What is the difference between microbial fertilizers and microbial inoculants?
Release Date:
2021-07-24
Microbial fertilizers, also known as biofertilizers, are characterized by their reliance on microorganisms. These products contain live microbial strains that, through their metabolic activities, enhance the availability of plant nutrients, promote plant growth, increase yields, and improve the quality of agricultural products as well as the agroecological environment.
What is microbial fertilizer?
Microbial fertilizers, also known as biofertilizers, are characterized by their reliance on microorganisms. These products contain live, specific microbial strains that, through their metabolic activities, enhance the availability of plant nutrients, promote plant growth, increase yields, and improve both the quality of agricultural products and the agroecological environment.
The transition from traditional farmyard manure to chemical fertilizers, followed by the overuse of these chemicals, has resulted in severely low fertilizer-use efficiency. Microbial fertilizers will be a key direction for the future development of the fertilizer industry.
What is a microbial inoculant?
“Microbial inoculants” are a category of microbial fertilizers, and the vast majority are designed to address various soil-related issues. Their use significantly reduces the application of chemical fertilizers and minimizes environmental pollution.
Moreover, interactions among microorganisms or between microorganisms and plants can enhance plant resistance to diseases and abiotic stresses, which is of great significance for improving crop quality and yield, as well as extending the harvest period and natural shelf life of agricultural products.
The difference between microbial inoculants and microbial fertilizers:
Typically, the application rate for compound microbial fertilizers and bio-organic fertilizers exceeds 200 kg per mu, whereas agricultural microbial inoculants are applied at much lower rates—generally 2 to 5 kg per mu.
Generally, agricultural microbial inoculants—often simply called “inoculants”—are classified as minor fertilizers and are formulated products. Compound microbial fertilizers and bio-organic fertilizers, collectively referred to as “microbial fertilizers,” are considered major fertilizers.
Depending on the region and the crop, microbial inoculants are generally applied in four ways:
Apply 2 kg per mu as a base fertilizer, spreading it evenly during plowing.
For topdressing, apply 1–2 kg per mu.
For drip irrigation and flush application, use the clear liquid in combination with conventional fertilizers for watering, and apply the residue as a base fertilizer to improve soil quality.
Use as a seed fertilizer; mix with seeds in appropriate amounts, and apply using standard seedling-raising or sowing methods.
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