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A common problem for ornamental ponds and fish farms is dirty water with a high amount of sediment and sludge buildup. This occurs as organic waste such as dead leaves, grass, or fecal matter accumulate. To make matters worse, a nutrient rich environment from fertilizer runoff (nutrient pollution) supports the growth of algae in the water. One problem adds to another, often leading to an oxygen-starved pond that smells bad, looks bad, and is unhealthy for fish. Bioaugmentation with BCP54™ is one exciting strategy to combat this problem by harnessing nature’s own biological processes.

Good Bacteria to the Rescue

The success of BCP54™ lies in its blend of aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria that work in high or low oxygen conditions. The underlying technology—bioaugmentation—involves adding microorganisms to the pond environment to speed up the decomposition of unwanted materials. The “good” bacteria present in BCP54™ produce amylase, lipase, cellulase, and protease—four enzymes involved in the digestion of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and other organic compounds found in organic waste residues. The microorganisms consume organic wastes and excess nutrients to support their metabolism and reproduce in proportion to the level of contaminants available as a food source. The end result is a cleaner, clearer, healthier pond environment.

Counteract Nutrient Pollution

One of the exciting benefits of BCP54™ is that it can be used to naturally counteract algae growth without the use of algaecides. This is because BCP54™ goes after the heart of the algae problem: nutrient pollution. Nutrient pollution occurs when excess nitrogen or phosphorous enter the waterways. This is typically due to the heavy use of fertilizers. The same nutrients that make grass grow rich and green and healthy can run off via rainwater into a pond, where they provide a rich food source to support a healthy population of algae. BCP54™ counteracts this problem by competing for the same nutrients that algae feed on. The microorganisms in BCP54™ consume nitrogen and phosphorus, reducing nutrient pollution and giving algae less reason to grow.

Other Benefits of BCP54™ Bioaugmentation

The bacteria of BCP54™ also take care of other water quality problems by reducing organic waste, sludge, ammonia, and various toxins that create bad odors and murky ponds. BCP54™ can potentially reduce higher pH and help suspended solids settle. All these advantages are especially beneficial for aquaculture
applications (e.g., fish and shrimp farms) where there is excess organic waste from fecal matter and food particles and a natural tendency toward higher levels of ammonia. Such an environment stresses aquatic species’ health; emits bad odors; and requires extra time and labor to drain, clean, and refill ponds at the end of the production cycle. A weekly dose of BCP54™ boosts biological processes to reduce the level of contaminants and suspended solids for important savings of time and effort in the long run.

BCP54™ in Action

But how does BCP54™ actually work in the field? Before deciding to use BCP54™, it is helpful to take a closer look at the experience others have had to evaluate whether this biotechnology is worth trying. Results are exciting. In one case, a fly-fishery in Wales experienced an unprecedented algal bloom and a high level of suspended solids in April, threatening the loss of the fishing season that year. The client started adding BCP54™ to the water in May with some benefit that
suddenly backtracked in warmer weather at the beginning of June. He upped the dose and had clean water by the end of the month, but he was worried about how the lake would do in the heat of July. However, his fears proved unfounded as the water stayed clear, July fishing was the best it had ever been at those temperatures, and fish mortality dropped by 60%. In another case, a fish farm in Brazil did a trial of BCP54™ in conjunction with AQUA-FEED™ (a probiotic added to fish food). AEROBOOSTER-O2™ was also added at one point during the rainy season to boost oxygen levels. In the end, the treated pond had better fish production, odor control was excellent, and there was no need to discharge water contaminated with fish waste and clean out the tank at the end of the production period.

Achieve Cleaner Ponds and Fish Farms Naturally

BCP54™ is a natural way to clean up dirty, contaminated ponds for better aesthetics and a healthier aquatic environment. Microorganisms perform an important function simply by consuming the nutrient rich contaminants that support their natural biological processes. This promotes water clarity and, by extension, the health of the fish or shrimp that live in the ponds. BCP54™ is available in three forms: BCP54™ (standard 5 billion CFU/g powder), BCP54-20B™ (high concentration 20 billion CFU/g powder), and BCP54T™ (2 billion CFU/g tablets for dosing convenience).

Contact Bionetix® for assistance selecting the best version for your application: https://www.bionetix-international.com/contact-us/

To view the BCP54™ product data sheet, please visit: https://www.bionetix-international.com/products/bcp54/

To read the Brazil aquaculture case history, please visit: https://www.bionetix-international.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-member-files/Restricted_Case_Histories/ch026.pdf

Keywords: cleaner pond water, ornamental ponds, fish farms, aquaculture, pisciculture, nutrient pollution, bioaugmentation, odor problems, Bionetix, water quality

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As the Northern Hemisphere growing season approaches, it is important for fruit and vegetable growers to reevaluate their crop maintenance techniques and consider new ways of fostering healthy crops. Instead of using pesticides, fungicides, and inorganic fertilizers, farmers can opt for more natural methods of boosting crop health. Bionetix® International helps growers do so through the use of biological farming technologies to boost fruit and vegetable growth.

