Reaching Harvest Sooner: How Microbes Help Crops Mature Earlier

Six reasons crops mature earlier

1. 1

   More efficient growth-stage shifts

   Microbes produce plant growth factors that the plant uses to shift to various growth stages. The more efficiently the plant makes these major shifts in physiology, the more efficiently it grows its crop to maturity. Improved hormone balance results in a more efficient change in plant physiology and nutrient functions — which nutrients are taken up and where they are translocated — as the plant shifts from vegetative to reproductive and back again (several times, depending on the crop).

2. 2

   Less abiotic stress and day wilt

   Microbes produce metabolites which reduce abiotic plant stressors (heat, salt, drought and others). For example, with microbial support you will see a significant reduction in the severity and duration of day wilt conditions. The hours a plant spends in day wilt are lost photosynthetic hours — and therefore lost hours to grow and mature the crop.

3. 3

   Better plant nutrient status

   By helping plants procure specific nutrients (Plant Directed, Microbe Delivered), microbes help plants experience nutrient shortages or substitutions less frequently or severely. The improved nutrient status improves photosynthetic efficiency, reduces the energy expended and provides for more complete protein synthesis. These efficiencies enable the plant to bring its crop to maturity faster.

4. 4

   No premature senescence

   Microbes produce metabolites which prevent premature senescence. By not losing photosynthetic leaves and not experiencing prematurely slowed metabolism, a crop can mature earlier.

5. 5

   Nitrogen in amino acid form

   Microbes feed nitrogen to the plant in amino acid form. This form is much more water- and energy-efficient for the plant than the nitrate form, and the plant can use those energy savings to grow and mature the crop earlier.

6. 6

   Fewer spray setbacks

   A biological program results in a reduced need for pesticides and fungicides. These materials stun the plant and can substantially slow down or shut down photosynthesis and other physiological processes for 24 to 72 hours. To the extent that an integrated biological program eliminates some of these sprays, those lost days in growing and maturing the crop are recouped.