biological products in agriculture

Question 1

what are biologicals

Answer 1

products that contain microorganisms or biochemicals of microbial origin that can be added to crops to enhance plant growth

Question 2

how are biological products different than organic fertilizers

Answer 2

organic fertilizers are derived from animal, human or plant matter and biologicals are from things like rhizobia or nod factors for N fixation

Question 3

what is an inoculant

Answer 3

amendments that contain single or multiple species of microorganisms added to soil or plant seed for the improvement of plant growth

Question 4

what is rhizobia inoculant

Answer 4

rhizobium is a kind of bacteria that form symbiotic relationships with legumes to enhance biological N fixation

Question 5

what happens if you use the wrong kind of rhizobia for the plant

Answer 5

the inoculant will have no beneficial effect

Question 6

what are two fungal inoculants and their functions

Answer 6

arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi- hyphal network enhances P, micronutrients, and water uptake

penicillium bilaiae- enhances Phosphorous uptake

Question 7

how does penicillium bilaiae enhance P uptake

Answer 7

it solubilizes phosphate minerals throughout the production of organic acids to release P in a form plant roots can uptake

Question 8

why aren’t more biological available

Answer 8

because commercializing a microbial product is challenging and expensive. it can take 10-15 years from the first discovery to reach a product