Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Microorganisms for the treatment of roots: Mycorrhizal fungi, Trichoderma and beneficial bacteria (PGPR)

This section gives answers to frequent questions about the application, efficacy, compatibility, durability, quality and safety of our microorganisms for the treatment of roots.

Application

There is a general rule of thumb: Better small amounts often than one big amount once. The aim is to maintain stable populations in the soil that colonize the roots over a longer period.

Free-living microorganisms, such as rhizobacteria and Trichoderma, frequently establish big populations initially that can collapse again in the course of the growing cycle. In this case, the inoculum should be applied several times.

Reapplying small amounts periodically over extended periods also helps to maintain a diverse array of beneficial strains. After several species of microorganisms have colonized the root surface successfully, their distribution patterns start to shift. A species that is very dominant at the beginning may fall out completely later. Awkwardly, it may be precisely this species, which renders especially valuable services to the crop at a more advanced stage of its development, for example throughout the highly demanding moment of fruit growth.

The situation is slightly different in microorganisms that are closely associated with the tissue of plant roots, such as mycorrhizal fungi or rhizobia inside root nodules of legumes. Plants that have been inoculated well and entirely after germination retain these symbiotic partners until the end of their lives. Reinoculating does generally make less sense.

Positive surprises are common when reapplying endomycorrhizal fungi. Vineyards and orchards that are several years old often profit from a fresh mycorrhization. The benign effect of this “refresh” seems to be linked to the competition that occurs between different mycorrhizal species. After the novel application, high performing strains replace species that are less efficient in parts of the root system.

The follow-up treatment should take place at a time of the year when roots tend to grow. In temperate climate, this happens in spring. The best moment in tropical and subtropical climate is at the end of the rainy season or – in irrigated crops – at the end of winter.

Undigested residues of sugar can serve as a readily available energy source for pathogens that are already present in the crop, such as Xanthomonas or Phytophthora. In contrast to the newcomers, these established organisms are well adapted to the environment and thus able to use the sugar immediately for an explosive growth. This danger is especially real for leftovers on the leaves after spraying.

The additional input of nitrates and phosphates can cause imbalances in a highly fine-tuned plant production. Above all care should be taken with hydroponic and semi hydroponic production systems. Their computer controlled, highly optimized nutrient inputs can become imbalanced by the unintended import of an additional nutrient source. There is anecdotal evidence that in this way multiplied microorganisms, can enter into competition for nutrients with the plants. This cannot happen when applying our high-tech products.

When crude plant material is the source for carbon, it can become the avenue for the introduction of pathogens because they multiply just as all other microorganisms in the mixture. These materials need to be exposed to the high temperatures of a composting process first, in order to kill pathogenic fungi and bacteria. In contrast, the propagation of beneficial rhizobacteria and Trichoderma does not allow for high temperatures.

This last point leads to the following general consideration: Good commercial inocula consist of blends of pure strains. The separate production of these strains is done and under sterile conditions in the highly controlled environment of industrial bioreactors. This kind of incubation precludes the co-production of undesired microorganisms. All conditions that are important for the growth are strictly controlled, so that the strains do not lose their desired properties. Leftovers of growth media are limited to a minimum. All these factors lead to consistently high quality that is being monitored constantly according to scientifically objective criteria. This is crucial because it is the only way to assure that good results obtained from applications in the field in the first year can be achieved again in the following years.

The artisanal reproductive process harbours a whole range of uncertainties. The duration of the fermentation and the ambient temperature under which it takes place tend to vary. Consequently, dramatic changes may occur in the resulting species composition, the remains of the growth medium and the application properties. Since many microorganisms grow together, some species might be suppressed by competition and fall out altogether. Mycorrhizal fungi, for once, cannot be reproduced in this way and most likely do not survive this process. The efficacy of the species that do survive may suffer at least partially. Thus, the reproduction process can result in highly variable final products, which perform differently when applied to plants. This great number of unknowns has the potential for surprises, which can distort planning schedules and in the worst-case cause loss.

The fertilization with an overdose of mineral salts can cause the “burning” of the plants. This is not the case for the application of microorganisms. In other words, they either do their job or die. An overdose does not exist in a purely technical sense. Rather, the art of finding the right application rate consists in achieving effects through a sufficient amount of product and within an adequate budget.

Our products are fine powders or granulate. For some applications, they are blended into potting mixes or mixed with the seeds. Often though they are mixed with water and sprayed or injected through the irrigation system.

