Australian Vermiculture Pro Biologicals can be used in a range of ways in intensive horticultural production systems, to increase both plant health and growth as well as propagate stronger biological activity in depleted soils.

Pro Biologicals work by microbial inoculation. This is the process whereby a diverse range of microorganisms are applied to the plant/soil to colonise on the roots of the plant. In horticultural production systems this is particularly important given the level of intensity the soil is operating at.

Within the colony, the microorganisms all play a role to survive. These microbes often have a symbiotic relationship, a win - win where the microbe feeds on the plant while the plant feeds from the microbes by means of nutrient availability. This why we often see an increase in plant vigour or plant health or often a more consistently sized yield because the plant is taking up a greater percentage of nutrient, being it is made available in a fixed environment.

In the colony, not only do plants and microorganisms feed from each other, they also protect each other. Bad fungi - Pythium, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, Fusarium – thrive in anaerobic soil conditions. With a healthy range of bacteria within the colony, anaerobic fungi become overwhelmed and become suppressed.

By incorporating AV Biologicals into your program we can minimise the amount of fungicide needed to manage plant-based disease. For tuber-based crops this means a cleaner smoother produce with less pressure from blemish-based diseases like; blight or cavity spot.

Bacterial diversity is also the contributing factor to natural disease suppression within the rhizosphere. Actinomycetes for example can produce more than 50 different antibiotics to protect plants from pathogenic bacteria.

Often in over worked soils we see imbalances. These imbalances can be as simple as acidic/alkaline soil or as complex as a nematode feeding off the exudates on your plant roots, restricting root growth and limiting plant production. Australian Vermiculture’s process of inoculation inherent to the Pro series includes a range of beneficial free-living nematodes included to evenly populate the soil, minimising the impact of pathogenic nematodes like root knot, spiral or stubby root nematodes.

Australian Vermiculture ProPell is best used in the preparation of soil prior to planting, this ensures a high level of microbial activity leading into germination, ensuring effective colonisation. Australian Vermiculture’s ProGro Liquid Fertiliser applied either through fertigation or via foliar spray provides a nutrient/bio stimulant throughout the course of the growing season. This contributes to the overall plant health but also acts as a feed source for the developing biological colony living in the soil.