The Importance of Free Living Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria

Free-Living Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria

Farmers are clear on the importance of Nitrogen and that growing plants are big consumers of the key element.  

As a grower, you spend a lot of your time and energy trying understand when, in what form, and how much nitrogen you should apply for your crop’s needs during the season.  

But, there is help available – from an unexpected source. This source is free-living nitrogen fixing bacteria in the soil. Our product Revita-N can help with nitrogen fixation in your soil. It can help you reduce fertilizer inputs and enhance your soil biology.

Some Crops Create Their Own Nitrogen

As many of you know, legumes, like soybeans, will leave a nitrogen “credit” in your soil once successfully harvested and the plants have been successfully reincorporated into the field.  

The reason that legumes can accomplish this is that they create symbiotic relationships with specific species of bacteria.  

The bacteria create nodules on the roots of the legume and work to fix nitrogen out of the air. So, what about when you aren’t planting legumes?

Free-Living Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria

Free-living nitrogen fixing bacteria means that they don’t need to create symbiotic relationships with plants to survive and replicate. This is important because many plants, like corn, don’t create symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

These natural microbes exist in small concentrations relative to the overall microbial population within your soil.

What we’ve done is bred and concentrated these specific hand-selected species into products like our microbial inoculant Revita-N.  This hand-selection and concentration is one of the principal differences between Revita-N and compost tea. 

Watch an informative video about Revita-N here.

The benefit of having a vibrant population of free living nitrogen fixing bacteria is that you can create a soil that sequesters nitrogen out of thin air, even when you are growing crops missing symbiotic associations with nitrogen-fixing bacteria like corn and wheat. 

By applying Revita-N, where we’ve identified, isolated, & grown several species of free living nitrogen fixing bacteria, you have an army of microbes to do your bidding on corn, or any kind of crop.

The Dance Between Microbe and Plant

Symbiosis is defined as a long-term interaction between two species.  The majority of beneficial microbial species, like those found in our microbial inoculants, including revita-N, are involved in something that scientists call “mutualism”.  

Essentially, these nitrogen-fixing bacteria aren’t pulling off this miracle of nature to simply show off.  They are getting something out of it. In fact, both the microbes and the plant get something from the relationship.

Plants release photosynthates in the root zone in the form of exudates; sugars that the microbes can use as energy.  

In exchange for exudates, the plant produces through photosynthesis, the microbes provide nitrogen plants need for building amino acids, proteins, and more complex biological structures.

Timing Is Everything

As a grower, you know that the timing of your nitrogen applications can have a tremendous effect on your overall yield response.  The beauty of a healthy microbial population in your soil is that the microbes will listen to and respond to plant needs. 

This helps supply what the plant needs, when it needs it, in exchange for the exudates the plant provides to the soil surrounding the plant’s roots.  Essentially, it’s Mother Nature’s method of spoon-feeding a crop — without all the passes over your field!

Genesis Ag Biologicals

Genesis Ag has a line of biological products to help you improve your soil’s biological activity and these free living organisms. These products include Revita-N, Carbose, MorPhos, Zenergy, RizNate, and Invigor 8+. 

Over time, these products can help you reduce fertilizer inputs whie building healthier soil.