THE SCIENCE BEHIND PROTEC: PROTECTING YOUR INOCULANT INVESTMENT
PROTEC is an industry leading polymer and multi-functioning liquid coating that provides a sugar-based extender for your inoculant. It is a growth promoter within the soil and is compatible to be applied with most seed treatments. PROTEC extends the shelf life of peat inoculants from the traditional 24 hours to 30 days and beyond. PROTEC provides growers with maximum confidence that their inoculant investment will be protected by providing it with a proper food source. PROTEC helps to support the Nitrogen fixing process; ultimately maximizing your nodulation and nitrogen accumulation. So how does it work?
PROTEC polymer coating extends the shelf life by feeding the rhizobia bacteria within the inoculant. As a liquid, PROTEC activates the rhizobia strain and provides the rhizobia bacteria with a food source.
The rhizobia localize near the young developing root of your pulse crop. Root hairs are virtually microscopic protrusions that grow out, seeking nutrients and rhizobia. Once a root hair comes into contact with a rhizobium, the two merge and begin performing a reaction in which the rhizobia produce an infection thread and the root hair starts to envelop the rhizobia. This is a symbiotic relationship, in which both organisms benefit from each other.
The inoculation process is crucial as pulses use a large amount of nitrogen. More nitrogen means: an increase in production, improvement in field health, and more protein within the plants, ultimately resulting in a higher quality crop.
Inoculants help to produce nodules that supply a large amount of its nitrogen to the plant. PROTEC makes the nodulation process more efficient, maximizing nitrogen accumulation in the soil. With the combination of PROTEC and your inoculant, this will allow for more nitrogen to be available in the soil for future crops.
The most crucial time for a plants growth are in the early stages. When the inoculant is treated directly on the seed, it is able to use the nutrition immediately. This is compared to root hairs beginning early growth and having to look for the nutrition. It is better to have the inoculant as close as possible to the seed. Infection of the root hairs by the rhizobia is more effective and occurs earlier, resulting in better nodulation. In turn, better nodulation provides earlier nitrogen fixation; while taking less nutrients out of the soil.
The majority of peat inoculants are treated regularly on farm by shaking on the peat inoculant. Without moisture to activate it, the shelf life that is recommended for your peat inoculant could expire, in or out of soil. Without proper activation or a food source, the bacteria just cannot survive. The large amount of peat and ingredients in PROTEC provides those nutrients to help maintain viability of the inoculant for up to 30 days.
PROTEC has adhesive components in it which will seal the seed, inoculant, and seed treatments in any and all combinations. The polymer coating will reduce seed coat damage, as well as minimize residue build-up within equipment (seeders, trucks, wagons, etc). The adhesive within PROTEC helps increase the dry time and decrease peat inoculant dust off.
