What Are Microbes?

There are many myths about biologicals and the microbial industry

Myth		Reality
Substitutes for chemical fertilizers. . .		Microbial products are complements to fertilizers, and allow better use of such nutrients.
Some mysterious, "silver bullet" solution. . .		Soil ecology is well documented—biological products restore soil to a healthier state.
No scientific basis for microbials—it's just "snake oil". . .		There is a growing body of scientific data confirming the positive impact of microbial products in agriculture. Scientists are highly involved in cataloging microbial genetics and understanding what they do and how they do it.
It's just another "green" thing. . .		Microbes are naturally occurring, and enhance performance of modern conventional and organic farming practices
Don't we just mean genetic engineering?		Most microbial products are diverse combinations of microbes, without genetic modification.

Microbes are indigenous to healthy soil and necessary for healthy plants
Healthy soils, capable of sustaining healthy plant life, contain a large and diverse population of microorganisms. Typically, one teaspoon of soil contains over a billion microbes! These microorganisms, or 'microbes,' range from microscopic, single-celled bacteria, algae and protozoa to multi-celled organisms like fungi, nematodes, and microarthropods. Earthworms and insects, although not microscopic, are also important for a healthy soil.

Healthy crops, turf and ornamentals rely on the soil for food and water. For plants to develop, nutrients, particularly nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K), must be available in the proper form and amount. Soil microorganisms have a significant impact on converting nutrients into the form necessary for plant uptake. Plus microbes are directly involved in improving the water-holding capacity of the soil; improving the structure of the soil so air, water and roots can penetrate deep into the soil; alleviating high salt soil conditions, and controlling plant disease by keeping harmful organisms in check. Ideally, soil nutrients, air, water, microorganisms and the physical structure of the soil work in concert to maximize plant growth and crop productivity.

Examples of important microorganisms and what they do (also see SuperBio® Microbial Composition):

• Fungi—break down (decompose) organic matter and build useful soil aggregates (which create good soil structure)
• Protozoa—feed on bacteria which releases nutrients into the soil
• Nematodes—feed on bacteria and other organisms, also releasing nutrients that become available for plants
• Bacteria—are an important food source for many soil organisms, are able to decompose organic matter and are essential for building good soil structure and nutrient cycling
  

Excess chemical build-up alleviated by microbial solutions
Ideal conditions for plant growth are difficult to maintain and usually require the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides to achieve the desired plant performance. Although these materials do provide improvement in plant growth, they can also have undesired side effects. For example, salts from fertilizer applications can build up and harm plant roots, kill off valuable microorganisms and cause soil compaction. Thus, the most common method for maintaining ideal conditions for plant growth can contribute to long-term harmful effects to the soil. Applications of microbial solutions counteract the harmful build-up of excess fertilizers.

Management programs for crops, turf and ornamentals need to consider the biological component of the soil. Reestablishing a strong, healthy and diverse microbial community in the soil along with efforts to better manage fertilizers and other inputs will bring the soil system back into balance. This will shift the whole system back toward an ideal environment for healthy plant growth.

But not all microbial solutions are created equal
SuperBio® microbial products consist of a diverse consortium of microorganisms. All components of the products are naturally occurring. The products are in a stabilized liquid form so they can go to work immediately upon introduction to the soil or plant growing system. SuperBio® is compatible with most fertilizers and herbicides which is key for developing an effective soil management program.

Use of SuperBio® will help rebuild soil structure, improve soil water-holding capacity, significantly reduce salinity problems, enhance utilization of soil nutrient reserves, allow plants to become more efficient in applied fertilizer usage, and supplement the existing soil microbial populations. All these aspects are backed by data from actual field trials, unlike many competitor products.

The diversity, stability, versatility and proven effectiveness of SuperBio® distinguish it from most other microbial products.