Do you know all about the main functions of microbial inoculants?
Release Date:
2021-04-06
The microbial inoculant contains a large population of active beneficial microorganisms, such as Trichoderma harzianum and Bacillus subtilis, which continuously grow, develop, and multiply in the soil. They secrete abundant chitinases, root‑inducing substances, and other bioactive compounds that act on the soil and, indirectly, on the plants. At the same time, these microbes can fix nitrogen, solubilize phosphorus, and mobilize potassium, thereby enhancing the efficiency of fertilizer use in the soil. While promoting rapid, explosive root development, they also further stimulate sustained root growth in crops.
The microbial inoculants contain abundant active beneficial microorganisms, such as Trichoderma harzianum and Bacillus subtilis, which continuously grow, develop, and multiply in the soil. They secrete large amounts of chitinase, root‑inducing substances, and other bioactive compounds that act on the soil and, indirectly, on plants. At the same time, these microbes can fix nitrogen, solubilize phosphorus, and mobilize potassium, thereby enhancing the efficiency of fertilizer use in the soil. While promoting rapid, vigorous root development, they also further support sustained root growth throughout the crop’s life cycle. Proper application of agricultural microbial inoculants can increase crop yields, improve product quality, reduce chemical fertilizer inputs, lower production costs, enhance soil health, and protect the ecological environment.
Main functions of microbial inoculants:
1. Enhancing soil fertility: Certain microbial agents can increase the levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the soil; they also boost the activity of specific soil enzymes, facilitating the transformation of nutrients and promoting their uptake and utilization by plants. Additionally, with the assistance of microbial inoculants, substantial amounts of carbon dioxide are produced, which helps improve the soil’s capacity to retain water and nutrients.
2. Facilitates the release of poorly soluble mineral nutrients: Bio‑microbial inoculants enhance soil enzyme activity, promoting the solubilization of insoluble soil nutrients and thereby improving their uptake by plants. Additionally, they secrete organic acids that decompose organic matter, and the resulting sugars support the growth of nitrogen‑fixing bacteria.
3. Facilitating nutrient uptake by crops: For example, rhizobia can stimulate the formation of root nodules on leguminous plants, converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form that crops can readily absorb.
4. Enhancing plant resistance to diseases and pests: The microorganisms in microbial inoculants can secrete antibiotics, insecticides, and plant growth hormones in the soil. These antibiotics and insecticides effectively eliminate plant pathogens and pest eggs, while plant growth hormones increase chlorophyll content, thereby boosting the plant’s photosynthetic capacity.
5. Enhancing plant stress tolerance: After application, certain microbial inoculants proliferate extensively in the soil, colonizing the root zone and establishing a dominant microbial community. As these microorganisms grow and metabolize, they simultaneously improve the surrounding rhizosphere environment, thereby enhancing the plant’s stress resistance.
6. Enhancing crop quality: Bacillus laterosporus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus coagulans, and other beneficial microorganisms can reduce nitrate levels in plants by more than 20%, lower heavy metal concentrations, increase vitamin C content in fruits by over 30%, and raise soluble sugar levels by 2 to 4 degrees Brix.
7. Regulating crop growth: The microorganisms in microbial inoculants can release hormones such as auxins, indole-3-acetic acid, and gibberellins in the soil, thereby modulating crop growth and ultimately enhancing yield.
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