For example, the product Bactiva® is often applied at a rate of 30g per 10l of water. It is important that the spores of the microorganisms are drenched into the root zone. On the other hand, the water absorption capacity of the substrate should not be surpassed, in order to avoid flushing the spores out (for example by dripping through the bottom of irrigation trays).

From a biological point of view, the amount of water is not of priority, as long as there is enough water around for spore germination. In other words, the main function of the water is to serve as a vehicle. The aim is to introduce the spores as completely as possible into the root zone. The amount of water depends primarily on the application method and the equipment. It should allow for an even distribution of the product in a given production unit (germination tray, pot, raised bed, field or orchard).

The amount of water should be well calibrated when applying biological products, such as Bacillus thuringiensis, Beauveria bassiana or Metarrhizium anisopliae to the leaves of the plant. The efficacy of these products depends on the degree of surface covered. At the same time, a high concentration of spores is crucial to a good “hit score” when trying to reach all pathogens on the leaves.

The success of applications in the root system does not depend so much on the concentration of the spores in the immediate proximity of the root and its coverage of the surface. These bacteria and fungi can spread by forming colonies and mycelia. They are saprophytes and can make use of organic matter in the soil to grow towards the roots. Conventional wisdom has it that this is virtually impossible for the spores of many microorganisms, which live in the nutrient deficient cuticle of the leaves.

All microorganisms thrive at a specific pH range that boosts their growth and efficacy. This is why some suppliers recommend adjusting the pH of the water before introducing the microorganisms. We do not support this view because the microorganisms chosen by us can cope with irrigation water that is somewhat acid or alkaline as long as this pH lies within the limits tolerated by plants. Even if the range is not in the optimum, they do not suffer permanent damage and for this reason, there is no need to adjust the pH of the water when mixing.

Ultimately, the pH in the rhizosphere and the soil affects the performance of the microorganisms. Our strains tolerate more extreme pH-values than the plant. This explains why inoculated plants frequently outperform untreated plants on extremely acid or alkaline soils. The prime example is the successful reforestation of abandoned US mines with the help of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius after years of futile attempts without the fungus.

Applying beneficial microorganisms at regular intervals can improve production success particularly when negative soil properties harm the development of plants and soil organisms. They stimulate the growth of roots, damaged by transplant, suffering from soil compaction or other problems, by boosting the development of the healthy parts.

Experience shows that it is uniquely beneficial to introduce microorganisms in soils that have been cultivated with conventional methods. Usually, the plants respond with an improved nutrient uptake, enhanced growth and higher yields.

Applying microorganisms makes a lot of sense when it is not conceivable that sufficient amounts of beneficial strains and species reach the rhizosphere by natural processes. This is especially true for endomycorrhizal fungi, which have spores with large diameters, inappropriate for spreading through the air. Therefore they are absent from seedlings inoculated in germination trays.

Seedlings germinated in peat moss or similar substrates usually cannot form mycorrhizae without the application of mycorrhizal spores. However, treating the plant with the fungus at an early stage gives the fungus the opportunity to invade the whole root area. In the process, the fungus undergoes a maturing process just like the plant. During the transplant, a well-developed mycelium supports the plant to overcome the transplant stress. Nonmycorrhizal transplants normally encounter with mycorrhizal fungi in the field. Nevertheless, a late mycorrhization means that they lose an important head start at a crucial early moment of the growth cycle.

There is a huge diversity of crops, which benefit from mycorrhization. However, those crops that give high yields over many years, such as vineyards and orchards, are especially attractive. They require an early on treatment and possibly for several times. The cost-benefit analysis is unambiguous. The investment in the treatment with endomycorrhizal fungi is minute as compared to other costs of crop production and the possible gains. The calculation is different for perishable crops, such as lettuce for which the costs of mycorrhization can easily outweigh the benefits. In this case, a field trial should give a clearer picture.

Mycorrhizal fungi cannot grow on leaves. They require an application on the roots. This is different for many bacteria and fungi of the rhizosphere. Most can grow in the aerial parts of the plant if they find a nutrient supply. Still, they are exposed to a number of adverse conditions that hamper the conquest of this habitat.

In contrast to the abundance of organic matter in the soil and the rhizosphere, there are hardly any nutrients on the cuticle of the leaves (phyllosphere). Bacillus and Trichoderma cannot move around actively. Instead, they extend through a growth medium by forming colonies and mycelia. Motionless, void of an energy source, exposed to the dangers of drought and ultraviolet radiation, they can hardly exert their beneficial effects on the plant.

