How do microbial agents promote root growth?

2025-03-28

After the completion of vegetable planting, there is an important stage, which is to promote rooting and quickly pass the slow seedling stage.

Roots are the key to the healthy growth of crops. Without good roots, it is difficult for crops to grow healthily, and the problem of crop roots cannot be ignored. If crops have fewer roots, slower growth, and lower survival rates during the seedling stage, it will lead to weaker growth in the middle stage and more likely to cause premature aging and reduced yield in the later stage.

Therefore, many experts suggest applying appropriate microbial agents before and after planting to help crops better root and protect their roots, prevent dead seedlings from rotting, and improve seedling survival rates.

So how do microbial agents promote the growth of new roots, nourish and protect roots, and prevent dead seedlings and root rot?

1. Solve soil problems

It can be said that the key to crop growth depends on the root system, while the growth of the root system still depends on the soil.

01 Soil permeability

Soil with good viscosity may have good fertilizer and water retention properties, but if it is too sticky and heavy, its air permeability will be poor, which will lead to a decrease in root respiration capacity and be unfavorable for growth.

If the seedlings do not show much change in growth after vegetable planting, but begin to die, it is likely due to the high adhesion of the soil, which prevents the roots from rooting out of the substrate.

Similarly, compacted soil has poor air permeability, which is not conducive to growth and makes it difficult for vegetables to settle and root.

02 Soil acidity and alkalinity

Every crop has its suitable soil pH range. Generally, crops absorb mineral nutrients at a suitable pH of 5.5-6.5. Exceeding this range will have a negative impact on crops. Soil that is slightly acidic or alkaline will reduce the effectiveness of soil nutrients to varying degrees, making it difficult to form a good soil structure, severely inhibiting the activity of soil microorganisms, and may also cause heavy metal poisoning, thereby affecting the growth and development of various crops.

Microbial agents can improve soil, promote the formation of soil aggregate structure, regulate pH balance, enhance soil fertility and water retention capacity, ensure a stable soil fertility foundation, and create a favorable environment for root growth.

2. Reduce root burning

Due to excessive concentration of fertilizers, after watering the seedlings slowly, there may be a situation where the soil solution concentration is too high. The root system will undergo mass wall separation in the high concentration soil solution, resulting in water shortage and causing the plants to burn their roots and seedlings, leading to death.

Reasonable use of microbial agents can prevent the problem of poor soil solution concentration caused by fertilizers and ensure that roots can absorb nutrients.

3. Prevention of soil borne diseases and pests

Soil borne diseases and pests are also major factors that inhibit root growth.

For example, many seedlings are infected with root knot nematodes after planting, and the nematodes infect the rhizosphere to form root knots, hindering the absorption of water and fertilizer by the roots and hindering growth. If not prevented and controlled in a timely manner, root knot nematodes can cause serious damage, leading to root rot and even providing opportunities for other soil borne diseases to infect, resulting in the death of seedlings.

4. Secretion of secondary metabolites

The main function of microbial agents is still the effective active bacteria, and the efficacy of effective active bacteria lies in the secondary metabolites secreted during their activity. Indirectly acting on plants, thereby promoting root growth.

5. Solve the problem of repeated cropping

The problem of repeated cropping has become increasingly serious in recent years, leading to delayed plant development, weak melon seedlings, slightly stunted vines, small fruits, poor quality, and in severe cases, plant death or even complete crop failure. Diseases such as wilt and stem blight occur on a large scale, becoming the main obstacle to high-quality and high-yield vegetables.

For example, repeated cropping can lead to browning of plant roots, reduced branching, low vitality, narrow distribution range, and decreased ability to absorb water and nutrients. Many crops, such as leguminous plants, melons, vegetables, strawberries, and certain Chinese herbs, are invaded by root pathogens caused by repeated cropping, leading to plant wilt, leaf blight, viral diseases, and other hazards, seriously affecting crop growth.

In addition, the problem of repeated cropping has also led to increased soil borne pests and diseases, mineral element imbalance, soil salinization or acidification, and other issues.

The rough use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is an important factor in exacerbating crop rotation, and the use of microbial agents can directly reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and agricultural fertilizers. Secondly, through the above effects, soil physical and chemical properties can be improved, root vitality can be enhanced, element absorption can be promoted, underground pests can be prevented and controlled, soil pathogens can be suppressed, and the harm caused by continuous cropping can be gradually alleviated.

So, microorganisms can indirectly promote root growth and improve soil by promoting the growth of new roots, nurturing and protecting roots, and preventing dead seedlings and root rot.

Any crop grows from its roots and dies from its roots. A robust and developed root system is the foundation for crop growth and high yield. In today's era of frequent soil problems, only by doing a good job in cultivating, protecting, and strengthening the roots of crops can high yields and high efficiency be achieved.

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How do microbial agents promote root growth?

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