It’s becoming increasingly important to cultivate healthy soil to support successful crops, and by far the best way to do that is through natural means. Organic soil is teeming with life of all kinds, including microscopic organisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, nematodes, and more. There are many products on the market today that make beneficial microbes available to growers, and bacteria, in particular, are garnering a lot of attention for their ability to balance the soil, aid in nutrient breakdown, and provide overall improvement of soil and plant health.
How Your Plants Benefit from Bacteria
Your plants’ root health is one of the essential factors in robust growth and a successful harvest, and soil microbes are a crucial part of a healthy rhizosphere. Beneficial bacteria have incredible effects on the decomposition of organic components, nutrient recycling, soil fertilization, soil structure, and even pathogen suppression.
Nitrogen-Fixing
Plants can only uptake components in certain forms. Certain species of bacteria are nitrogen-fixing, meaning that they take nitrogen from the air and make it available in the soil. Because plants rely heavily on nitrogen for the green growth of stalks, stems, and leaves, the addition of these bacteria species boosts nitrogen availability to the plant.
Organic Breakdown
Other species of beneficial bacteria break down organic matter, and in the process, make chemically unavailable components more easily accessible to your plants. For nutrients like iron and phosphorus, bacterial activity can provide a massive boost to the availability of these components and increase yields significantly.
Protection from Pathogens
Lastly, beneficial bacteria help balance soil health by inhibiting the activity of harmful pathogens. Certain species of bacteria directly combat the spores of harmful fungi, while others are known to insulate the plant from infections by forming a protective layer over the roots.
Check out the best seeds online: