A new concept in green manures, OMRI listed MICROP provides the effects of a green manure crop without taking the land out of production. Used as a companion planting, the legume-like microalgae and cyanobacteria act as an input for maintaining maximum crop yields. MICROP is a concentrated formula of selected dormant microalgae and photosynthesizing cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) in a base of kaolin clay. Once applied to the soil, these microalgae and cyanobacteria come out of dormancy and colonize the soil surface by cell division, providing many agronomic benefits including:
- Fixing nitrogen
- Liberating calcium and phosphates
- Decreasing salinity
- Improving soil tilth, and
- Supplying plant growth hormones
The intercropped microscopic plants add organic matter as they grow in the field with the cash crops. The added fertility from nitrogen fixation helps to reduce fertilizer needs. This modern green manure product offers growers an ecologically sound method to improve soil properties and enhance productivity. Research has shown that MICROP improves soil tilth, decreases compaction, crusting, and erosion. The growing cyanobacteria produce polysaccharides (humus material) to increase soil aggregation and build soil crumb structure. Research data also suggests the ability of these microbes to solubilize rock phosphate, making phosphorous more available to the growing crop. The combination of these results makes MICROP an ideal technology for handling a wide range of soil problems.
Recommendations
When Microp is used as a companion planting, the legume-like photosynthesizing microbes act as a supplemental input for maintaining maximum crop yields and plant health. With MICROP, there is no need to take land out of production to realize the benefits of a plowdown. By supplying nitrogen from nitrogen fixation, improvements in soil physical properties and in some cases by alleviating salt stress, MICROP can naturally increase crop yields and plant vigor. MICROP is the logical choice to replace part of the urea usage on flooded rice. And applications of Microp can be used to successfully combat soil salinity.
Organic Agriculture
Microp is OMRI listed. Always check with your Organic Certifier before using any product in Organic Agriculture.
Dosage:
1.0-1.4 oz per acre (70-100 grams per Ha) mixed with water and applied to the soil surface.
Application Frequency:
One to four times per year at 30-60 day intervals, depending on weather and crop cultural practices.
