AGROMYC®VITAL

Guidelines for application

1 . What is AGROMYC®VITAL?

AGROMYC®VITAL is a purely natural product based on Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi specifically designed to promote plant growth under a large range of environmental conditions. Progagules (fungal spores and mycelium) are immobilized on expanded clay granules as a carrier system. It is free from biotic and abiotic contaminants such as phytopathogens, weed seeds or phytotoxic substances.

2. Why should I use AGROMYC®VITAL?

AGROMYC®VITAL is a high quality inoculum for promoting plant growth and increasing yield especially at locations of unfavourable soil nutrient drought and salinity conditions. Positive effects on plant health have also been reported acting against soil-borne pathogens. Immediate and long-term benefits on soil fertility have been shown through an increased stability of soil aggregates by fungi-borne glycoproteins (Glomalin) which ultimately reduces erosion processes.

3. Can I use AGROMYC®VITAL in organic farming?

AGROMYC®VITAL is a natural, not genetically modified material containing Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi immobilized on expanded clay particles (size: 2 – 4 mm) without disinfection substances. It is certified for use in organic farming by FiBL – Germany (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture see www.fibl.org). It contains no mineral fertilizers, heavy metals, nor radioactive substances or other substances detrimental to plants. No synthetic chemical agents for plant protection are used during the production process. Since the supply of soluble plant-available nutrients is much more difficult in organic farming compared to conventional, the use of Mycorrhiza as a tool to enhance plant growth and yield is highly recommended.

4. How does AGROMYC®VITAL work?

After application of the water-insoluble granular product (close to the plant roots) fungal spores germinate and start colonising plant roots. Inside the roots, fungi form arbuscles to exchange nutrients with the host plant. The fungi get high-energy carbohydrates from the plant to maintain metabolic life processes. Since fungal hyphae are very small they can explore pores in the soil, which would be not accessible to plant roots. Mycorrhizal fungi transport nutrients to the plant root and make water accessable. This interaction between a fungus of the Glomeromycete class and roots of higher plants is a mutualisitic symbiosis, where both partners have an advantage, and often, in natural ecosystems, both partners need each other to survive.

5. What are the potential applications of AGROMYC®VITAL?

AGROMYC® VITAL can be implemented in the following fields of application:

  • Nursery plant production (palms, fruit trees)
  • Agriculture
  • Tree and fruit tree establishment
  • Golf Courses
  • Vegetable and legume cultivation
  • Ornamental crops (in-doors and out-doors)
  • Landscaping
  • Vineyards
  • Improvement of urban areas
  • Recultivation of wasted or damaged areas

In the following, some benefits of mycorrhizal colonisation of plants in different fields of application are listed:

Field of application

Benefits

Fruits, trees, grapes and shrubs

better nursery establishment, improved root growth, better survival after field transplant, healthier, protection against nematodes,  resistant to environmental stresses

Ornamental plants

healthy, earlier and improved flowering

Lawn & turf

improved strength and durability, 30% increase water use efficacy

Vegetables & legumes

yield enhancement, protection against nematodes, better N-fixation

Regeneration of landscape                

quicker soil coverage, better water balance and nutrients availability

Soil structure improvement                 

improved water infiltration, increased water holding capacity and soil microbial activity

Soil aggregate stabilisation                   

Increased resistance to soil erosion by wind or rain

Management of saline soils

increases plants salt tolerance, longer land use 

6. Which plants/crops would benefit from AGROMYC®VITAL?

AGROMYC® VITAL is beneficial to annual and perennial crops. It is essential for trees, shrubs, ornamentals, grasses and legumes. A list of plant species reported to positively react to mycorrhizal colonisation can be provided on request. Note that for some species mycorrhizal colonization strongly depends on cultivars used. Also note that some plant species never form an arbuscular mycorrhiza, like Pinaceae, Brassicaceae, Chenopodiaceae and Orquideaceae of which some form a different kind of mycorrhiza.

7. What are the application rates of AGROMYC®VITAL for specific crops? Important information

Mycorrhizal fungi are living organisms and therefore need suitable growth conditions to establish a symbiosis with plants. AGROMYC® VITAL needs to be placed as close to living roots as possible, where good conditions for fungal and root growth exist. Never apply the product directly on the soil surface or other places of unsuitable fungal growth conditions. Under such conditions AGROMYC® VITAL cannot establish a mycorrhizal symbiosis with the host plant and no effect will be observed.

Suggested application rates

Tree nurseries:

2.5 – 5% (v/v) AGROMYC® VITAL incorporated into the planting substrate. Use the higher rate when pot size is 1 L, and use the lower concentration in pot sizes >1 L

Narrowly spaced field crops:

50-300 ml AGROMYC® VITAL perm in narrow-spaced crops (e.g. in turf, cereal, pastures) applied on the soil surface and up to 5 cm grubbed in to ensure good germination conditions for the fungi and a close contact to the roots to be colonized; the specific application rate depends on the volume occupied by the roots.

Widely spaced field crops:

20-50 ml AGROMYC® VITAL per linear m in widely-spaced row crops (e.g. cotton, maize, alfalfa, legumes, out-doors ornamentals and vegetables) preferably applied shortly before or while sowing in the furrow under the seed; the specific application rate depends on plant density per ha.

Transplant of pre-germinated plants:

2-5 ml AGROMYC® VITAL per plant for ornamental and horticultural crop production in green houses placed in each planting hole under the seed or bulb; the specific application rate depends on the volume occupied by the roots.

8. What are the material properties of AGROMYC®VITAL?

The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus found in AGROMYC®VITAL is Rhizoglomus intraradices. This is a fungal species with proven potential of colonising a broad spectrum of plants which can form mycorrhiza. The fungus has a broad genetical basis so that it is adapted to a broad range of different edapho-climatic conditions, ranging from temperate zones climate to desert as well as tropical rainforests climates.

The guarantied concentration of spores is over 10.000 spores per L, the usual concentration is >35.000 spores per L and over 100.000 living symbiotic propagules per L ecoMy AGROMYC®VITAL Specific weight of product: < 400 g/L

Moisture content of product: < 15%

9. How long and under which conditions can I store AGROMYC®VITAL?

AGROMYC®VITAL needs to be stored under dry conditions and kept away from direct sunlight. Storage temperature should be below +45 0 C. Under normal dry conditions the product is stable for a minimum of 3 years, usually for 5 years. Note that the product should be used immediately once it gets wet.

10. Is AGROMYC®VITAL environmentally safe?

AGROMYC®VITAL contains no hazardous substances and is of extremely low risk for humans and animals, and is safe for the environment.