Micro organisms Utilized in Organic Farming

Micro organisms Utilized in Organic Farming

Organic farming relies on and has a strong potential to restore soil health which is best characterized in terms of its microbiological capacity to oppose the devilishactivity of plant pathogens in order to increase agro-ecosystem resilience to stress. The stability of the soil so as to make a successful organic gardening possible is dependent on the indigenous soil microbial community. Usually microbial populations in the soil are favored by a its pH (and it has to be neutral!) rather than any other factor.

The bad news is that microbes such as Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli are continually present in animal manure making organic farming products able to harbor higher levels of pathogenic bacteria than conventional farming products such that when tomatoes and lettuce are eaten raw, the consumers are faced with health risks. Peanut diseases like blight caused by Sclerotinia minor and root rot caused by Fusarium solani  are especially common in Argentina.  These are caused by soilborne fungi and have been gradually increasing in the last few decades.

To prevent too much pathogens from infesting crops it has been suggested that the manure be composted at 55-77°C or allow the manure to age at least 90 days before harvest. Some microbiologists came up with vegetable wash solutions to minimize the health risks that pathogenic microbes impose on human health.

The good news is that along with the bad microbes are the so-called good soil microorganisms that have roles to play in the decomposition, mineralization, nutrient availability and therefore influence the efficiency of nutrient cycles.  The soil structure and soil water regime are influenced by the burrowing and particle transport activities of soil microflora and the aggregation of soil particles by fungi and bacteria. Some of microorganisms found in an organic farm that function in these manners are Proteobacteria, Blastococcus, Microlunatus, Pseudonocardia, Solirubrobacter, Brevundimonas, Pseudomonas, and Stenotrophomonasspecies. Those which may contribute to a safe and sustainable agriculture development include the plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) which act as great biofertilizers like Pseudomonas, Azospirillum, Azotobacter, Bacillus, Burkholdaria, Enterobacter, Rhizobium, Erwinia and Flavobacterium species; N-fixing cyanobacteria which are best adapted to drought and desiccation probably through the presence of modified spores that are resistant to desiccation; plant disease suppressive bacteria and fungi; soil toxicant degrading microbes; actinomycetes and other useful microbes. These microbes produce bioactive substances that promote plant growth by increasing the efficiency of nutrient acquisition by plants and protect them against pathogens.

In conclusion the presence of indigenous soil microbial community can help suppress diseases in organic farm crops through a variety of mechanisms. There is an abundance biocontrol organisms.  What is needed is an environment that supports high populations and the activities related to