Biorational IPM and crop stimulation made simple with Recharge

Researchers worldwide are increasingly focusing more on the crucial resemblances between the microbiota in the human gut and the symbiotic microorganisms living in the soil. Probiotics have become widely adopted in the conventional medical community to support human health and can be prescribed by doctors for a variety of health imbalances. Similarly, in soil, the health of plants can be enhanced by the optimisation of soil microbiology. One microbial solution, Recharge, is proving effective in restoring the health of soil and thus providing plant protection in locations as different climatically as Europe, Africa, Asia and the Mediterranean basin in particular.

Recharge is a powerful blend of naturally growing microorganisms found in healthy soils. It is a biological, non-toxic solution and crop enhancer, containing beneficial soil microbes. The formulation design, developed by British manufacturer Russell IPM stimulates plants’ growth and immune systems, enabling them to remain healthy and improving their yield. Recharge is often used as a fertiliser, applied via irrigation as a dissolvable powder. By restoring the soil’s microbial fauna, it creates an environment that encourages the presence of natural pest enemies, reducing the amount of pesticide required to maintain healthy plants.

Recharge stimulates the plants’ physiological vigour, staging symbiotic interactions among plants, triggering the plants’ systemic acquired defence systems. Farmers who have used Recharge have been reporting a 30-50% reduction in pesticide usage. This is because a microbial impact is greater than that of a fertiliser. Optimizing soil biology through entering the correct doses and kinds of microbes in it strengthens plants against pest infestations without having to resort to chemical warfare. Research has shown that there's constant communication between plants. Plants conduct microbial dialogue through aerial emissions—the volatile molecules they emit—and also through the mycelial networks in the soil. This is exactly what happens when Recharge is introduced into the soil. Repaired soil yields crops with vigorous growth and maximised production. The results are healthy plants with reduced pest and disease incidence, higher crop quality with no pesticide residue on the commercial produce.

Farmers found that applying Recharge in tomatoes resulted in clean fruit, free from Tuta absoluta, aphids, mealybugs, mites, and a reduced number of whitefly and thrips. The treatment also ensures a lower level of fungal diseases, and infestations, such as powdery mildew, root rot and blight in open field tomatoes. In addition to improving the quality of greenhouse plants, such as strawberries, cucumbers and tomatoes, Recharge performs very well in the open field. It has been tested in roses, bananas, rice, sugar beet, alfalfa, courgette, onion, potatoes, legumes, and more, where it also has improved the plants' capacity to cope with insect pest damage. 
 

In addition to Recharge, Russell IPM produces a range of biorationals based on natural plant extracts that target different stages of insect development and have multiple modes of action. Recharge, for example, is an ideal preventative measure in cases where pests pupate in the soil. By suppressing their development under soil surface, pupae don’t emerge as full-grown pests in the season following Recharge application.
 

For more information on how to use Recharge as part of your IPM programme or if you would like to find out more about the crops, locations and results where Recharge has been used, you can contact Russell IPM on info@russellipm.com. 
 

 “Nowadays, growers try to use more sustainable defence methods, so we always try to develop our portfolio accordingly and offer more eco-friendly solutions,” explains Dr Shakir Al-Zaidi, MD of Russell IPM. 
 

Russell IPM is the market leader in providing customer-focused solutions for the everyday problems facing farmers and pest controllers.  The company designs and manufactures pheromone lures, traps and bio-pesticides for customers worldwide and their core expertise is in behaviour-modifying insect pheromone and biorational pest control products. 

 

*http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/how-to-eat-like-our-lives-depend-on-it/how-dirt-heals-us