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Promote plant growth with the help of rhizobacteria

The deployment of rhizobacteria in various crops can stimulate plant growth. These root bacteria protect the plant, among other things, against pathogens and nitrogen fixation. Rhizobacteria are processed in various soil improvers.
Flower
Maarten Casteleijn
Product specialist Plant resistance | October 7, 2020 | 5 min. reading time

What are rhizobacteria?

Rhizobacteria are bacteria that naturally live in the root environment of plants. They colonize the area around the roots. The rhizobacteria interact with the plant. There are many different types of rhizobacteria. Most species are useful, but some varieties are parasitic.

Different types of rhizobacteria 

So rhizobacteria colonize in the root environment of the plant. When one of the two benefits from this, it is called symbiosis. If both, the plant and the bacteria, benefit from it, this collaboration is called mutualism. It is called parasitism when one of the two benefits at the expense of the other.

When there is symbiosis or mutualism, the bacteria will protect the plant against parasitism and pathogens. Certain types of nutrients can also be released into the soil. This can be nitrogen, but also elements such as iron and silicon can be released. The rhizobacterium exchanges these nutritional elements for sugar from the plant, as it were. When the rhizobacteria surround the root and benefits from this, they can also protect the plant against pathogenic soil bacteria and fungi.

How do rhizobacteria promote plant growth?

The different types of rhizobacteria have various functions, but almost all types promote plant growth in their own way. The efficacy of rhizobacteria can be divided into three categories:
  1. Promote plant growth;
  2. Stimulate or improve root formation;
  3. Prevention of diseases (pathogenic soil fungi such as Fusarium, Alternaria, Phytophtora, Pythium, Rhizoctonia and Botrytis).

Administering rhizobacteria to your crop

There are several products on the market that contain rhizobacteria. These products are classified as soil improvers. These soil improvers can be divided into three categories, depending on the type of rhizobacterium that is processed in them. Do you want to add rhizobacteria to your crop? As an extension of the three different ways the functioning of rhizobacteria, the specialist listed below a list of effects on the plant:

  • Nitrogen/phosphate conversion from organic fertilizers
There are rhizobacteria that can break down organic matter, making nitrogen and phosphate available to the plant. It is important that organic material is added to the soil or substrate.

  • Chelating elements
Some elements cannot be included in every form, such as iron, copper and zinc. In the Easymix you can find these elements in chelated form. Rhizobacteria can form these chelates themselves, with which elements can be absorbed by the plant. Heavy metals are also chelated, which reduces the harmfulness to the plant.

  • Better rout out
A number of rhizobacteria stimulate the plant to form more roots. The bacterium does this by producing butyric acid. Because not all plants react in the same way, every crop needs an optimal ratio.

  • Preventing plant diseases (caused by biotic stress)
A difference is made between biotic and abiotic stress. Biotic stress refers to a biological cause, in which one can think of living organisms, such as pathogenic bacteria and fungi. These living organisms can be harmful to the plant. The rhizobacteria can help when they benefit from the cooperation with the crop. Then they can, as it were, enter into the ''fight'' for the root with the harmful bacteria and fungus. Some rhizobacteria even fight this battle by creating fungicides.

Attention: the claim that diseases can be prevented by using rhizobacteria, can only be done with when a drug has a Ctgb approval. 

  • Preventing plant diseases (caused by abiotic stress)
Unlike biotic factors, abiotic factors are not biological. Think of wind, light, pollution, heat and dehydration. Rhizobacteria can be used to limit the effects these factors have on the plant. Because the bacteria make more nutrients available to the crop, the dry matter content can increase. The rhizobacteria do this by establishing themselves to expand the roots of the plant and thus the root capacity.

The rhizobacteria also have the property of being able to store water, which ensures a small storage of water. 

Videos

Watch the video to learn more about the application and storage of fungi and bacteria.

How to use rhizobacteria?

Preferably introduce rhizobacteria at the beginning of the cultivation. Often this can be done by means of sprinkling or give it along the drip line. But the best effect is obtained if you apply rhizobacteria directly to the roots. Dipping is a good way to do this. The best time to add rhizobacteria is during propagation. In this way the rooting can take place faster. 

Attention: never combine rhizobacteria with disinfectants.

Can you use rhizobacteria in both substrate and outdoor cultivation?

Rhizobacteria can be used in both substrate and outdoor crops. 

Outdoor
Many cultivators already use rhizobacteria. Often in combination with fungi. Especially in crops where the soil is steamed, the use of soil life is very important. By using this preventively, there is a lower chance of problems later on in the cultivation process.

Substrate

Currently, rhizobacteria are mainly used in soil-bound crops. More and more substrate cultivators on stone wool are seeing the advantages of 'filling' the soil life and are starting to use organic products. When using inorganic fertilizers, it is important to think of 'nutrition' for soil life. Examples are liquid organic fertilizers or amino acid products. 

Measuring is knowing

Rhizobacteria are not suitable for all crops. Therefore, in addition to good information, it is also important to first test in a trial design whether the rhizobacteria are doing their job. Then compare the regular cultivation with the test group to conclude whether there are, for example, differences in root development, better outgrowth or the color of the plants. There are many other ways to find out if the plant actually has a different composition. A dry matter measurement, for example, is a good example of one of these possibilities. Are you curious about the other measurements? Please contact our product specialist plant resistance.
Contact form
Can't find your answer? Fill out the contact form and our specialist Maarten Casteleijn will get back to you. On weekdays, even within 24 hours.