Our free-living microorganisms derive their energy from the breakdown of organic compounds. For this, they need a range of supplements that also form part of the growth media used to cultivate microorganisms in Petri dishes. Adding these materials to the soil benefits all species of microorganisms no matter their effect on the plant. In this way, it is not possible to target exclusively the desired microorganisms.

Still, generally speaking, it is commendable to add compounds that stimulate the growth of soil-borne microorganisms sustainably. An active and ecologically stable soil community bestows a certain resistance on plants against the attack of pathogens. However, one should avoid readily digestible sources of energy, such as sugars that can be broken down easily. Materials, which exhibit microscopically small structures that increase their surface area, have also turned out as favourable environments for microorganisms to grow.

Apart from these general considerations, there are new attempts to boost exclusively the growth of beneficial microorganisms. It seems that some polyphenols act as messengers, which stimulate the establishment of endomycorrhizal fungi in the root system, while the addition of selective growth media on the leaves can boost the development of a desired group of microorganisms on the cuticle. However, at present these new ideas are not yet established successfully on a commercial scale.

The application of conventional chemical substances follows a mono-causal linear thinking. For example, if leaves lose their colour as a symptom of a lack of nitrogen, adding nitrogen will result in a darker green.

Microorganisms tend to display an abundance of different modes of action and interactions. Dealing with complex biological systems requires comprehensive reasoning instead of a linear mindset that is restricted to simple cause-effect chains. In practice, it is often impossible to predict efficacy with quantifiable accuracy. Instead, we ask ourselves about the likelihood of several effects to occur all at once, often reinforcing each other. These effects then often outperform the solutions offered by an approach purely based on chemicals.

Efficacy

Biofertilizers cannot completely replace chemical fertilizers in high-performance crop production systems.

Nitrogen fixing bacteria only bind a limited amount of nitrogen (up to a maximum of 70kg/ha), but on the other hand, they are capable of channelling this nitrogen efficiently to the plant without losing the major part as in the case of chemical fertilization.

Microorganisms give the plant access to otherwise locked-up phosphorus and potassium. However, they cannot fix these elements from the air or simply “create” them out of nowhere. Hence, they can only help replacing chemical fertilizers when those elements are locked-up in sufficient quantities in the soil where they are unavailable to the plants. This means that microorganisms cannot contribute phosphorus and potassium in an artificial substrate void of any mineral fertilizer.

An initial needs assessment should shed light on whether a biological product can replace a chemical product. After looking at the results, these recommendations should then be improved further with the help of our technical support.

The development of our microorganisms reaches an optimum at warm temperatures (between 25°C and 35°C). Even higher temperatures can suppress their growth, but real losses occur only above 42°C when coagulation can take place, i.e., when proteins may be damaged irreversibly.

The microorganisms contained in our products must not be exposed to temperatures above 40°C during storage and handling. In summer, this is easily reached in a car or in the tubes of an irrigation system.

Most of our microorganisms should not be stored below freezing point because ice crystals might form in the cells and pierce through their membranes.

In general, the conditions that are suitable for plant growth are also benign for the microorganisms that are contained in our products. This includes the temperature range. Microorganisms that live in close association with the roots and that tolerate hot and cold temperatures help the plant to withstand extreme temperatures.

After treating a root with Bactiva®, it tends to grow more lushly. Its colour is lighter and it is equipped with more root hairs. The root ball retains more earth when shaken. The root gains weight in comparison to the aerial parts of the plant.

Plants treated with our products withstand transplant, adverse conditions and lack of nutrients better. They are also more resistant to abiotic stress in all parts of the plant. They have higher yields, live longer and produce over longer periods.

Apart from these visual effects, laboratory methods can detect the microorganisms.

Not all with mycorrhizal fungi inoculated roots show growth, which is more vigorous. In contrast to ectomycorrhizae, the endomycorrhizal association cannot usually be seen with the naked eye. The successful performance of the symbiosis depends on a well-established fungal mycelium in the soil. Contrary to common belief, a good performance and a strong presence of the fungus in the roots do not correlate. Notwithstanding, this percentage of colonization is often measured by applying costly methods.

High concentrations of our strains of Trichoderma can be found in the proximity of the root with a light microscope for weeks after the application of Bactiva®. The higher their concentration the more they convey beneficial effects on the plant.

