I would like to write a little about what I know about pesticides and market my product a little bit only because I want people to understand that our product has secondary benefits concerning this topic. Basically these issues boil down to overall plant health, yes curing environment and other processes open the door for this problem after the plant has expired and the grower should be diligent in their studies on how to prevent this, there is a lot of good information here.
First lets talk insects…
“Pesticide” is a general term which can further segmented into insecticides, fungicides and herbicides. URB Sciences estimates the reduction in insecticides to be approximately 90%. Generally speaking, insects prey on weak plants and URB grown plants are much stronger than conventionally grown plants as evidenced by higher brix, chlorophyll and protein levels.
In addition to healthier plants having fewer disease/insect issues, there are two other modes of action URB products have against insects – higher brix levels and quorum sensing. The higher brix levels (natural sugars) we have documented in a number of crops are the plants’ natural protection system. Insects don’t have livers to digest sugars so the sugars stay in the insects’ stomachs, ferments and kills them. Low brix levels are signs of less-than-healthy plants so having insects kill the less-than-healthy plants is Mother Nature’s way of promoting the survival of the fittest.
As an aside, insects are attracted to free nitrogen ions. Most fertilizers consist of, or break down into, free nitrogen ions.
Microbes produce an electromagnetic frequency; the more microbes, the stronger the signal, known as “quorum sensing.” In layman’s terms, this signal basically tells insects to stay away. Obviously, URB increases the number of microbes and hence, the strength of the electromagnetic signal.
BUT WHAT ABOUT MOLDS AND FUNGI THAT IS WHAT THIS THREAD IS ABOUT???
Yes, I’m glad I asked…
URB estimates a 50% reduction in fungicides due to the natural bio-pesticides included in the formulation.
Getting more technical, the bio-pesticide (bio-control) function is comprised predominately by Trichoderma strains. Strains of Trichoderma are included in URB as bio-pesticide agents against fungal diseases of plants, especially powdery mildew. The various direct inhibition mechanisms against plant pathogens include antibiosis, mycoparasitism, inducing host-plant resistance to stress through enhanced root and plant development, solubilization and sequestration of inorganic nutrients, inactivation of the pathogen’s enzymes, and competition for nutrients or space. The bio-pesticides generally grow in their natural habitat on the root surface, and so affect root disease in particular, but can also be effective against foliar diseases. This is one reason why we recommend foliar application in veg, we have a high quality fulvic acid with great trans-membrane abilities, allowing these bio pesticides to be in full force on the leaves of Cannbis as well as the rhizosphere. Once the bio-pesticides come into contact with roots, they colonize the root surface or cortex, depending on the strain. The best strains will colonize root surfaces even when roots grow three feet below the soil surface. In addition to colonizing roots, Trichoderma attack, parasitize and otherwise gain nutrition from other fungi. Since Trichoderma grow and proliferate best when there are abundant healthy roots, they have evolved numerous mechanisms for both attack of other fungi, and for enhancing plant and root growth.
Different strains of Trichoderma control every pathogenic fungus for which control has been sought. However, most Trichoderma strains are more efficient for control of some pathogens than others. The recent discovery in several labs that some strains induce plants to “turn on” their native defense mechanisms offers the likelihood that these strains also will control pathogens other than fungi.
Because bio-pesticides contain multiple modes of action, they are well suited for rotation in pest management programs. For example, a bio-pesticide may create holes in the gut of the pest (fermented sugars), whereas conventional pesticides are often neurotoxins.
There is far less data on the bio pesticide benefit using URB than the other benefits, however, if you research the benefits of a good compost tea you will notice the science is there. One way to think of URB is “concentrated mother nature” or “an easy mix compost tea of the highest quality” URB is organic and contains no chemicals, not even in its production…what we have done is figure a patented process to keep all the good strains of microbes, which you would make in the best of compost teas, alive and concentrated at insane levels, for long periods of time without aeration. We basically have the equivalent of the OG grower from deep in the woods 20 year to perfection… tea recipe in a bottle that you can simply measure out, mix with water and apply. I would argue that it is an even better formulation due to its lab formation and our ability to control how many and the exact compilation of microbes in each bottle.
BOTTOM LINE…
Besides the cost, the adverse environmental impact of pesticides is substantial. An array of pesticides belonging to different chemical classes is used for controlling a variety of plant diseases. A number of pesticides are recalcitrant to degradation, persist in the environment, and enter the human/animal food chain constituting a threat to public health and a potential hazard to the environment. Some are toxic to humans even at parts per billion levels. There is increasing public concern regarding the continued use of chemical pesticides at high levels and there is a growing need for developing environmentally friendly approaches to control cannabis diseases and contribute to the goal of sustainability in cannabis production.
Please note; while there have been successes treating various plant diseases and insect issues, these benefits are not our primary selling points. In fact, in the U.S., we are not even allowed to sell our product as a bio pesticide since we are not licensed by the FDA to do so. Any benefits on plant disease should be considered a secondary benefit – no customer should use our products based on the ability to control a disease. Yield increase is our primary benefit.
Furthermore, in dealing with plant diseases and insect control, URB work best as a preventative, not a curative. Healthy plants have fewer diseases and we grow healthier plants. Just like a human with an impaired immune system is more likely to catch a cold than a human without an impaired immune system. The higher nutrient levels previously discussed are evidence of healthier plants as are the numerous points of test data showing longer roots, thicker stalks, more leaves, bigger leaves, etc.
If the plant already has a disease or is infested with insects, it is much more difficult for URB products to treat. Please remember, our products work by making the soil healthier – they are not fertilizers, nor pesticides, and the time it takes to work is much longer than a fertilizer or a pesticide.