Promote plant growth with the help of rhizobacteria

The deployment of rhizobacteria in various crops can stimulate plant growth. These root bacteria protect the plant, among other things, against pathogens and nitrogen fixation. Rhizobacteria are processed in various soil improvers.
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Maarten Casteleijn
Maarten Casteleijn
Product specialist Plant resistance | October 7, 2020 | 5 min. reading time
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What are rhizobacteria?

Rhizobacteria are bacteria that naturally live in the root environment of plants. They colonize the area around the roots. The rhizobacteria interact with the plant. There are many different types of rhizobacteria. Most species are useful, but some varieties are parasitic.

Different types of rhizobacteria 

So rhizobacteria colonize in the root environment of the plant. When one of the two benefits from this, it is called symbiosis. If both, the plant and the bacteria, benefit from it, this collaboration is called mutualism. It is called parasitism when one of the two benefits at the expense of the other.

When there is symbiosis or mutualism, the bacteria will protect the plant against parasitism and pathogens. Certain types of nutrients can also be released into the soil. This can be nitrogen, but also elements such as ironand silicon can be released. The rhizobacterium exchanges these nutritional elements for sugar from the plant, as it were. When the rhizobacteria surround the root and benefits from this, they can also protect the plant against pathogenic soil bacteria and fungi.

How do rhizobacteria promote plant growth?

The different types of rhizobacteria have various functions, but almost all types promote plant growth in their own way. The efficacy of rhizobacteria can be divided into three categories:
  1. Promote plant growth;
  2. Stimulate or improve root formation;
  3. Prevention of diseases (pathogenic soil fungi such as Fusarium, Alternaria, Phytophtora, Pythium, Rhizoctonia and Botrytis).

Administering rhizobacteria to your crop

There are several products on the market that contain rhizobacteria. These products are classified as soil improvers. These soil improvers can be divided into three categories, depending on the type of rhizobacterium that is processed in them. Do you want to add rhizobacteria to your crop? As an extension of the three different ways the functioning of rhizobacteria, the specialist listed below a list of effects on the plant:

  • Nitrogen/phosphate conversion from organic fertilizers
There are rhizobacteria that can break down organic matter, making nitrogen and phosphateavailable to the plant. It is important that organic material is added to the soil or substrate.

  • Chelating elements
Some elements cannot be included in every form, such as iron, copper and zinc. In the Easymix you can find these elements in chelated form. Rhizobacteria can form these chelates themselves, with which elements can be absorbed by the plant. Heavy metals are also chelated, which reduces the harmfulness to the plant.

  • Better rout out
A number of rhizobacteria stimulate the plant to form more roots. The bacterium does this by producing butyric acid. Because not all plants react in the same way, every crop needs an optimal ratio.

  • Preventing plant diseases (caused by biotic stress)
A difference is made between biotic and abiotic stress. Biotic stress refers to a biological cause, in which one can think of living organisms, such as pathogenic bacteria and fungi. These living organisms can be harmful to the plant. The rhizobacteria can help when they benefit from the cooperation with the crop. Then they can, as it were, enter into the ''fight'' for the root with the harmful bacteria and fungus. Some rhizobacteria even fight this battle by creating fungicides.

Attention: the claim that diseases can be prevented by using rhizobacteria, can only be done with when a drug has a Ctgb approval. 

  • Preventing plant diseases (caused by abiotic stress)
Unlike biotic factors, abiotic factors are not biological. Think of wind, light, pollution, heat and dehydration. Rhizobacteria can be used to limit the effects these factors have on the plant. Because the bacteria make more nutrients available to the crop, the dry matter content can increase. The rhizobacteria do this by establishing themselves to expand the roots of the plant and thus the root capacity.

The rhizobacteria also have the property of being able to store water, which ensures a small storage of water.

Videos

Watch the video to learn more about the application and storage of fungi and bacteria.
  

How to use rhizobacteria?

Preferably introduce rhizobacteria at the beginning of the cultivation. Often this can be done by means of sprinkling or give it along the drip line. But the best effect is obtained if you apply rhizobacteria directly to the roots. Dipping is a good way to do this. The best time to add rhizobacteria is during propagation. In this way the rooting can take place faster. 

Attention: never combine rhizobacteria with disinfectants.

Can you use rhizobacteria in both substrate and outdoor cultivation?

Rhizobacteria can be used in both substrate and outdoor crops. 

Outdoor
Many cultivators already use rhizobacteria. Often in combination with fungi. Especially in crops where the soil is steamed, the use of soil lifeis very important. By using this preventively, there is a lower chance of problems later on in the cultivation process.

Substrate

Currently, rhizobacteria are mainly used in soil-bound crops. More and more substrate cultivators on stone wool are seeing the advantages of 'filling' the soil life and are starting to use organic products. When using inorganic fertilizers, it is important to think of 'nutrition' for soil life. Examples are liquid organic fertilizers or amino acid products.

Measuring is knowing

Rhizobacteria are not suitable for all crops. Therefore, in addition to good information, it is also important to first test in a trial design whether the rhizobacteria are doing their job. Then compare the regular cultivation with the test group to conclude whether there are, for example, differences in root development, better outgrowth or the color of the plants. There are many other ways to find out if the plant actually has a different composition. A dry matter measurement, for example, is a good example of one of these possibilities. Are you curious about the other measurements? Please contact our product specialist plant resistance.
Contact form
Can't find your answer? Fill out the contact form and our specialist Maarten Casteleijn will get back to you. On weekdays, even within 24 hours.
Maarten Casteleijn
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