Biofungicides, Biostimulants & Biofertilizers Webanair

[Hereinthailand]

Free webanair if your interested : http://www.hortidaily.com/article/32799/Using-biofungicides,-biostimulants-&-biofertilizers-to-boost-productivity

[drtreelove]

Thanks for that! Good information.

 

I don't know of the Italian presenters or their work, but the subject matter is an example of some important R & D and products that are coming out as "organic" growing is rapidly becoming mainstream and the new "conventional" agriculture here in the US.

 

Here's a company that is 'all in' for these type of products.  http://www.certisusa.com/  You can learn a lot about what's happening just by reading the product descriptions. I'm using Double Nickel, Sil-Matrix, Neemix and others, in addition to building soil fertility, as an alternative to the "exterminator" mentality that is reactive and not proactive, contaminates the food and environment and does nothing to build plant resistance to pests and disease.

 

I found a few products in Thailand recently, but not much compared to the incredible organic methods and materials boom in the US right now.

 

Issan Aussie had a discussion about trialing and offering some biofungicide products. What's happening with that T? 

[Hereinthailand]

They have a lot of good archived webinars too if you are interested http://articles.extension.org/pages/25242/webinars-by-eorganic Something needs to be done here thats for sure the soil quality is so poor from years of abuse and neglect and most likely highly contaminated from years of chemical usage. I am always amazed when going into a garden/farming shop and seeing all the chemicals banned years ago in most countries. They use them like water too, my wife is a nurse at a large gov. hospital and you would be amazed at the amount of cases of pesticide/herbicide poisoning due to the uneducated use of them.

[drtreelove]

I'm not surprised to hear of your nurse-wife's experience.  In 2003 I attended a 3 day program, in Chiang Mai, "Pesticides in Southeast Asia", funded by the Rockefeller Foundation. I sat through all 35 papers/presentations from scientists and medical authorities from all over the region as well as US Center for Disease Control. It was very revealing and totally scary for the local people who get their pesticide use information from neighbors and vendors.  

 

As well as the prevalence of outdated older generation of harsh chemical pesticides, which as you say are banned in more conscious societies, many of the chemicals come from China and India where there is little control of unlisted ingredients and contaminants which may be much more toxic than the listed active ingredient.  So the person out spraying their crop in shorts and flip-flops with their children tagging along, don't have any idea what they and their children are being exposed to. Mai Pen Rai?

 

One of the presenters was a specialist from the CDC in pesticides and human reproductive disorders; she highlighted the magnitude of the problem in Asia for pregnancy, embryonic development, birth defects and long term human health effects from some of the common practices and materials that are used.

 

I've been on a mission ever since to learn and to educate as best one old man can, about less toxic, reduced risk alternatives to harsh chemical pesticide and fertilizer use.  It may not matter much in the long run.  Humans, the most invasive species on the planet,  appear to be on a crash course for environmental destruction and self extinction.

 

[IsaanAussie]

On 08/03/2017 at 3:58 PM, drtreelove said:

Thanks for that! Good information.

 

I don't know of the Italian presenters or their work, but the subject matter is an example of some important R & D and products that are coming out as "organic" growing is rapidly becoming mainstream and the new "conventional" agriculture here in the US.

 

Here's a company that is 'all in' for these type of products.  http://www.certisusa.com/  You can learn a lot about what's happening just by reading the product descriptions. I'm using Double Nickel, Sil-Matrix, Neemix and others, in addition to building soil fertility, as an alternative to the "exterminator" mentality that is reactive and not proactive, contaminates the food and environment and does nothing to build plant resistance to pests and disease.

 

I found a few products in Thailand recently, but not much compared to the incredible organic methods and materials boom in the US right now.

 

Issan Aussie had a discussion about trialing and offering some biofungicide products. What's happening with that T? 

