Vol. XII No. 1
January / February 2018
bu
20 1
y er is s’ su g e uid
8
e
www.SoilandMulchProducerNews.com
Improving Soil Quality For Healthier Plants — Using Probiotics
Soil is more than brown dirt. It is a living breathing system, and like any living system can become unhealthy and susceptible to pests and disease. That’s where beneficial bacteria – or good bugs known as probiotics - come in. They restore balance in the soil, and in doing so, can enhance plant and soil health. We talked to Frank Reed, founder of Rhizosphere Solutions, about why probiotics are important for promoting soil health and soil sustainability.
By gail barnes
R
hizosphere Solutions is a Louisville, TN based company outside of Knoxville. Frank Reed’s business partner has been manufacturing beneficial bacteria which they describe as ‘probiotic solutions for soil and plant health,’ for the past 3 years. Frank manages the agronomy side and his partner the microbiology. Why the interest in using beneficial bacteria for soil and plant health? “The use of commercial inputs is quick to solve a specific problem,” said Frank, adding, “But then they create other problems. I’ve always been on the side of moderation in the industry or maybe even leaning more toward the conservative side.” Frank has seen both sides of managing soil and plant health – using commercial inputs as well as natural solutions. “My family owned a fertilizer and pesticide manufacturing and application business,” he explains. “It was a very large operation. It started in ‘76 and it went through to the ‘80’s until the recession hit.”
What’s the Rhizosphere?
T
he rhizosphere is the area that surrounds a plant’s root system. “Within this area the plant roots co-exist with bacteria and other microorganisms,” explained Frank. “Bacteria have flagella that allow them to move towards the sugars produced by plant roots – a process known as Chemotaxis. In this mutually beneficial environment, the plants supply food in terms of sugars, and the bacteria in turn supply the plants with a nutrient-rich and aerated growing environment.” “This coexistence creates a symbiotic relationship that must exist within soil for healthy and sustainable plant growth,” he continued. “By improving the rhizosphere, soil fertility improves, nutrients become more available and plants can defend themselves against pests and disease. As a result, crop quality increases, crop yields improve, and the need for using commercial inputs is reduced. The benefits to humans, livestock and the environment is tremendous.”
Prevention is better than cure
W
ith his family background in the fertilizer and pesticide business, Frank realized that many of the products were being used as a temporary fix – like a BandAid – covering up but not addressing the real cause of the problem. “Prevention is obviously the best and most sustainable way to go about it,” Frank said passionately. “There have been a lot of repercussions from using fertilizers and pesticides, both agronomically, from a soil standpoint, to the environment and to human health. That exists even within my own family - from pesticides! So that’s why I’m doing what I’m doing, and it’s taken a very long time ... It’s taken the public pressure to force our industry to make a change.” “I’ve been in this industry for, let’s see, I guess it’s 36 years now,” Frank continued. “I majored in soil and plant science, my major was agronomy, I have a B.S. and a lot of knowledge Continued on page 3