What is microorganism fertilizer?

Microorganism fertilizer, product that contains specific living microorganism, is applied in agricultural production. It can increase the nutrients supply to plants, promote plant growth, improve farm products quality and agricultural ecological environment.

Microorganism fertilizer contains: microorganism inoculant (microbial agent); compound microbial fertilizer (bacterial manure) and bio-organic fertilizer (bacterial manure).

The national standard for microorganism fertilizer:

Microbial agent power: quantity of viable bacteria ≥0.2 billion/gram

Microbial agent particle: quantity of viable bacteria ≥0.1 billion/gram

Bio-organic fertilizer: quantity of viable bacteria ≥0.02 billion/gram

Compound microbial fertilizer: quantity of viable bacteria ≥0.02 billion/gram

Misconception 1

The more variety and larger number of bacteria, the better

It is easy to notice that in the market some kind of product’s amount of viable bacteria can reach 0.5 or 1 billion per gram or even 2 billion per gram. It is in some way reasonable that some farmers judge bacterial manure by the amount of the bacteria, because the more viable bacteria that microorganism fertilizer contains, the better the fertilizer is. However, it is hard to test the exact amount of viable bacteria, which means some dishonesty sellers would exaggerate the amount of viable bacteria in the fertilizer. Here it should be mentioned again that based on national standard for microorganism fertilizer, quantity of viable bacteria of microbial agent particle is more than or equal to 0.1 billion/gram, quantity of viable bacteria of microbial agent liquid is more than or equal 0.2 billion/gram and quantity of viable bacteria of bio-organic fertilizer quantity of viable bacteria is more than or equal to 0.02 billion/gram.

Misconception 2

Microorganism fertilizer can replace chemical fertilizer

Soil fertility is composed of biological fertility, chemical fertility and physical fertility. Using microbial fertilizer can improve the biological fertility of the soil and indirectly improve chemical fertility and physical fertility. However, microorganism fertilizer cannot completely replace chemical fertilizer but can improve fertilizer's usage rate, reduce in inputs of some fertilizer.

Misconception 3

Microorganism fertilizer can mix with chemical pesticides.

Microorganism fertilizer contains viable bacteria. Mixing microorganism fertilizer with chemical pesticides and after long time storage will cause the activity decreasing and death of some bacteria.

Misconception 4

Using microorganism fertilizer regardless the amount

Good effect can be achieved by using microorganism fertilizer only if the dosage is enough. The soil has varieties of microorganism with big amount. The formation of dominant micro flora is challenged by the environment and original microorganism in the soil. Therefore, promoting the breeding the beneficial bacteria needs artificially creating the condition that benefits the growth of beneficial bacteria through some methods, such as improving acid soil, adjusting the pH of soil, applying more organic manure, improving the physical fertility of the soil, adding microorganism etc.