HOW IT HAPPENS IN THE SOIL

Soil microbes mobilise from organic and mineral soil forms important biogenic elements for plant growth and release or remove into the soil various vitamins, antibiotics and growth-promoting substances, which is why microbe activity in the soil is critical for the entire range of processes conditioning the different physical and chemical processes responsible for the supply of nutrients to plant roots. Soil bacteria have a significant impact on overall soil productivity and the quality of plant production. They fix atmospheric nitrogen, make accessible the nutrients solubilize difficult to access, such as phosphorus, contribute to the mineralisation of organic matter and accelerate the decomposition of plant matter or primary organic matter in the soil, which affects the soil-forming process and soil properties.

AZOTER bacterial-fertilisers, thanks to their composition, restore microbial activity in the soil and increase yields and productivity, which has a positive impact on the quality of crop production. AZOTER bio-fertilisers contain three types of bacterial strains involved in the asymbiotic fixation of aerial nitrogen, support decomposition processes involving organic matter in the soil, and facilitate access to macro-biogenic elements, especially phosphorus, in the soil by by making accessible them. Given the high concentration of bacteria contained in the fertiliser, the quantity of bacterial micro flora in the soil increases significantly after the application of AZOTER. AZOTER contains bacterial strains of Azotobacter chroococcum and Azospirillum brasilense which are involved in the asymbiotic fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, making it accessible to plans, and Bacillus megaterium, which is involved in solubilizing phosphorus.

60-80 kg

in optimum conditions 100-150 kg

Fixation of atmospheric nitrogen

Nitrogen is one of the basic macro-biogenic elements and is considered the engine of growth. Nitrogen levels in the soil directly depend on stocks of humus. Given that rocks contain practically no nitrogen, soil enrichment with this element is closely tied to the biological accumulation of free atmospheric nitrogen. The atmosphere itself is a rich source of nitrogen (content is up to 78.09% by volume), which represents 75,000 tonnes of N2 per hectare of land; however, the problem is the strong triple bond between nitrogen atoms, which prevents plants from being able to absorb atmospheric nitrogen for use in metabolism. The enzyme apparatus possessed by microbes is able to break this strong triple bond. Using bacteria to increase the efficiency of aerial nitrogen fixation can be achieved by selecting suitable strains that are promising in terms of efficient asymbiotic fixation of airborne nitrogen and are able to intensively propagate once applied to the soil to significantly increase the quantity of fixed nitrogen available to plants. AZOTER bio-fertilisers contain highly efficient strains of asymbiotic bacteria (Azotobacter chroococcum and Azospirillum brasilense) able to fix a tremendous quantity of nitrogen during the crop growing period. The quantity of fixed nitrogen available to plants fluctuates at a level of 60 to 80 kg, or under optimum conditions 100 to 150 kg per hectare, which reduces the usage of conventional industrial nitrogen fertilisers by up to half, thereby greatly improving the overall economy of crop cultivation.

30-40 kg

in optimum conditions 60-80 kg

Access to phosphorus from insoluble forms

Total soil phosphorus content in Slovak soil is the lowest of the nutrients compared to N, K, Ca and Mg (Pt = 0.03 – 0.2%) and is composed of organic and inorganic fractions, while inorganic phosphorus (25 – 98%) is slightly dominant over organic phosphorus (2 – 75%) as a result of the primarily mineral character of local soils. A majority of the phosphorus in the soil (92 to 99%) is inaccessible to plants. Only 1 to 8% of total P content can be used by plants for crop production. Releasing phosphorus in a water-soluble form in the soil is performed biologically. Good biochemical activity of soil micro flora has a positive impact on the release of phosphorus from poorly soluble compounds. Bacillus megaterium liberates phosphorus from insoluble form, converting existing tricalcium phosphate into dicalcium phosphate, and thus releases phosphorus compounds for cultivating plants. The quantity of phosphorus released in this manner at the end of the growing season (vegetation period) is approximately 30 – 40 kg of phosphorus in pure nutrients and 60 – 80 kg of phosphorus in optimum conditions.

30-40 kg

Mobilisation of potassium and acceleration of decomposition processes in crop remains

Applying AZOTER in the presence of cellulose the population of bacteria present in the soil responsible for the decomposition of harvest residues grows quickly. These bacteria accelerate the decomposition process of organic matter in the soil and harvest residues. The rapid decomposition and mineralisation of organic matter in the soil are conditioned by the simultaneous activity of diverse micro-organisms (e.g. azotobacter and cellulolytic bacteria). Within the process, other microbes also mobilise, and release, potassium from poorly soluble organic compounds to forms accessible to plants and the amount of potassium thus released is at a level of 30 to 40 kg in pure nutrients. The use of the stimulating effect provided by AZOTER in the acceleration of decomposition processes in the case of harvest residues (straw, cereals, sugar beets and maize) is important, as some crops leave a tremendous amount of residue in the field once the primary product has been harvested and these residues have a lignocellulosic character with a broad C:N ratio which, if there is no decomposition, inhibits the germination of seed and is also a nutrient medium for various mould species infecting young emerging plants in the early stages of growth, thereby worsening crop health and ultimately has a negative impact on the harvest.

WE INCREASE SOIL FERTILITY ALONG WITH ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION

Advantages of using AZOTER:

reduces the usage of conventional nitrogen-based industrial fertilisers by around half by fixing airborne nitrogen molecules – the quantity of fixed nitrogen and accessibility for plants is 60 to 80 kg or 100 to 150 kg per hectare in optimum conditions (with 75,000 tonnes of atmospheric nitrogen available per hectare)
increases the utilisation of applied mineral nutrients and existing stocks of nutrients in the soils
contains the absolute highest density of vital microbes, i.e. 4,10⁹ vital microbes per 1 ml of fertiliser, compared to other microbe-based preparations
improves the biological properties of soil and restores microbe activity in the soil
increases and solubilizes phosphorus for plants from insoluble compounds. The quantity of phosphorus released is from 30 to 40 kg per hectare, or 60 to 80 kg of phosphorus in optimum conditions
supports the decomposition process of harvest residues, straw and organic matter in the soil, which gradually increases soil yields and creates a suitable seed bed
accelerates the release of nutrients and the decomposition of applied digestates
has a synergistic effective and increases the effectiveness of other organic fertilisers applied at the same time (manure, slurry and green manure)
has a positive effect on the structural properties and soil texture
improves the air and water regime in the soil, which ultimately has a beneficial effect on the acceptability of nutrients from the soil
„the microbes contained in AZOTER are neutral. The environment in which they settle is gradually adjusted to a neutral soil response“
enhances the natural defense ability of plants and improves their condition
increases the quantity and quality of production (destruction of mycotoxins and nitrates)
has a positive impact on the overall economics of the cultivation system
may be used in organic farming