Microbial fertilizer is a new type of fertilizer, which must pass three barriers in order to achieve good results. The first is product quality: the market of microbial fertilizer products is uneven in good and bad. When purchasing the products, we should check the relevant license certification, and make simple comparative tests when necessary. The second is transportation and preservation: only living microorganisms are effective.
Question: A plant protection station in its experimental field has concluded that the use of microbial fertilizers can reduce pesticide use by 20%-30%, melon and vegetable soil-borne diseases by 30% and increase yield by 15%-18%. When the use of chemical fertilizers is reduced by 40%, the same yield can be achieved, and the taste is greatly improved. Is such data credible? Why does this work?
A: This question is representative. We need to have an objective and comprehensive understanding of microbial fertilizers. Microbial fertilizers do have unique advantages: they can promote the conversion and recycling of substances and energy, degrade waste, improve soil fertility and activity, improve crop quality, and contribute to food safety and environmental protection. However, microbial fertilizers can only reduce the application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to a certain extent, and the nutrients supplied by microbial fertilizers are limited. Even rhizobia can only provide 1/3-1/2 of the nitrogen elements needed by crops, and can not replace chemical fertilizers; the function of microbial fertilizers in soil improvement needs to be based on rich organic materials, and can not replace bulk farm manure; the function of microbial fertilizers in plant protection is mainly inhibition. It can control harmful pathogens and improve crop disease resistance, but it has no direct killing effect on outbreak pests and diseases, and can not replace pesticides.
Therefore, the authenticity and reliability of the experimental data need to be further tested. We should not draw a conclusion prematurely, let alone exaggerate the experimental effect of microbial fertilizer, otherwise it will easily mislead the farmers.
Q: In actual production, some farmers use microbial fertilizers but have little effect. Why is that?
Answer: Microbial fertilizer is a new type of fertilizer. To achieve good results, it is necessary to pass three barriers. The first is product quality: the market of microbial fertilizer products is uneven in good and bad. When purchasing the products, we should check the relevant license certification, and make simple comparative tests when necessary. The second is transportation and preservation: only living microorganisms are effective. We should not mix microbial fertilizers with chemical pesticides and let the sun shine directly for a long time. Third, we should carefully read the product instructions before applying microbial fertilizers. After applying microbial fertilizers, we should timely sum up the experience and lessons, and constantly improve the application effect.
Q: Microbial fertilizers can control diseases and increase production. So, is it fertilizer or pesticide?
Answer: Most microbial fertilizers prevent or reduce the occurrence of diseases and insect pests to a certain extent by improving crop disease resistance and inhibiting pathogens. But it can not directly kill pests and diseases, so it is not a pesticide.
Q: Professionals suggest that the use of microbial fertilizers requires publicity and guidance from grass-roots technicians. Does this mean that the operation of microbial fertilizer is very complicated?
Answer: It is necessary to strengthen the propaganda and technical guidance of microbial fertilizer for farmers by grass-roots technicians. This is not because the operation technology of microbial fertilizer is so complex, but because the development and utilization of microbial fertilizer in China started late, farmers are not as familiar with it as conventional fertilizers, and even there are many misunderstandings.
Q: According to industry analysis, the spring of microbial fertilizer is coming. Does this have anything to do with farmers?
A: Our government now pays more attention to ecological civilization, development of ecological agriculture and food safety. The production, marketing and application units of fertilizers also pay more attention to the development and use of microbial fertilizers than before. In this way, it makes sense to say that the spring of microbial fertilizer is coming. However, it is universally acknowledged that if chemical fertilizers and pesticides are not applied at all, crop yields will be reduced by 30% to 40%. Microbial fertilizers should be used in conjunction with chemical fertilizers, pesticides and organic fertilizers.