Nitrogen needs and usage efficiency can be important levers to understand and support. With growers needing more access to natural, organic sources, biofertilisers like N-Leaf give them an option to support their crops nitrogen needs using natural bacteria.
De Sangosse AU Technical Extension Manager Dénoline Jolivet said through the use of N-Leaf, and its three beneficial bacterial strains supporting nitrogen fixation and usage, growers have access to a sustainable source of natural nitrogen for their crops.
“N-Leaf is a complete biofertiliser that not only fixes nitrogen units that can be used by crops without losses, but also contributes to crop performance through its biostimulant effect. Applied at the start of the season when leaf cover is sufficient, it will help the crop throughout its cycle right up to harvest” Ms Jolivet said.
Agronutrition, a De Sangosse subsidiary, have been working for over a decade on the meticulous selection of free-living bacteria that are highly efficient nitrogen-fixers.
“N-Leaf is the fruit of this research, and its formulation has been studied to optimise the installation of bacterial populations in different agricultural situations (UV, T°C).”
N-Leaf is made up of a consortium of three different strains of bacteria, rigorously selected for their significant contribution to plant nitrogen supply and growth (Methylobacterium: 2 strains and Arthrobacter: 1 strain).
The host plants constitute their natural habitat and once applied on foliage, the bacteria will multiply rapidly, colonise the different plant layers, actively fix nitrogen and support the efficiency of its use by crops.
The formation of the biofilm also protects and enables them to withstand difficult conditions.
Leaves represent a large interface between atmosphere and plants and are a site of biological nitrogen fixation.
The free-living bacteria develop close associations with plants; they will receive their carbon necessary for development and N fixation from the plant and will deliver biologically fixed nitrogen under ammonium form in return, supporting the plant’s growth.
Supplying units of nitrogen this way helps avoid loss by leaching or volatilisation.
N-leaf bacteria perform a wide range of functions for plant development.
In addition to contributing to plant nitrogen nutrition, they also support plant growth. These effects are just as important as the nitrogen fixation for the crop.
Metabolites produced by bacteria move easily through the plant (xylem). This will stimulate photosynthetic activity by increasing leaf surface area leading to an increase in nutrient requirements and therefore a strengthening of the root system: creating a pump effect.
The beneficial effects of the three bacterial strains contained in N-Leaf are synergistic, meaning that their actions are superior when combined.
We have set up and are monitoring different demonstration trials around Australia, involving growers and agronomists.
Thanks to its biostimulant effects, N-leaf shows positive effects for crops exposed to short period of stress such as heavy rain period, waterlogging, or early drought.
By improving the nitrogen uptake in plant leaves and providing nitrogen units to crops, the interactions contribute to global nitrogen cycling and sustainable agricultural production.
Biofertilizers and beneficial microbial strategies solves challenges in agricultural nitrogen use efficiency and provide sustainable alternatives for growers.
