April showers bring essential rainfall for plant growth, but they also increase the risk of nutrient runoff from fields, particularly as spring is a peak time for fertilizer application. Combined with increasing temperatures and sunlight, these nutrient-rich waters can create ideal conditions for algal blooms.
We are often asked: Does EnSoil Algae™ cause algal blooms?
The short answer is no. EnSoil Algae™ is a proprietary blend of living green (Chlorophyceae) microalgae, whereas freshwater harmful algal blooms are caused by (Cyanophyceae), sometimes referred to as blue-green algae.
In fact, utilizing EnSoil Algae™ in place of traditional NPK fertilizers actually helps minimize algal blooms by promoting efficient nutrient use at the plant level and reducing the potential for runoff, thus changing the nutrient rich environment that cyanobacteria thrive in, to one that is less ideal.
Related to our recent discussions on improved nutrient cycling (covering phosphorus acquisition and nitrogen cycling), EnSoil Algae™ enhances the soil’s natural ability to unlock and utilize existing nutrients. Our unique live algae cells not only attract beneficial microbes that naturally fix nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) into plant-usable forms, but they also engulf and deliver these nutrients, along with applied fertilizers, directly to the plant roots. This direct delivery mechanism is a game-changer considering that only about 30% of chemical nitrogen is typically utilized by plants, with the rest often leaching into groundwater and contributing to harmful algal blooms.
Overall, EnSoil Algae™ offers a powerful solution for both optimizing nutrient use and reducing the risk of harmful algal blooms, ultimately supporting growers aiming to reduce fertilizer use.