A. What is bio-organic fertilizer?
Bio-organic fertilizers primarily utilize organic nutrients and organic matter, serving as both microbial and organic fertilizers. However, they are still organic fertilizers in essence. They simply incorporate a certain amount of beneficial microorganisms during the harmless treatment, fermentation, and composting of organic materials, as well as after they have been composted. These beneficial microorganisms, through fermentation and reproduction, accelerate the decomposition and transformation of organic matter. They also interact with existing beneficial microorganisms in the soil, forming an organic microbial community. This replenishes various depleted organic nutrients and organic matter, promotes the release and conversion of fixed nutrients like phosphorus and potassium, and enhances soil fertility and buffering capacity. Furthermore, they loosen, mature, and improve the soil, promoting the formation of a better aggregate structure. Furthermore, they effectively inhibit or kill harmful microorganisms and pathogens in the soil, improving the microbial environment within the crop rhizosphere. Furthermore, the specific functional bacteria in bio-organic fertilizers secrete antibiotics and hormones beneficial to crop growth during their reproduction and metabolism, enhancing crop resistance and disease prevention while stimulating growth.
Furthermore, the biggest difference between bio-organic fertilizer and conventional organic fertilizer is that it contains a certain amount of beneficial microorganisms. Commonly used composting bacteria during the composting process include actinomycetes, lactic acid bacteria, photosynthetic bacteria, yeasts, Trichoderma, and Penicillium. Functional bacteria added after composting mainly include lactic acid bacteria, actinomycetes, photosynthetic bacteria, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, phosphate-solubilizing bacteria, Pseudomonas, and silicate bacteria. The selection and use of microbial strains is the technical core and biggest selling point of bio-organic fertilizer products, but it requires mastery of certain fermentation processes. Currently, common production processes for bio-fertilizer include flat-stack fermentation, flat-ground composting, aerobic fermentation in tanks, and sealed-cell fermentation.
B. What is microbial fertilizer?
Simply put, microbial fertilizer is a functional fertilizer that utilizes the life activities of viable microorganisms within the fertilizer to promote crop absorption and utilization of specific nutrients in the soil, or inhibit the growth of harmful microorganisms in the soil by releasing certain hormones through beneficial microorganisms (a bit of a mouthful, so read it twice). Microbial fertilizer is a new type of fertilizer that emerged in the 21st century. Its development is closely related to the principles of plant nutrition, soil microecology, and modern organic agriculture. It is a new type of biofertilizer that is green, pollution-free, environmentally friendly, and purely natural.
If the environment is suitable, microbial fertilizer can be applied to virtually all crops and most soil types. When applied to the soil, microbial fertilizer increases the number and activity of various beneficial microorganisms, thereby activating soil loosening, preventing soil hardening, regulating soil pH, and improving soil fertility. Furthermore, the degradation of sulfur and metal residues in the soil improves the root environment, promotes the decomposition, transformation, and release of nutrients, increases fertilizer utilization, promotes plant root absorption, enhances soil moisture and fertilizer insulation, and improves crop resistance to cold, drought, and disease. Reduce and inhibit the growth of harmful microorganisms in the soil, reduce the incidence of pests and diseases, and improve crop yield and quality.
The strains or active substances in microbial fertilizers must not be used arbitrarily and must comply with national microbial fertilizer implementation standards. Although there are many registered strains, the most commonly used microbial fertilizers and agents are primarily Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus colloidalis, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus subtilis, Streptomyces flavus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Aspergillus, Rhizobium, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, phosphate-soluble bacteria, silicate microorganisms, and photosynthetic bacteria. However, different strains have different functions in the soil. We should flexibly select the strain that best suits our needs.
C. What precautions should be taken when using bio-organic fertilizers and microbial fertilizers?
a. Avoid using in direct sunlight or directly on dry soil. The high temperature, dry environment, and ultraviolet rays from sunlight can kill microorganisms and bacteria. It is recommended to use in the morning, evening, or on cloudy days, and maintain a soil moisture level of approximately 50-70% during use.
b. It is best not to use chemical fertilizers (such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers, strong acid and alkaline fertilizers, etc.), pesticides (such as herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides), or organic fertilizers that have not been fully fermented and decomposed, as this will kill microorganisms.
c. Do not use directly on excessively acidic surfaces. Instead, use it with well-rotted organic fertilizers and plant ash.
d. To maximize the effectiveness of bacterial fertilizers, it is best to use them with well-rotted organic fertilizers and agricultural fertilizers to create a favorable environment for microbial growth and reproduction.
e. After 1.5 years, microorganisms die off and lose their effectiveness (for example, Bacillus spores with poor spore-forming ability can only survive for less than six months). Therefore, avoid purchasing products with an expiration date of more than 1.5 years. Even if bacterial fertilizers have expired and have been stored for more than two years, they should be reused.
f. Organic fertilizers and microbial fertilizers are not “universal fertilizers” and cannot replace chemical fertilizers such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
