Biologicals: Back to the Basics
Microorganisms, bacteria, biologicals…These are words we use all the time when talking about BW Fusion products, but what are we really talking about? After all, words like “bacteria” don’t sound too appealing, but the beneficial bacteria in BW biological products are the not-so-secret weapon behind transforming your crop and soil health for the better—and that sounds pretty appealing to us.
What are biologicals?
The term “biologicals” in crop nutrition applies to a broad scope of products. Any product that contains an organism or microbial derivative can be described as a biological.
Within biologicals are two categories: biostimulants and biopesticides.
Biostimulants
As the University of Nebraska Extension says, biostimulants enhance plant growth, health and productivity or provide other direct or indirect benefits to a plant’s development. This category can include products like adjuvants, amino acids, biofertilizers, fulvic acid, microbial inoculants and plant growth regulators. Products such as Environoc 401 and BW-Meltdown are perfect examples of biostimulants.
Biopesticides
On the other hand, biopesticides are used to protect against and fight fungal and bacterial pathogens, pests or weeds. Biofungicides, biobactericides, bioinsecticides, bioherbicides, biopesticides—they all apply here.
BW Fusion focuses on empowering your crops to combat these and other environmental stressors with biostimulants, knowing that healthier plants with enhanced nutrition have the bonus of disease and insect resistance and resilience. Just look at products like BW-Advance and BW-PiKSi Dust Plus—the proof is in the products.
How do biologicals work?
Whether biostimulants or biopesticides, all biological crop nutrition products function through the same foundational process. It all comes down to the microbes—the “organism” element that qualifies products as biologicals.
Biological manufacturers like BW Fusion identify beneficial microorganisms (or microbes) that have the biggest impact on specific plant functions such as nutrient uptake, disease resistance and more, and ferment and formulate those into products that can be applied to your fields and enhance the natural productivity that happens within the plant and soil.
These microbes are typically bacteria or fungi, and they have many functions:
Protect plants against pathogens and pests
Increase plant root growth
Improve soil structure
Enhance nutrient availability, uptake and use efficiency
Combat abiotic stress conditions (such as limited soil moisture or pH imbalances)
The power of biologicals comes from taking existing microorganisms and using them to the crop’s advantage—combining bacteria and supplemental ingredients to naturally empower your crop growth and development and give you healthier, higher-yielding crops while building microbial armies within the soil that will help protect your seeds for seasons to come.
For more on BW Fusion’s unique microbe fermentation process, check out Microbial Matters: The BW Difference.
For more from our agronomists on the impact of biologicals and how to maximize their impact in your fields, check out Data-Driven Decisions: Using Biologicals to Support Your Crop Through an Unpredictable Growing Season.
For your guide to getting started with biological crop nutrition, check out How to Integrate Biologicals into Your Traditional Crop Nutrition Program.
