Benefits of a Healthy Rhizosphere Untreated cauliflower on the le: and TerraBella®-­‐treated cauliflower on the right a:er 3 weeks Increased yield!
Improved nutrient uptake!
Healthier root system!
Longer shelf life!
Increased uniformity!
Increased quality!
Reduced fertilizer inputs !
Improved run-off water quality!
Rhizosphere Microbes and Plant Growth •  This figure illustrates some of the major roles rhizosphere microbes play in plant biology Image taken from the Rhizosphere Biology Soil Microbial Ecology page of Dr. Penny Hirsch at www.rothamsted.ac.uk/ppi/rhizo2/index.htm •  TerraBella® cycles nutrients from ferGlizer, the soil and the atmosphere to plant root systems, resulGng in healthy plants •  TerraBella® also plays a role in many other beneficial processes The Plant Rhizosphere (Root Zone) •  Left figure depicts a tree root covered with root hairs
(taken from www.treedictionary.com )
•  Right figure depicts a magnified view of the root hairs of a clover
plant - orange color - colonized with microbes - yellow color
(taken from www.microbelibrary.org )
How Does TerraBella® Work? Rhizosphere Bacteria and Plant Nutrient Uptake A Healthy Rhizosphere Increases Uptake of Many Nutrients:
Nitrogen!
Phosphorous
Sulfur
Calcium
Trace Metals
… and others
The Nitrogen Cycle and TerraBella® •  The Nitrogen cycle is the process
by which nitrogen in the
environment is converted between
its various chemical forms
•  In the environment, this includes:
1)  Fixation of dinitrogen gas from
the air into NH4+-N (ammonium)
2)  TerraBella® has “free-living”
nitrogen fixation bacteria. This
means the bacteria are not
dependent on a specific crop
type to fix nitrogen from the
atmosphere into the soil.
The Nitrogen Cycle and TerraBella® conGnued… •  In soil, this includes:
1)  Conversion of NH4+-N
(ammonium) into N03- -N (nitrate)
2)  TerraBella® has nitrifying bacteria
that convert ammonium to nitrate
(nitrate is more available to
plants than ammonium)
Rhizosphere Bacteria and Mycorrhizae •  Mycorrhizae are a group of soil
fungi that colonize plant roots
•  Mycorrhizae colonization of
plant roots provides many
benefits to the plant including
increased phosphate and water
uptake, disease resistance,
increased root development
•  Rhizosphere bacteria play a
significant role in both
(1) mycorrhizae colonization
establishment; (2) nutrient
uptake of established
mycorrhizae