Western Mineral Fertilizers

 

 
 
 

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Microbe List    

  12 Microbes & MicroSTIX2 Handy Hints - 21 Mar 2012a.pdf

 

Leaders in Biology and Mineral Fertilisers

Product Description

WMF Soil Microbes are ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY, EASY & SAFE TO USE. They are a combination of Australian cultured BENEFICIAL soil bacteria and fungal micro-organisms. There are several blends available, including: "Premium Agriculture", "Lupin Inoculant", "Post-Lupin/Canola", "VAM Plus" and "Trichoderma Plus" - specially selected for their use in soil restoration & better nutrient release, while helping with soil health. Each blend is a special combination of beneficial microbes (including various strains of Azosporillum, Azotobacter, Bacilli, Cellulosic fungi, Myxobacteria, Phosphobacteria, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium, Streptomyces, Saccharomyces, Trichoderma, VA Mycorrhiza and Yarrowia).

Western Australian glasshouse and field trials show WMF Soil Microbes are highly effective (see WMF website). The Microbe products come in a powdered form and when stored correctly have an exceptional shelf life.

Soil microbes, which include bacteria, fungi and algae, carry out a wide range of activity within the soil such as:

  • Nitrogen Fixers, which include bacteria that convert nitrogen from organic matter and ones that fix atmosphere nitrogen.
  • Nutrient Builders, Microbes that convert phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium and trace elements into a plant available form.
  • Growth Hormones, Produce natural plant stimulants like, indole-acetic acid, amino acid, Gibberellic acid and vitamins as a metabolic by product. All necessary for plant growth and vigour.
  • Decomposers, The converters of organic matter to organic carbon and converting crop residue into plant available nutrient.
  • Protecting Bacteria, Organism that release antibiotics that inhibit disease producing microbes like, root rot, fungi and pythium.
  • Soil Conditioners, algae that secrete a polysaccharide by product that form soil aggregates, which play an important role in soil structure.

Modes of Action

Beneficial micro-organisms form a vital part in the world's cyclic food chain. When organic matter dies and decomposes, bacteria and fungi metabolise the highly complex organic molecules into simple bio-available nutrients – which can then be utilized as food by earthworms and plants. Some bacterial species release nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorus, and trace elements from organic matter. Others break down soil minerals and release potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and iron. Still other species make and release natural plant growth hormones, which stimulate root growth. A few species of bacteria fix nitrogen in the root nodules of legumes while others can fix nitrogen independently of plant association. Bacteria are also responsible for converting nitrogen from ammonium to nitrate and back again depending on certain soil conditions. Other benefits to plants provided by various species of bacteria include increasing the solubility of nutrients, improving soil structure, fighting root diseases, and detoxifying soil.

Mineral imbalances and deficiencies in our soil lead to poor viability (both from plant nutrition and stock points of view, as well as from an economic one). The first step to correcting these soil imbalances is to input a broad spectrum of fundamental minerals via natural-ore, silicate-based mineral fertilisers. Beneficial microbes can then mobilize the essential fundamental minerals and create and maintain excellent soil structure and humus content - all contributing to a balanced healthy micro-environment, and an ecologically sustainable soil system working to the benefit of plant production.

Synthetic chemical fertilisers do little to build soil health and quality. They simply provide plants with an instant fix of growth elements. Most beneficial microbes and earthworms are very susceptible to concentrated toxic chemicals (most pesticides, insecticides, fungicides and herbicides). Many believe that by simply adding water soluble inorganic fertilisers (NPK) to their soils they are "feeding their plants". In reality, if there are quantities of organic matter in the soil, approximately 80-90% of the inorganic fertilisers are taken up into the life cycles of certain opportunistic microbes - this can lead to an overgrowth of these microbes; to the detriment of other beneficial soil micro-organisms. Eventually, these opportunistic microbes die and then the inorganic nutrients are released into the soil in a bio-available form to be taken up by plant roots.

Although plants essentially require nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus (NPK), they also require many other trace nutrients, minerals, hormones etc readily available in healthy living soils full of beneficial microbes. The goal is to restore and / or maintain healthy soil - by stimulating beneficial soil biology and providing plants with all the nutrients and growth factors required to be healthy.