Simple answer is not a lot yet other than still looking for answers. Getting closer though Dr TL. You have hit the nail on the head though with your comment on building up plant immunity to pests and disease. Starting with a compost base with includes biology to suit both soil and plant needs. Soils in Isaan have been abused with NPK overdoses for years and typically don't lack phosphate, its simply not in plant available form. If the compost carries phosphate solubilising microbes, problem solved. Too much K in the soil and Ca is not available, Mg needed not lime. Nothing new..... Trying to find a non-chemical way that is affordable is the target.

[drtreelove]

Along these lines,

[notrub]

What is the name of the retailer for these products please?  Buriram area preferred if poss.  Thanks

[Hereinthailand]

Try this site https://www.thaitrade.com/store/appliedchem__thailand__co__ltd/product-detail/larminar-10699 be nice to know what the active ingredients are. Not that I dont trust them haha.

[drtreelove]

On ‎3‎/‎26‎/‎2017 at 3:00 AM, notrub said:

What is the name of the retailer for these products please?  Buriram area preferred if poss.  Thanks

don't know about buriram. these are on the shelf at an ag shop in mae jo, chiang mai

[Hereinthailand]

Higreen shop sells two different kinds of BT if you are interested.

[IsaanAussie]

I believe that there are biological solutions for most fungal problems without the use of chemicals. The answer is in finding one or more microbes that will out-compete the destructive agent and improve the soil and plant health (immunity). Ultimately there are two parts to the solution. Firstly find the cause of the problem and how it got there and fix that. Secondly work on the environmental conditions to promote soil and plant health.

[Hereinthailand]

If you missed the webinar (I did) We're sorry you weren't able to attend our webinar. The recording will be available at http://www.extension.org/pages/25242 in about a week! There, you can also watch all other archived eOrganic webinars.

[drtreelove]

On ‎3‎/‎27‎/‎2017 at 4:20 PM, IsaanAussie said:

I believe that there are biological solutions for most fungal problems without the use of chemicals. The answer is in finding one or more microbes that will out-compete the destructive agent and improve the soil and plant health (immunity). Ultimately there are two parts to the solution. Firstly find the cause of the problem and how it got there and fix that. Secondly work on the environmental conditions to promote soil and plant health.

This is a profound statement!  The only thing I would disagree with is that I believe it is not just one or a few microbes that are involved in out-competing pathogens, but a whole, comprehensive soil biology/rhizosphere process that must be enhanced, the "soil-food-web".

The cause of the problem, from my experience, is usually poor growing conditions in general, inadequate soil and water management.

In my own garden and in those of my customers, when I am able to get the growing conditions managed as best I know how, I don't have to worry about specific plant pest and disease issues; they just don't show up.

[Hereinthailand]

A big problem here is no matter what you do the guy next to your land will contaminate all your hard work due to their lack of knowledge or just not caring. I get so angry watching lazy farmers throw a match to their fields destroying everything beneficial to his next crop. And they wonder why they make no money after spending so much on fertilizer,pesticide and herbicides. Im sorry but farmers here get what they deserve.

[drtreelove]

A lot of that comes from the economics of poor farmers; it doesn't take a cash outlay to burn crop residues (and it's not all bad, there is some nutrient release), while the better process of incorporating the straw and stubble into the soil takes time, plow or rototiller and money. So they take the cheap and easy way out, in order to get the next crop in the ground with minimal expense, without the foresight of a more educated and economically advantaged approach. If the crop revenue was more lucrative and there was a better university agricultural extension service it might evolve into a different story. But this "if" is a long way away.

 

Don't worry about the guy next door.  Your soil building and water management, and IPM will not go away and will make your land and crops better able to withstand any outside negative influences.

Edited April 9, 2017 by drtreelove

[IsaanAussie]

Dr TL, agreed completely with the last posts. I am far from a microbiologist, just an interested observer. I can see most of the insects shown in that famous soil food web graphic on my compost piles as the process develops. 

To me there are five objectives to using compost, each requiring a different approach and ensuring microbes of a particular type are present. Further the addition of trace elements adds to the effectiveness.

For cropping the best results I have seen are by soil testing both the "dirt" and the compost and preparing a prescription blend to suit the crop.