By Hannah Rouillard
Commercial farmers know good soil is a result of careful balance, it is a subtle science with distinct aspects that demand attention: moisture, pH, texture, aeration, nutrients, temperature, and diligent maintenance. Soil quality influences production before anything else. The consequences of slacking on soil are evident in weak, wilted, and lackluster produce.
BioSafe Systems’ in-house soil specialist, Ray Austin, taught me about the intricacies of soil management while developing the Restorative Soils Program™. Quality soil contains a composite of nutrients such as phosphorus, nitrogen, water, and air. Our program promotes a successful season starting with removing unwanted, harmful pathogens followed by reintroducing beneficial organisms to bolster plant health. Unfortunately, pests also take advantage of the accommodations growers make for healthy soil.
Some crops’ root systems attract certain insects and nematodes that can wreck a yield. They can hunker down for the winter and revive in time to attack during the new season like invisible threats only noted after infiltration. TerraStart® HC circulates crop soil before you plant through drip irrigation to knock out bacteria, fungi, and nematodes. When the peroxyacetic acid (PAA) formula penetrates the soil, it oxidizes the harmful spores eliminating them without residual harm. Once the crop has been planted, OxiDate® 5.0 acts on contact to eradicate plant pathogens and strengthen soil applications. The PAA-based chemistry breaks the disease cycle in season by damaging cell structures, which prevents them from mutating or reproducing, making OxiDate 5.0 fundamental to resistance management and disease control throughout the season.*
After drenching a growing area to kill unwanted guest pests, BioSafe Systems’ second phase is applying TerraGrow® Liquid, our specialty blend of well-known beneficial organisms. It’s composed of five different strains of Bacillus with inert microbial food and a few of our own biostimulant additions, including soy protein hydrolysate and kelp extract. It quickly establishes beneficial microbes in the root zone strengthening the rhizosphere, improving nutrient availability, promoting root growth, and bolstering plant health. When applied to foliage, TerraGrow Liquid stimulates plant growth and vigor, boosts abiotic stress tolerance, supports strong flowering and fruit quality, and improves overall crop health.
Versatility is truly the strongest benefit of our Restorative Soil Program because it easily integrates into existing programs no matter what pre-plant soil treatment is used. Our PAA is an effective partner for restructuring soil profiles because it uses PAA products that work during the pre-plant and in-season timespans. It can be applied by farmers themselves without interrupting other planting schedules. We know time is money and using the program keeps your business running because there are no plant-back restrictions or required buffer zones between treated areas. This program proves sustainable restorative soil treatments get the job done without compromising or holding up operations. BioSafe Systems contributes to the nurturing of agricultural and ornamental operations by committing to the process from soil to sale in a Restorative Soil Program to foster the best growth conditions from the ground up.
*OxiDate® 5.0 is substituted with TerraClean® 5.0 in the state of California.
