Beneath the Surface: Unearthing the World of Soil and Bacteria
Over the last twenty years, advances in science and technology, together with increasing environmental awareness and legislation, has dramatically changed how we manage natural turf playing surfaces.
Today, turf professionals have a diverse range of tools and strategies, enabling them to produce excellent surfaces. That includes a wide range of mechanical aids and machinery, plant protection and nutrition products, as well as improved watering techniques. Most influential, perhaps, has been the increasing breadth and depth of our scientific understanding underpinning our activities.
Introducing soil
Arguably, it has been soil science that’s seen the most gains and traction within our sector. The foundation of all global ecosystems, soil is a complex mixture of minerals, organic matter, water and air. While a soil’s composition varies based on location, climate, and geological history, it will nearly always consist of the three primary soil particles - sand, silt and clay. Each with their unique characteristics, alongside the soil biology, influence a soil’s properties like texture and drainage capacity.
Soil is home to a vast array of organisms. The majority, like bacteria, fungi, archaea, and viruses, are microorganisms. Of these, bacteria play a crucial role in maintaining soil health and fertility as they cycle nutrients, break down organic matter, and enhance plant growth through beneficial interactions.
One of soil’s superheroes - Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
One such bacterium, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, is commonly added to turf to improve its health. It's a type of soil-dwelling bacteria that falls under the category of ‘Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR),’ so-called because of its positive effects on plant growth, including turfgrass.
Some strains of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens are recognised for their fungicidal properties, such as in Harmonix Turf Defense. These genetic variants produce antimicrobial compounds like antibiotics and cyclic lipopeptides that inhibit the growth of pathogenic organisms, safeguarding plants against diseases, and can stimulate a plant’s defence mechanisms through processes known as systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and induced systemic resistance (ISR). As a result, the plant is more resistant to various diseases, even those caused by pathogens that the bacterium itself does not directly control.
By producing various plant growth-promoting substances such as auxins, cytokinins, and gibberellins, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens has been shown to stimulate plant root development, nutrient uptake, and overall growth, leading to healthier and more vigorous plants. In addition, it has the ability to solubilise certain nutrients like phosphorus, making them more available to plants which can lead to improved nutrient uptake and utilisation.
The bacterium can, directly and indirectly, help plants cope with various environmental stresses. It produces stress-related proteins and compounds that assist plants in adapting to adverse conditions, like drought, salinity, and temperature extremes.
Indirectly, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens contributes to a plant’s ability to endure environmental pressures by improving soil structure. By stimulating enhanced root growth and microbial activity, the microbe can lead to better soil aggregation and aeration, which in turn improves water infiltration and retention. Both are critical functions of soils when facing weather extremes.
The extent to which Bacillus amyloliquefaciens will perform these functions depends on a wide range of factors such as soil conditions, temperature, moisture levels, and the presence of other microorganisms.
Harnessing the power of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
Harnessing the potential of these incredible microbes is relatively easy. They come in a wide variety of formulations – as seed treatments, soil drenches and foliar sprays – making it possible to benefit from their abilities at any growth stage.
Like any plant protection product, there are some factors to consider to optimise efficacy. As a living organism, the microbes will need moisture during and after application. Also, ensure before using any biological product you have correctly selected one that will achieve the desired outcome, be that soil improvement or disease control (Bio-control) via Harmonix Turf Defense.
