Q: Will I Be Able to See the Microp Cyanobacteria as it Grows?
A: Keep in mind that Microp is a microscopic based microbial technology. Even after some weeks of population growth the colonies of microbes are still most commonly microscopic in nature. The cyanobacteria in the formulation do form chains of cells and will sometimes appear in small colonies or clumps. Cyanobacteria most commonly occupy the lower or bottom of a flooded environment, such as a rice field. (They normally do not suspend in the water, nor do they often float on top.) The single celled Chlorophytes in the formula will suspend in the water much more easily than the cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria are quite dark green (almost looks black green sometimes). Chorophyte algae are green.
Q: How Soon Can I Expect Microp to Have an Effect on My Crop?
A: The production of nitrogen and other beneficial organic chemistries from Microp is a slow release type of process. The cyanobacteria population resulting from in-field growth of the cyanobacteria in Microp will begin to produce nitrogen in the field within the first week or so after application and will continue to do so for the life of the crop. This daily production of nitrogen, in the language of fertilizers, is like a slow release process. This creates the opportunity for much more efficient use of nitrogen by the plant, compared to the usual chemical fertilizer dosages of nitrogen, where much is often lost to the environment (the air and to the subsoil or removed by the flowing flood waters) and the plants then do not utilize all the chemical nitrogen contribution. This loss of chemical nitrogen contribution creates problems in the environment. With Microp, it may be possible to decrease the rate and/or frequency of nitrogen applications.
Q: When Will I Be Able to Measure the Effects of Microp?
- Height—The treated area in a side-by-side trial may have a little higher crop than the control
- Color—The treated area in the side-by-side trial may have a better color of green than the control
- Leaves—The leaf development on the treated side may be better with, for example, wider leaves than the control
- Harvest—Harvest is ultimately the best time to determine efficacy, focusing on:
- Quantity—the total weight per hectare, indicating changes in total biomass of grain produced.
- Quality— the weight of 1000 grains, indicating good grain fill with solids, like protein, etc.