One of the most world’s painful problems is soil degradation. According to the forecast of the Institute for Earth Observations (New York), at current degradation rates, the planet's fertile land will be reduced by 960 billion tons by 2030. It is possible to prevent catastrophic processes by introducing advanced approaches to land management in combination with the achievements of microbiology.
No-till farming is a direction in agriculture based on the principle of no tillage. Widely used in the USA and Latin America, it is now gaining more and more followers in Europe.
In this article we would like to disclose the topic of microbiology in no-till farming as an effective tool for improving the soil and increasing the profits of farmers, to highlight what stages of biologization the soil must go through in order to increase the efficiency of the no-till treatment system.
No-Till: Principles and Benefits
The essence of “zero” cultivation is to create conditions under which the fertility of the upper layer is naturally restored. The basic principles of direct sowing are minimal mechanical impact on the surface layer of the soil, preservation of the soil structure and plant residues. The implementation of these rules involves direct sowing and no plowing.
No-till has a positive effect on the physical, biological and chemical soil properties. Compared to traditional approaches, “zero” processing has the following advantages:
Enables you to save on fuel and lubricantsPromotes soil recovery Promotes soil recovery- Prevents soil erosion
- Promotes soil recovery
- Contributes to the retention and accumulation of moisture in the soil
Enrich soil with nutrients and balance its microflora
Ecostern is a biological to improve soil health and structure (it has special formulation for no-till and strip-till technologies). This product is sprayed on plants residues to accelerate their decomposition. Moreover, the unique composition ensures balance soil microflora that contributes to strengthening of the immunity the next crop rotation plants. Besides, it improves the availability of plant nutrients and increases the number of agronomically valuable microorganisms. Ecostern is registered in the EU and is allowed for use in organic farming.
Phosphorus and potassium mobilizers can increase soil fertility.
- Groundfix is a microbiological fertilizer, that contains a number of spores and living cells of natural phosphorus and potassium mobilizing and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. It ensures an increase in the absorption of nutrients from the soil and an improvement of the soil structure. The bacteria contained in Groundfix produce carboxylic acids, polysaccharides, enzymes, amino acids, polypeptides etc. After use, there is a noticeable improvement in soil structure and moisture availability, as well as the release of phosphorus, which is fixed by secondary minerals - hydroxides of silicon, iron, aluminum and manganese in crystalline form. With no-till technology,
applying Groundfix in the row during sowing is the most effective method. The additional profit is $50-150 per hectare. Groundfix is registered in the EU and is allowed for use in organic farming.
Biological stimulation in no-till
It’s crucial for no-till to use biological plant stimulants of complex action – growth activator and biofertilizer at the same time. BTU-CENTER biostimulants composition is precisely like that.
Azotohelp is a biostimulant whose effectiveness has been proven in 17 countries across the globe, including Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Moldova and others. The high quality of the product has been confirmed by the main certification bodies of the EU and Ukraine. Azotohelp contains living cells of natural nitrogen-fixing bacteria Azotobacter chroococcum, which ensures intensive fixation of nitrogen from the atmosphere. Thanks to the complex of amino acids, gibberellins, auxins, vitamins and organic acids, the biological stimulates the plant growth and development and increases their resistance to stressful conditions.
To overcome different kinds of plants stresses and restore quickly plant vegetation processes we recommend pay attention on special Stop Stress program. It is a complex program that consists of three separate biologicals – biofertilizer Organic-balance (0.5 l/ha), growth stimulant Azotohelp (0.3 l/ha) and bioadhesive Liposam (0.2 l/ha). The program is aimed at increasing the resistance of plants to stress factors and accelerating the recovery of growth and development of winter crops after winter.
Microbial polysaccharides as an alternative to the chemical adjuvants
Liposam is an exopolysaccharide-based biological, which is a multifunctional adhesive. The complex biological adhesive agent prevents the dripping of pesticides, fertilizers and stimulants from the surface of the leaf and enhances plant resistance to stress factors. Liposam forms a protective elastic net that retains moisture, doesn’t destroy the natural shell of the seeds. Breathing and photosynthesis are free. It operates in a wide range of temperatures from 5° to 50° С. The shelf life is 3 years.
It is practiced in 12 countries worldwide, both in organic farming and IPM. More than 2 mln ha of farmland are treated with the adhesive annually. The efficiency was noted by 86% of farmers, including no-till. An agent is compatible in tank mixtures with the most active substances. Product is completely safe and certified for organic agriculture in the EU.
Biological protection
It is important to remember that any chemical treatment suppresses the plant and biological treatment promotes protection and stimulation.
Fitocid and Fitohelp, and Sclerocid protect plants from a variety of pathogens of bacterial and fungal diseases, stimulate the growth and development of plants, increase immunity and improve plant resistance to pathogens, thereby improving the quality of crop production.
Therefore, biotechnologies in no-till farming are an effective tool for farmers in the conditions of our contemporary life with all its challenges and problems. The biologicals produced by BTU-CENTER contribute to:Balance soil microflora and to enrich it with nutrients available to plants
- Increase drought resistance of plants