The crop’s demand for nutrients depends on many things, such as, the soil’s natural content of macronutrients and micronutrients available to the plants, the special needs of the crop, its stage of development, the production system, and the desired yield. A fertilizer recommendation should take all of these considerations into account and be issued based on a proper chemical analysis.

Hence, there are no general recommendations for savings on fertilizers through the application of mycorrhizal fungi in combination with rhizobacteria (such as the products Endo Cereal, Endo Mais and Potato Starter Set). Nonetheless, many empirical data prove lowered nitrogen and phosphate input for agricultural crops, by 20% in the first year. If yields do not decrease a further reduction to 30% and afterwards 40% is possible.

Beware of overambitious promises by those who advocate replacing the entire chemical and organic fertilizer program with the use of microorganisms. Please let our technical support assist you for the duration of several growth cycles when planning for the savings on fertilizer programs.

There are frequent reports of yield increases in the range of 5 to 10% in agricultural crops after the use of our Endomycorrhiza products. Similar to the discussion on fertilizer savings, it is impossible to give an across-the-board answer to this question.

Experience shows that treatment results in rather large yield increases when the base line yield lingers well below the potential for the crop. The production of maize (corn) can be expected to increase by 10% when it usually only attains 6t/ha, whereas maize that routinely yields 12t/ha should not be expected to gain more than 5%.

The recommendations for the use of biological products should contain a compatibility list that informs about the interactions with chemical plant protection products and fertilizers. This is especially true when employed as a tool of integrated crop management and in the gradual process of conversion from chemical to biological management.

The beneficial fungi contained in our products are usually compatible with insecticides, herbicides, antibiotics, and even a great number of fungicides. Sometimes fungicides cause a slight growth inhibition. For example, a fungicide might reduce the success of the colonization by our strain of the endomycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices. We define the fungicide as compatible as long as it does not cause the mycorrhization of the roots to fall below 80% of its normal value.

High phosphate concentrations ( >40ppm in a nutrient solution) can slow down the colonization process by the mycorrhizal fungi to the extent that there is no colonization within the narrow time span of plant production. Some crops, such as weed, respond to mycorrhization with higher than normal yields only after halving the phosphate input.

The beneficial bacteria contained in our products usually tolerate insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides but no antibiotics.

As a general recommendation, bacterial and fungal spores should not be mixed with plant protection products and fertilizers in the same tank. Special caution must be taken when using broad-spectrum antimicrobial biocides, such as chlorine and hydrogen peroxide.

Compatibility

We pursue the aim of an integrated crop management with an ever more complete use of new microbiological elements within the solid framework of conventional cultural practices. Our products can be applied alongside the vast majority of chemical products, with the exception of antimicrobials and some few chemical fungicides. This allows for their gradual introduction without the total abolishment of other products or cultural practices.

Our advisers assist in this incremental build-up of trust through a respectful relationship. We know that the shift from conventional practices to biological crop management always includes a shared learning curve. In the process, we value years of experience and mistrust radical “solutions”.

Cultural practices that improve soil ecology may not be urgent, but they are still advisable because they contribute to the formation of humus and suppress the proliferation of pathogens. This is especially true for the use of organic material and biostimulants that boost soil live (e.g.: compost, worm compost, fish extract, humic acids and fulvic acids, sea kelp extract). It also includes less tilling or even zero tillage, the use of suitable planting densities and crop rotation in summer and winter. The fertilizer program should be adapted to the results of up-to-date chemical analysis that also includes microelements and continuous measurements of pH values and electric conductivity. Our technical assistance encompasses all of these biological, chemical and organic components.

The roots of all plants are associated with beneficial microorganisms. Our product Bactiva® is applied successfully with all crops. Even the roots of epiphytes, such as ornamental orchids, are widely treated with Bactiva®. The only exceptions are aquatic plants for which our microorganisms are not suited.

