due to the mechanical action of the mycelium of fungi (Glomus and Trichoderma) and through the synthesis of exopolysaccharides and other organic compounds by bacteria and fungi.
Statistics on the volumes and results of MYCOFRIEND® application
According to statistics provided by our clients, 130,000 hectares were sown with MYCOFRIEND® in 2020. In general, during the period 2017- 2021 mycorrhizal products were used on more than 510,000 hectares of agricultural land. In particular, on wheat, sunflower, corn and on garden crops too- it is approximately 1300 hectares. We calculated that the additional profit from one hectare that a farmer can get is more than $105.
Since 2017, more than 200 field trials have been conducted, in particular: 160 — independent use, 40 — use with other biologicals, another 60 — as part of the research work of scientific stations. MYCOFRIEND® is used in 12 countries around the world — Slovakia, Bulgaria, Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Belarus and certainly Ukraine.
The combination of microorganisms and fungi is part of the product
These are primarily mycorrhizal fungi — Glomus VS, Trichoderma harzianum; microorganisms that support the formation of mycorrhizae and improve plant development conditions — Streptomyces sp., Pseudomonas fluorescens and phosphate-mobilizing bacteria — Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum, B. subtilis, B. mucilaginosus, Enterobacter sp. This composition is also enhanced with biologically active substances: phytohormones, vitamins, amino acids, etc. This entire complex has a rather strong concentration — the total number of viable cells (1.0-1.5) x 108 CFU/ml.
This product has two directions of action — formation of mycorrhiza and stress relief from the root system.
In the composition of the product, fungi of the genus Glomus ensure the formation of highly effective endomycorrhiza, fungi of the genus Trichoderma can form ectomycorrhizal and the bacterial component promotes the development of the root system, in particular, stimulates the formation of mycorrhiza.
Can mycorrhiza be used only once and it will remain in the soil, or should it be applied continuously?
Mycorrhizal fungi do not exist without a plant, at the end of the growing season they form a certain number of "resting" spores that remain in the soil. And then, provided agrotechnical measures are carried out, they move and can fall into layers lower than the depth of seed wrapping of cultivated plants. Therefore, the formation of mycorrhiza will take longer next year, because mycorrhizal spores germinate in the presence of plant root secretions. Therefore, it will take more time to reach the root of the plant, to penetrate it.
The formation of mycorrhiza is not an instantaneous process, because it takes about 30 days from the germination of the seed to the full functioning of the mycorrhizal "apparatus". If there are very few spores of the mycorrhizal fungus in the soil, then this process will be prolonged in time.
If you apply a mycorrhizal biopreparation with seed treatment or in a row during sowing, you ensure the contact of the spores of this fungus with the plant and the subsequent formation of mycorrhiza through faster colonization of the root.
In general, the formed mycorrhizal mycelium does die, it remains in the soil and allows it to loosen, preventing compaction. This leads to better moisture retention and better aeration of the soil.
Is the composition of universal for different cultures and conditions, or are there possible variations in application for different cultures?
This biological is recommended for a wide range of field crops (cereals, legumes, technical), vegetable and garden crops. After all, the development of mycorrhiza is possible on most crops, therefore it is universal, but the recommended dose of the product should be taken into account. The rate of use of this biological depends on the culture. These are insignificant processing norms. For example, for soybeans — 1.5 kg/t, corn — 4.5 kg/t, sunflower — 6 kg/t.
Impact of pesticides on mycorrhiza. Compatibility of the biological MYCOFRIEND® with chemical means of protection
The laboratories of BTU-CENTER company, in particular the Institute of Applied Biotechnology, are always ready to quickly test the compatibility of biologicals with chemical ones used in the technology of each farm and provide detailed recommendations on their use together.
Most poisons are compatible with mycorrhiza. However, preparations containing such active substances as Carboxin 200 g/l and Thiram 200 g/l are toxic to mycorrhizal fungi.
It will not be possible to apply fungicide and mycorrhiza in one tank mixture. But if the mycorrhiza is already in the soil, it is protected there from the action of fungicides. Therefore, you can process, but do not get too excited, strictly following the recommended norms.
Mycorrhiza in combination with mineral fertilizers
Mycorrhiza includes all mineral fertilizers applied to the soil in its natural cycles and then transfers them to the plant. With the exception of anhydrous ammonia and ammonia water, which are toxic to most soil microbiota. And mycorrhiza, moreover, is vulnerable to these compounds. About 10-14 days should pass after the application of anhydrous ammonia before applying any microbial products, in particular mycorrhizal agents.
Mycorrhiza responds well to mineral fertilizers. The plant and microorganisms immediately begin to use nitrogen, which was introduced in any form. Phosphorus, potassium, trace elements are also not toxic to microorganisms. There are certain nuances of simultaneous application in joint working solution — complex can be formed. But these are already elements of the introduction technology.
Rules for introducing and mixing mycorrhizal biologicals to stimulate the development of plants and microbiota
In the case of fertilizers, RCD and micro fertilizers, they are compatible. However, it is necessary to follow the rules of mixing and properly prepare tank mixtures before application.
In the case of using MYCOFRIEND® with other chemical fertilizers, preliminary trial mixing is necessary to exclude the formation of sediment. Water in each household is different in terms of hardness and chemical composition, so compliance with these conditions is important.
It is also necessary to follow a certain sequence of mixing: first, a working solution with a fertilizer is put into the container for the tank mixture and then biologicals are added. Antimicrobial agents must be added last. Be sure to shake before use.
Mycorrhiza in dry conditions
We recommend using mycorrhiza biologicals before the drought begins. When dry, microorganisms usually go into a dormant state and wait for moisture.
If the plant manages to form a mycorrhiza before dry conditions, this gives the culture additional bonuses - the plant is provided with balanced nutrition and water even in extreme conditions.
As a result of the increased absorption of moisture by mycorrhiza, both bound and from deep soil layers, droughts do not become a significant threat. Plants survive dry conditions better. The hyphae of the fungus can penetrate to a depth of 40 m, which means that they can extract additional moisture from the deep layers of the soil and supply it to the plant.
A priori, mycorrhizal fungi cannot extract moisture from the plant due to the potential difference. The plant is more powerful, that is why it pulls moisture through the hyphae of the fungus and not the other way around.
What leads to the destruction of mycorrhiza?
Mycorrhiza is not very resistant to stressful factors if it is not connected to the plant.
Mycorrhiza destruction is caused by:
• Use of anhydrous ammonia and ammonia water, which is toxic to mycorrhizae.
• Deep plowing destroys its structure and contact with the root is lost, so the mycorrhiza loses all growth and as a result positive effect of use disappears immediately
• Over-compaction of the soil due to the passage of heavy equipment, insufficient organic matter or soil depletion. In this case it is difficult for mycorrhiza to break through to the root system.
• Use of plants from the cabbage and amaranth families in crop rotation. Even a one-time sowing of rapeseed destroys the symbiosis of higher plants with the mycelium of fungi, because these plants release compounds toxic to mycorrhiza.
• Black steam- when the field rested without plants.
It should be noted that the symbiotic relationships of certain agricultural crops with mycorrhizal fungi provide many advantages for plant health, their productivity, and contribute to environmental safety. The use of mycorrhizal product is a guarantee of a good yield and has a positive effect on the net profit. The top biological product of the BTU-CENTER company MYCOFRIEND® is used not only by farmers, forest nurseries, but also by specialists in restoration and erosion control, greenhouse complexes, manufacturers of soil mixtures and professional gardeners to maximize crop yield indicators and increase the return on investment.