The intensification of agricultural production over recent decades has significantly increased reliance on soluble nitrogen fertilisers and conventional nutrient management strategies. With increasing costs of both nitrogen and general fertiliser people are looking at options to maintain profitability, including managing farm inputs and costs.
Modern science recognises soil as a living biological ecosystem containing highly complex interactions between plants, microorganisms, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, minerals and organic matter. Plants actively exchange carbohydrates with microbial communities that assist with nutrient mobilisation, pathogen suppression, and soil aggregation.
Biological products like VITALIFE® aim to support these natural ecological processes through the introduction or stimulation of beneficial microorganisms and fungi. Rather than functioning solely as fertilisers in the conventional sense, these systems seek to enhance biological nutrient cycling and restore soil ecological function.
Some of the bacteria and fungi species included in VITALIFE® are Serratia, Trichoderma, Beauveria, Bacillus and Metarhizium. While VITALIFE® as a product has not been proven yet (studies are underway), the organisms used have been proven to perform a range of functions including:
· release compounds that stimulate root and leaf growth
· release compounds that trigger the plants natural defences
· release compounds that inhibit soil pathogens and insects
· directly attack and parasitise insects, eating them from the inside out
· release enzymes that break down dead plant material
· aid in release of plant available minerals
A farm scale trial has been running at Lincoln University. Basic details of the trial are shown in Table 1. This trial is on-going and data is continuing to be recorded.
What this shows is that half the quantity of nitrogen was applied, and the production was maintained close to the level of the farm receiving the conventional fertiliser regime over the two years of data so far.
Overall, the farm trial indicates that dairy farm production can be maintained over time with lower nitrogen inputs when the soil is augmented with biological fertiliser. This supports the known role of the biology supplied in VITALIFE® which stimulates nutrient release and cycling in the soil. It also helps reduce pest pressure by growing healthier plants, stimulating plant natural defences, and attacking insect pests in the soil. With less soluble synthetic fertilizer applied there is also likely to be less nutrient leaching into ground water and better environmental outcomes.
VITALIFE® is a living ecosystem for healthier soils, stronger roots and more resilient farming systems.
VITALIFE Overview