Our products have been applied primarily and on a commercial scale to the following crops:

  • Vegetables and fruits: tomato, peppers, potato, lettuce, cucumber, strawberry, blackberry, raspberry, watermelon…
  • Legume fruit: bean, pea, soybean, broad bean, chickpea, peanut...
  • Grain and corn: corn, wheat, barley, millet...
  • Ornamentals: poinsettia, rose, cut flowers…
  • Forest / fruit trees: pine, oak, peach, avocado, walnut…
  • Cash crops: cotton, sugar cane, oil palm...
  • Green spaces: golf courses, sports facilities, urban parks…

Some plants do not associate with mycorrhizae. These include mainly members of the crucifers (Brassicaceae), smartweed family (Polygonaceae), carnation family (Caryophyllaceae), fat-leafed plants (Crassulaceae) and amaranth family (Chenopodiaceae), as well as many aquatic plants or plants that are associated with water, such as the sedges (Cyperaceae) and rushes (Juncaceae), and specific plant families, including carnivorous plants and parasites.

These plants cannot be treated with endomycorrhiza fungi. However, they can be successfully inoculated with Bactiva® (with the exception of aquatic plants).

In addition, different types of plants require distinct mycorrhizal fungi. Distinction is done between mycorrhizal types, each of which is being formed by different fungal genera (ectomycorrhizas, ectendo mycorrhizas, arbutoid mycorrhizas, ericoid mycorrhizas, VA mycorrhizas, orchid mycorrhizas, and monotropoid mycorrhizas).

By far the most common form is the VA mycorrhiza (VA = vesicular-arbuscular). Mainly, the fungi of the genus Glomus build this. It is the main ingredient of our Endo-products.

The ecological balance of a natural species community becomes more stable with an increasing number of participating species and strains. This rule also applies to the living community of the soil and the immediate sphere of influence of the roots, the rhizosphere. Here it is an ecologically stable, species-rich community of microorganisms, which helps the plant to thrive even in poor conditions.

However, the microorganisms of two or more commercial products might occasionally interact with each other antagonistically when combined. It is conceivable, for example, that a strongly dominant but not very effective nitrogen fixer displaces the less dominant but more productive nitrogen fixer of another product altogether.

To avoid this risk, only products should be combined that complement each other. Each product should also have shown its efficacy as a stand-alone product. In this case, a combination of several products should yield superior results than a single product.

Each species can only live, grow and reproduce within a certain range of environmental conditions. This so-called ecological amplitude is usually wider for our microorganisms that colonize the roots than for their host plants, i.e., they can tolerate a larger variation in environmental conditions, such as temperature, altitude, acidity and availability of water. Crucially, the plants ability to withstand extreme pH values and temperatures or a lack of water also increases under the influence of the microorganisms. Thus, microorganisms widen a plant’s ecological amplitude by its buffering effect on extreme environments.

This finding answers a series of questions regarding the demands of microorganisms. Good growing conditions for plants are also beneficial for the microorganisms contained in our products. Consequently, microorganisms can be combined with all plant substrates.

However, the suitability of a substrate or a solution as a carrier for microorganisms that are stored for some time before application on crops requires confirmation on a case-by-case basis through laboratory tests.

Mixing our endomycorrhizal fungi with compost and storing the blend for a few weeks before use results in unsatisfactory levels of colonization on plant roots in three-quarters of the cases. However, this observation masks large and hard to explain differences between different types of compost.

At a sufficient level of freely available water saprophytic microorganisms, such as Bacillus and Trichoderma¸ can germinate and colonize the entire potting mix or soil. This results in a positive head start. However, such a population can collapse again when stored for too much time.

The durability of different species and strains of microorganisms differs widely. Bacteria such as Bacillus that form real spores (endospores) are the most enduring creatures known to science.

The situation is quite different for bacterial species that do not form true spores, such as Pseudomonas, Azospirillum and Azotobacter. They lose viability after a few months unless they are dried thoroughly and stored at temperatures below freezing point.

Our strain of Trichoderma harzianum and the endomycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices remain viable for at least two years when stored correctly.

Durability

The spores of Bacillus subtilis survive experiments, which mimic the conditions that prevail throughout the ejection from the atmosphere by asteroid impact, the following travel through the solar system and the impact on another planet. Reports also show, that Bacillus spores germinated successfully after having spent 250 million years in salt domes. It seems plausible that such resistant spores travel on debris between planets and thus perhaps even might have given origin to life on Earth (panspermia).

Determining the expiration date is not easy when a single product contains organisms with different life spans. We have decided to include short-lived high-performance strains, such as Pseudomonas fluorescens in the blend. All the same, we also make sure that long-lived species of Bacillus accomplish the task even after storage for prolonged periods.

Our experience has shown that many products give excellent results under experimental conditions in the laboratory, but they disappoint when exposed to the harsh conditions of a commercial distribution system. That is why we pay special attention to durability and resistance when selecting our strains and production methods. In general, our products are designed to assure that 98% of the spores still germinate after 18 months of storage at 25°C.

There is usually no easy answer to this question. Rather, experimental evidence has to shed light on the duration on a case-by-case basis. There is no problem with the temporary storage for a day or so. However, if the period extends to several days or weeks, seeking professional advice is required.

A biological product is Good if it works well at reasonable cost. It is not just Good because it is cheap or has a high concentration of spores or because the manufacturer makes ambitious promises.

When choosing between products one should first hear the opinions of other users. It is preferable to start with the treatment of a small area, avoid radical changes and take into account that recommendations might have to be adjusted after gathering first-hand experience.

Quality

Microbial products vary significantly in their species and strain composition, concentration, manufacturing process, preservation method, and additives. Some products come with large quantities of metabolites that have accumulated during the manufacturing process. They are effective immediately, without the need for the microorganisms to start growing first. In other products, the organisms lose their desirable properties in the course of the production process. In addition, manufacturers differ widely in quality standards and their level of experience with their products under market conditions.

This is only the beginning of a long list of variations that makes it difficult to compare products with each other objectively. The user should ask how long the products can be stored and whether they can be incorporated in a given crop management system. Can he count on decent technical support? What is the reputation of the brand and its manufacturer in the market? How many other users does he know?

When faced with the choice between two chemical products, such as two NPK fertilizers or two products based on metalaxyl, the best product is often simply the one with the highest concentration of the active ingredient. When both suppliers have an equal reputation, the consumer only has to perform a back-of-the-envelope calculation on price and content. However, a mere comparison of ingredient lists is not sufficient for biological products. A product based on Trichoderma harzianum can be more effective than a competing product that boasts a thousand-fold concentration.

Usually it is impossible for the user to examine the spore concentration. He may turn to a state-approved microbiological research outfit. Unfortunately, the reported concentrations often differ widely when splitting a sample into different parts and sending them to several labs. If the user has finally won confidence by receiving similar results by a number of labs, he still cannot be sure that he will receive the same concentration or an equal degree of purity in the following purchase.

In this situation, the reputation of a brand is crucial. We are concerned about our reputation as a manufacturer and operate a strict quality control system, which has assured consistently good results for many years. We invite independent research institutes to apply our quality control procedures, so that our statements are transparent and comprehensible to others.

We retain samples for each production run and subject them to quality control. The aim is to determine the number of spores and their ability to germinate by applying generally accepted microbiological methods.

The spores attach to small particles of additives, which provide them with a food source and help them to get started.

Critics claim that products containing microorganisms require blending with additives such as amino acids, humic acid and kelp extract, in order to assure a positive effect, regardless of whether or not it stems from the organisms.

In the case of our highly concentrated products, only a few hundred grams are usually applied per hectare. However, these small amounts of product contain many spores, almost all of which are able to form a colony and thereby to multiply exponentially. Additives cannot grow and reproduce. Applying a few grams per hectare of sea kelp has a negligible effect on plant growth.

Extensive toxicological data were assembled for the product Bactiva®. They base on EPA guidelines for the impact on skin, skin irritation, eye, ingestion and aquatic toxicity. The LD50 value is above 2000mg/kg. Thus, the product falls no longer under the CLP Regulation as being classified as non-toxic.

Despite the harmlessness of the product, care has to be taken to avoid inhaling the fine powder because the highly concentrated spores and their metabolites can irritate the mucous membranes and the respiratory tract. We use protective suits and respiratory masks during the production of the blend. Our constant handling of the spores might otherwise lead to irritations and immune responses.

We therefore recommend a respiratory mask and gloves for the application. In particular, people who are prone to allergies require protection. Although the microorganisms are of natural source and their spores occur in the air we breathe, normally we are not exposed to such large quantities.

If the microorganisms are sprayed on aerial plant parts, they should be washed as soon as possible into the rhizosphere, where they become active. Minor deposits on the leaves and fruits need to be rinsed before eating. They are safe as long as they come as fine remnants of spray applications and not as the pure, highly concentrated product.

Safety

Bacteria reproduced in an artisanal manner by the user, may compete for nutrients with the plants, especially when used in semi-hydroponic cultures. This effect is not observed for our products. In addition, they show no further adverse effects on plants.

The microorganisms contained in our products stimulate the soil and activate it ecologically. There are no negative effects on the quality of the soil.