b'MOLLY CADLE-DAVIDSONU.S. R&D MANAGER, ABM/AGRAUXINE BY LESAFFREm.cadle-davidson@agrauxine.lesaffre.comagrauxine.usAdd Biologicals into Your Sustainability PlanTHERE ARE MANYways to describealready. When using a Bacillus product, agricultural sustainability. I think of it asyoure likely introducing a new strain into practices that can be continued over timethe local environmentlike the new kid in without losses or negatives that wouldtown. These products are based on strains prevent their practice in the future. that have been selected to serve specific Agriculture is a tough case because itpurposes such as disease control or yield is a process that, by definition, adds andimprovements. A major benefit is that you removes elements to/from its environ- While biologicals arent going toare not putting a new chemistry in the ment. Conventional farming is a practicebe the silver bullet for sustainability,environment that would take time to break that constantly taking nutrients out ofdown or harm non-target organisms. the soil by growing plants intensively onif youre looking to add onto yourThere are other biologicals that not the soil year-after-year. Fertilizers, mainlysustainable practices, biologicals canonly act as biostimulants or biocon-inorganic, pesticides, and herbicides aretrols, but also as decomposers, such as applied several times during the season,certainly help you on that path. Trichoderma. The function of a decom-leading to these compounds potentialposer in nature is to break down dead to build up in the local environment. organisms such as fallen trees, leaf litter, Heavy farm equipment drives over theor animals thereby returning nutrients field, compacting the soil with each pass. to the soil, the structure of which is also Tillage practices, if not done thoughtfully,generally improved. By selecting strains of can lead to loss of top soil, perturbationTrichoderma that have all of these func-of microbial life, and changes in organictions, we can create products to make matter composition.More and more farm- sustainability, if youre looking to add ontomore nutrients available for the plant, and ers are getting away from at least partsyour sustainable practices, biologicals canthat serve a dual purpose of improving the of the above scenario for the very reasoncertainly help you on that path.overall soil health and structure. that they are not sustainable. NutrientsOverall, biologicals can help yourBiologicals arent going to be your one wont magically re-appear, chemicaloperation become more sustainablestop sustainable solution. Even though we contamination doesnt reverse itself, andbecause they have fewer negative impactscan put microbes in that enable nutrient once we exhaust our supply of top soil, weon soil health and theyre better for theuptake in addition to biostimulation or wont have a chance to replenish it.environment than applying a chemical.biocontrol, if were constantly taking out Feeding the soil and putting nutrientsBut, if youre looking for a major boost innutrients in the soil, something needs to back into the soil by applying organicsustainability: many microorganisms foundbe added back in. Even Trichoderma cant fertilizers and compost are both stepsin biologicals are also found in the environ- make NPK out of thin airthat can be taken to improve agriculturalment.Make sure to tune into my next column, sustainability. Another excellent practiceTake Bacillusthere are plenty ofwhere well tackle how biologicals can is the use of biologicals. While biologi- these products in the world. There are alsohelp improve your soil health to continue cals arent going to be the silver bullet forplenty of Bacillus in my yard and gardento help you reach a sustainable future.FEBRUARY 2022SEEDWORLD.COM /35'