What are Microbes?

Microorganisms are vital to all processes on Earth. They inhabit the majority of the planet, ranging from phytoplankton in the ocean, to bacteria on a Yak on Mount Everest, to your own digestive system. Microorganisms are everywhere.

With the long word, Microorganism, many scientists have turned to the short-hand word, Microbe to quickly describe these microscopic creatures. There are an estimated trillion of species of Microbes on Earth, but for the sake of simplicity, we will only focus on the 5 major species in soil microbiology.

Bacteria

Soil Bacteria primarily are decomposers which consume root exudates or fresh plant litter, converting energy into nutrients which are more useful for other organisms. Different bacteria, known as mutualists, form relationships with the plant, securing nitrogen for the plant. Furthermore, the last type are lithotrophs, or chemoautotrophs, which cycle nitrogen by consuming nitrogen, iron, or hydrogen, which then provides the nitrogen to the plant.

Actinomycetes

Actinomycetes decompose chitin, which is the exoskeleton of arthropods, crustaceans, and the cell walls of fungi. Actinomycetes primarily create antibiotics, or act as pathogens for the plant, but further research must be done.

Fungi

Fungi are primarily decomposer passed on organic material into fungal biomass, carbon dioxide, and organic acids. Fungi also retain nutrients in the soil, and increase the accumulation of humic acid rich organic matter. Furthermore, fungi increase the amount of humus in the ground, which improves water retention in time of drought.

Protozoa

Protozoa are the predators of the soil Microbiome. They hunt bacteria, other protozoa, fungi, and consume organic matter. As Protozoa consume other organisms, they produce nitrogen as a byproduct.

Nematodes

Nematodes act similar as Protozoa, primarily working in nutrient cycling through consuming other bacteria, fungi, other nematodes and protozoa. They’re essential to the nutrient cycle through taking care of non-benefical microbes and turning them into materials the plant can use.

Do microbes help plants?

Microbes are able to help, as well as harm plants. The importance of growing a healthy plant is
feeding the microbes in the soil to make sure the beneficials are stronger than the nonbeneficials. The way to remove nonbeneficials is as simple as increasing sugar content in the plant, as nonbeneficials are incapable of digesting sugar.

This is where products like MultiFIX™ come in. MultiFIX™ is the Optimum Food for Microbes. When applied, the beneficial microbes thrive and overpower the non-benefical. For more information on this product, please visit our primary site HERE.

Where can I learn more?

While there is a plethora of knowledge online about Microbiology, a great place to start would be HERE.