Biologicals Can Make a Difference in Row Crops
Biologicals have come a long way. That was the prevailing message presented in the recent webinar, “An Open Dialogue: The Power of Biologicals in Conventional Row Crop Farming,” presented by Certis Biologicals, a global leader in biological solutions for organic and conventional agriculture.
Biologicals’ improvement over the years is evident in many areas including formulation technology, which nearly rival chemical formulations, said Shaun Berry, Ph.D., Vice President of Research and Development at Certis Biologicals. Berry also noted that use rates to achieve reliable efficacy have gone down for many biologicals, which has contributed to their cost effectiveness.
Many newer biologicals also have improved shelf lives and don’t require refrigeration, which has made them more viable for use, said Connor Sible, Ph.D., a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Crop Science at the University of Illinois. “We not only know what the microbes are and what they do, we also understand the conditions they need to thrive and sustain,” he added.
Biologicals can also help improve yield in crops such as corn and soybeans, added Fred Below, Ph.D., Professor of Crop Physiology in the Department of Crop Science at the University of Illinois. Below stressed that successful yields begin with plant nutrition, and that biologicals can overcome limiting yield factors such as weather to make nutrients more available to crops. He added that some biologicals also provide plant stress relief, which also improves yields.
Biologicals can also help sustainable farming practices by supplying or helping to supply a small amount of nitrogen, which would help reduce the carbon footprint, Below says. “Any way we can use living organisms in place of synthetic chemistry and decrease the carbon footprint of what it costs to produce, transport, and use on the field will go a long way,” he added.
Berry said biologicals such as plant extracts and manure have been used since the beginning of time. He also said the term “biologicals” is a widely used term but is more complex than people realize. There are living and non-living biologicals such as microbes (living) and plant extracts (non-living). Biologicals also come in several forms: biopesticides, biofertilizers, and biostimulants. While biologicals have been mostly used on specialty crops and for residue management, they are now becoming more popular on row crops, Berry added.
Berry said growers might be confused about biologicals because there are so many products on the market. He stressed the importance of biological products having EPA registration, which shows they have “a stamp of approval,” he added.
Certis Biologicals recently launched Convergence™, an EPA-registered biological fungicide, which combines high-performing disease control and plant health benefits into one economical and convenient solution. Convergence protects against soilborne fungal and bacterial diseases caused by the primary pathogens in row crops: Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Fusarium, and Phytophthora.
If you missed the live broadcast of this webinar, “An Open Dialogue: The Power of Biologicals in Conventional Row Crop Farming” you can view the archived version online here or visit CropLife.com/webinars and check it out today.