Key Factors Affecting Plant Growth and Health
To understand how Bionetix® biologicals work, it is good to think about the keys to a healthy crop. Water, soil, and nutrients are some of the basic ingredients that support plant growth. However, many underlying issues can affect the ability of fruits and vegetables to take advantage of these resources. For instance, drought may put a strain on plants by limiting the amount of water available. Soil may be deficient in organic matter and nutrients by its nature or from excessive farming. In addition, excessive use of fertilizers affects soil quality by the accumulation of excess nitrogen and phosphorus, which also reduces water quality and leads to eutrophication of lakes and rivers. Sometimes, existing nutrients are simply not in bioavailable form for plants to use.

Natural Biotechnologies in Action
Bionetix® employs naturally-derived ingredients to counter these problems. In addition to using natural fertilizers and soil amendments to stimulate microbial activity (biostimulation), Bionetix® adds beneficial non-pathogenic bacteria and enzymes to the soil (bioaugmentation) to help fertilize it in three ways:

• By digesting debris
• By creating more humic/fulvic acids
• By increasing bioavailability of macro and micronutrients
• By increasing nitrogen fixation

The same bacterial action can also improve soil structure for better root aeration. Other natural ingredients Bionetix® has used in agricultural products include beneficial fungi (e.g., mycorrhizae) that form a symbiotic relationship with roots, natural PGPR (plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria) that help plants grow, and natural wetting agents to reduce surface tension so plants can use water more efficiently under stress. The exciting benefits of Bionetix® biologicals go on to many other natural mechanisms that may show signs of improving disease resistance and boosting crop health.

Biostimulation with ORGANIC PLUS™
One highly effective all-natural plant biostimulant and soil microbial enhancer is ORGANIC PLUS™. It boosts the natural fertility of the soil by adding a high concentration of humic and fulvic acids, marine plants, and other micronutrients, which help stimulate bacterial activity and play other beneficial roles such as

• Fertilizing soil
• Enhancing seed germination
• Promoting plant health
• Chelating and colloidalizing fertilizers (to promote better nutrient uptake)
• Enhancing root formation
• Enhancing bacterial activity
• Improving water availability

ORGANIC PLUS™ is also available with rhamnolipids (RH version), which add their own beneficial natural mechanisms to tackle various crop threats. Rhamnolipids have been shown to fight some fungal diseases in plants. ORGANIC PLUS™ should be applied early in the crop growth cycle as well as at five-day increments throughout the growing season for best results. It can also be used as a seed soak/dip or added to hydroponics water.

Bioaugmentation with SOIL-BAC™
SOIL-BAC™ takes a more proactive approach to agriculture health by adding both beneficial microorganisms and nutrients directly to the soil to increase active biomass and ensure healthy growth. As the microorganisms digest raw organics in the soil, more nutrients become available to help the plants grow, causing SOIL-BAC™ to function as a biofertilizer. SOIL-BAC™ contains mycorrhizae, fungi that form a symbiotic relationship with plant roots to improve nutrient and water absorption, and PGPR. SOIL-BAC™ can also help with nitrogen fixation and phosphorus solubilization and provides many other benefits to support plant production, health, and disease resistance. Eight applications of SOIL-BAC™ are recommended throughout the season with the option of increasing the frequency and rate of SOIL-BAC™ additions for even more benefits.

ORGANIC PLUS™ and SOIL-BAC™ in Action
In the summer of 2018, a soybean and potherb mustard farmer in Japan decided to trial SOILBAC™ and ORGANIC PLUS™. The farmer was used to planting two crops per year, which put a strain on the soil and resulted in a very low 30 percent overall production rate on 12 acres (4.9 hectares) of land. The farmer
wondered if SOIL-BAC™ and ORGANIC PLUS™ could suppress replant failure and chose half an acre (0.2 hectare) of a particularly bad field on which to test the two products.

Treatment of the field resulted in a finer, more stable soil aggregate with a higher oxygen content. Fewer weeds and no mold-like microorganisms were found growing. The soybeans in the test zone had extremely good germination and growth rates in spite of high temperatures, excessive drought, and soybean blight in other fields. Approximately seven acres (2.8 hectares) of soybeans withered outside the test zone, and replant failure was approximately 40 percent. In one field, replant failure was so high that 60 percent of the crop had to be discarded. These factors made it all the more amazing that the biologically treated area produced a 100 percent yield in a similar environment.

Take the Natural Path to Healthier Fruit and Vegetable Crops
While fruit and vegetable growers aim to have the most productive crops possible, it is good to be able to reduce the amount of pesticides and chemicals used. Bionetix® ORGANIC PLUS™ and SOIL-BAC™ make that possible by going beyond the benefits of inorganic fertilizers to harness natural biological mechanisms that enhance the fertility of the soil and support natural growth and disease-resistant processes. Contact Bionetix® today to learn more about these two specific natural plant health boosters for fruits and vegetables: https://www.bionetix-international.com/contact-us/

Keywords: Bionetix, biological farming, better fruit and vegetable yields, natural fertilizer, natural soil amendment, biofertilizer, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria, boosting crop health, mycorrhizal fungi benefits, fruit and vegetable growers

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