Microbes – A Gardeners’ Best Friend
Microorganisms (or microbes for short) refers to an array of different living organisms. These beings can range from being a single cell, up to a handful of microscopic cells. The presence and diversity of microbes is crucial to maintaining health in all macroscopic life, from humans to plants. Like workers in a factory, each microbe has a task. It’s only by having a broad balance of microbes, performing different activities, that successful and bountiful crops become achievable.
The Microbiome
In nature, microorganisms can form into intricate ecosystems known as Microbiomes. These microbiomes play a crucial role in maintaining the health and proper functioning of the environments they from a part of. In a way, microorganisms are the custodians of balance within ecosystems. An imbalance of microorganisms could have devastating effects for the ecosystems they form a part of. This includes your crops too!
The plant microbiome has three identifiable domains: the Phyllosphere, the Endosphere, and the Rhizosphere. The Phyllosphere comprises most of the leaves and stem, engulfing anything above surface level. The Endosphere is found inside the plant’s tissues, in other words, inside its cells. The Rhizosphere comprises the soil around the root system of a plant.
Our main interest is the Rhizosphere. This microbiome can influence the type, rate, and amount of nutrients that crops can obtain from the soil. It also affects how the crop will use those nutrients and how resistant they will be to drought or diseases. In other words, a plant’s development, growth, maturity, reproductivity and ability to thrive depend on both the plant and its interaction with the microbiome.
Keeping it short and simple: a healthy and balanced microbiome can and will affect the outcome of your yields. This is why it’s important to understand how microbes work and the effects they can have on your crops.
How do microbes help plants?
Microbes play a crucial role in the availability and uptake of nutrients for plants. They’re an essential component of the ecosystem and contribute to the nutrient cycle. Here are some key aspects of how microbes influence plant nutrient availability:
- Decomposition: Microbes, such as bacteria and fungi, break down organic matter into simpler compounds through the process of decomposition. This releases nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and others back into the soil, making them accessible for plant uptake.
- Nitrogen Fixation: Some bacteria, known as nitrogen-fixing bacteria, can convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into a form that plants can use, such as ammonium (NH4+) or nitrate (NO3-). Leguminous plants, like peas, beans, and clover, form symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules. This then helps them obtain nitrogen in a usable form.
- Phosphorus Solubilisation: Phosphorus is usually present in the soil in forms that are not directly available to plants. Certain microbes can release organic acids and enzymes that break down complex forms of phosphorus into soluble forms. By breaking them down, they become easier for plants to absorb.
- Mycorrhizal Associations: Mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic relationships with many plants, creating mycorrhizae, which are extensions of the plant root system. These fungi enhance the plant’s ability to take up nutrients, particularly phosphorus and other micronutrients. They do this by increasing the root surface area and improving nutrient absorption.
- Nutrient Cycling: Microbes actively participate in nutrient cycling within the soil. They take up nutrients from the soil and organic matter, and as they die and are decomposed The nutrients are then released back into the soil, becoming available for other organisms and plants.
- Disease Suppression: Some beneficial microbes in the soil can protect plants by suppressing harmful pathogens. By doing so, they promote healthier plant growth, and reduce nutrient loss due to diseases.
In conclusion, microbes play a crucial role in the health and fruitfulness of your crops. This makes it important to keep a balanced microbiome in your crops to secure an optimum nutrient intake. To ensure your plants are surrounding themselves with beneficial microbes, use the following Plant Magic products:
