Ames National Laboratory’s Post

Have a look into the BeCrop microscope! 🔬 See how fungal diversity improves with better management in Herb Young’s citrus grove 🍊 #BeCrop technology allows producers to measure changes in the soil microbiome, at taxonomic and functional levels 🧬 Meaning we can now overlay meaningful biological data with physical and chemical properties, and paint a more complete picture of plant and ecosystem health 🌲 What is your question about soil health dynamics? 🧩 #BiomeMakers #soilhealth #soiltesting #soilbiology #soilecology #agriculture #agritech #agtech #regenerativeagriculture #sustainability #foodsystems #dnasequencing #humanhealth #ecosystem #biodiversity

BioMend+ Inoculant is Designed to Promote Plant Growth by Harnessing the Beneficial Properties of Microbes. BioMend+ is a highly concentrated water-soluble super blend of beneficial bacteria species that have been shown in a large body of research to control for fungus and soil pathogens, stimulate growth, improve water transport within plants, improve biodiversity in the rhizosphere and improve plant tolerance to a variety of biotic and abiotic stresses. The following are some insights into how inoculants typically work: Inoculants like BioMend+ contain a mix of beneficial microorganisms. When applied to seeds, roots, or soil, these microbes colonize the plant root zone and establish symbiotic or mutually beneficial relationships with the plant. #microbes #biomend https://lnkd.in/g9BPNBKT

EnSoil Algae: A Hidden Cover Crop + Cover Cropping We learned from Dr. James White's research with EnSoil Algae that the algae provide plants with a continuous supply of bacteria for the Rhyzophagy cycle. The Rhyzophagy cycle explains how a soil ecosystem can feed itself. Both cover crops crops and EnSoil provide microbes, known as endophytes, to crop plants. The key difference is that EnSoil Algae deliver these endophytes directly to the root tip of plants. From there, they're released into the area around the plant's roots where bacteria live, called the rhyzosphere. Bacteria that enter the rhyzosphere stay there, where they fix atmospheric nitrogen into forms that plants can use, protect the plant from pathogens, and process organic matter they release into byproducts that enrich the soil. Just like cover crops, EnSoil Algae stimulate microbial activity, transport bacteria into roots, and catalyze nutrient cycling.  5 benefits we can definitively and consistently measure when EnSoil Algae is applied to crops 🤝 1. Stimulates and grows microbial populations.  2. Enhances chlorophyll.  3. Increases enzyme production critical for abiotic stress adaption.  4. Improves water infiltration rates and water holding capacity.  5. Improves nutrient values of crops. In conclusion, adding a hidden cover crop to a traditional cover crop delivers a DOUBLE WHAMMY of benefits 💥 #regenerativeagriculture #soilhealth #covercrops #soil #regeneration #crophealth #cropprotection #agtech #chlorellavulgaris #ensoilalgae #regenerativefarming #microbiology

For those who aren't familiar with the fermentation process: Actual microrganisms used are bacteria, algae, and fungi - such as yeasts and molds, but industrial fermentation typically involve cell cultures from plants and animals, such as CHO cells and insect cells. #fermentedfoods #vehiclecircuits

Fungi never ceases to amaze me! A recent Swiss study found that using mycorrhizal fungi in soil boosted crop yields by up to 40% in a large-scale trial, suggesting a sustainable alternative to conventional fertilizers. They found the effectiveness of the fungi depends on the existing soil conditions and the presence of fungal pathogens. Something to check out Pedro Madeira Antunes, Joshua Nasielski, & Mikala Tosh! #Fungi #GameChanger https://lnkd.in/g9tMYtD2

Have you ordered your NutriSoil for seed inoculation? Our latest blog post delves into the science behind seed inoculation with worm liquids, offering insights into its numerous benefits for your crops. Discover how worm liquid seed inoculants play a crucial role in: Producing antibiotics and growth-promoting substances, Increasing Mycorrhizal fungi and microbial diversity and mass, Degrading soil contaminants, Enhancing plant resilience against pathogens, salinity, and heavy metals Growing bigger root systems Understanding the "how" and "why" behind seed inoculation can significantly impact your crop's health and yield. https://lnkd.in/g2CJrSvh #NutriSoil #RegenerativeAgriculture #HealthySoilHealthyLife #SeedInoculation #SustainableFarming

This article echoes our understanding of multi-strain vs single-strain soil microbe enhancement - much better for the soil and crops. Building microbial diversity increases the potential for the right beneficial microorganism to be present for the crop being grown that year. We test H-Start to ensure that we're getting as much microbial diversity as we can into every pellet. #westcdnag #cdnag https://loom.ly/tCCChsk

“Abiotic stresses like drought and salinity are major factors resulting in crop yield losses and soil degradation worldwide. To meet increasing food demands, we must improve crop productivity, especially under increasing abiotic stresses due to climate change. Recent studies suggest that seaweed‐based biostimulants could be a solution to this problem. Here, we summarize the current findings of using these biostimulants and highlight current knowledge gaps. Seaweed extracts were shown to enhance nutrient uptake and improve growth performance in crops under stressed and normal conditions. Seaweed extracts contain several active com- pounds, for example, polysaccharides, polyphenols and phytohormones. Although some of these compounds have growth‐promoting properties on plants, the molecular mechanisms that underly seaweed extract action remain understudied. In this paper, we review the role of these extracts and their bioactive compounds as plant biostimulants. The targeted application of seaweed extract to improve crop performance and protein accumulation is also discussed.” https://lnkd.in/g2_CFEMG #biostimulants #microalgae #cropprotection

Unlocking nature's teamwork to improve #soilhealth and #cropyields without additional fertilizers or pesticides. --- "Treating farmland soil with mycorrhizal fungi can improve crop yields of maize by 40%, without the use of any additional fertilizers or pesticides. [..] This fungi occurs naturally in healthy soil and penetrates the roots of plants to form tree-like structures (arbuscules). When they branch out, they increase the plant's root surface area and therefore bolster nutrient uptake. [..] The fungi are thought to provide a first line of defense for the soil, warding off plant-attacking pathogens that can greatly reduce crop yields. As a result, yields could be maintained in fields with pathogens that would have experienced losses without the fungi, while the beneficial effect of the fungi on yields was lower in fields without pathogen contamination. As beneficial organisms, they also help the plants take on nutrients from the soil." #microbiome #foodsystemstransformation #maize Raymond Tham Paul Teng https://lnkd.in/gER7iZ-y

Custom-built extracellular membrane vesicles (MVs) can be deployed as a microbe-free way of boosting crop growth without the downsides of plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), a new study reveals. https://lnkd.in/eHUAVygq