KOZGRO, Inc. - Nematodes-USA

“NEMATODES - CROP PRODUCTION”

“Nematodes” - the word nematode is derived from the zoological phylum nematode which includes thread-like unsegmented worms, found in both the plant and animal kingdoms. The nematode is one of the oldest existing life forms, dating back millions of years.

Nematodes as a group, vary a great deal according to species. Nematodes not only differ greatly in size, shape, and habitat, but in their feeding habits as well. The first group of nematodes feed only on dead and decaying organic material in the soil. This group is very beneficial, helping to breakdown the organic matter into humus. Organic matter is not usable by a plant until it is broken down into humus. The next group, the Plant Parasitic Nematodes, are a major concern to agriculture as they feed on living plant tissue. The third group of nematodes is the Predatory Nematodes. These Predatory Nematodes feed on tiny organisms, including Parasitic Nematodes. Predatory Nematodes can help to keep Parasitic Nematode populations under control. The fourth group is the Animal Parasitic Nematodes, causing some illnesses in animals and humans alike.

The Plant Parasitic Nematodes do not only physically damage the plant, but also can act as a vector (carrier) for many types of viral plant diseases. Most nematodes in this group primarily attack the root systems, but some attack the stems and the buds as well. It is estimated this group of Parasitic Nematodes cost farmers millions of dollars annually in the United States, and billions of dollars annually worldwide. It has also been estimated most growers lose 10% or more in crop production annually due to these Parasitic Nematodes.

Why have the Plant Parasitic Nematode infestations become such a major problem in agricultural crop production in the last 20 to 30 years? To answer this question, let us look at what changes have taken place in the farming industry throughout the world during this period of time.

First of all, pesticides have become the primary source of controlling insects, weeds, fungus and most other agricultural pests. They not only kill the harmful pests, but they kill many beneficial organisms as well. Insecticides, for example, very seldom distinguish between harmful and beneficial insects. They kill most insects they come in contact with, good or bad.

Secondly, farming has become more intensified with the use of modern farming practices. We are demanding more out of our soil than ever before. With the introduction of chemical fertilizers to increase production, the critical balance of the soil has been destroyed.

Prior to the modern age of chemical farming, Parasitic Nematode populations were held in check by Predatory Nematodes and other beneficial microorganisms in the soil. With the use of pesticides, many of these natural predators were destroyed. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides have also created a salt build up in the soil. The majority of agricultural chemicals and fertilizers are salt based. As the salt content of the soil increases, many of the Predatory Nematodes and other beneficial microorganisms that naturally control the Parasitic Nematodes are eliminated. Parasitic Nematodes actually thrive in saline conditions while their natural predators are eliminated, allowing the Parasitic Nematode population to increase unrestricted.

How can these Parasitic Nematodes be controlled? Nematicides kill only the nematodes they come in contact with, as well as other microorganisms. The problem is nematicides do not affect the nematode eggs themselves. These unaffected eggs hatch and start the life cycle all over again. The life cycle of a Parasitic Nematode, from an egg to a reproducing adult, takes as little as 7 days in some species and as long as 4 to 5 weeks in others. Remember, the larvae stage can be as destructive as the adults. Nematicides are extremely expensive, and repeated applications may be required during a growing season to attain even minimal control. Nematicides are also dangerous to our health and the environment. This is why many of these nematicides have been banned by the EPA and other regulatory agencies. The only way to effectively control Parasitic Nematode populations is to break their life cycle.

The best way to break the life cycle of the Parasitic Nematode is by creating an environment that is not conducive for their reproduction, while at the same time creating a conducive environment for Predatory Nematodes, aerobic bacteria and other microorganisms to flourish in. This is the only effective way to keep Parasitic Nematodes under control. After years of research, Kozgro, Inc. has developed an organic product, called Agricultural Field Blend (AFB), which sets up a conducive environment to effectively help control Parasitic Nematodes.

AFB is a totally organic product made from organic plant extracts. The special organic plant extraction process and special blending processes are the secrets of how the AFB helps to control Parasitic Nematodes. The AFB is a high energy organic fertilizer and plant food that acts to help balance the soil and plant quickly. It works to break down the salts that have built up in the soil over years of using salt based fertilizers and chemicals, breaking down the sodium and chloride salts into cell and tissue salts. Sodium and chloride salts retard and inhibit plant growth, while cell and tissue salts promote and accelerate plant growth. This being accomplished in the soil, the eggs of the beneficial organisms that feed on Parasitic Nematodes will hatch and build up their populations rapidly, thus effectively controlling Parasitic Nematodes.

The AFB also triggers the sugar making mechanism in the plant to manufacture more sugar. Chewing and sucking insects excrete sugar, but they can not digest sugar. When an insect ingests too much sugar, they get a condition similar to severe diarrhea, and die. Since too much sugar is harmful to them, they tend not to feed on crops that have a high sugar content. Since the AFB helps to raise the plant sugar content, there is generally less insect damage to crops using the Kozgro Program.

Kozgro’s AFB adds humus to the soil immediately upon application. The form of humic acid in the AFB is different from most other forms of humic acid based products available on the market today. The humic acid in Kozgro’s AFB is an active humic acid, which is available to the soil and plant immediately. Most humic acid products on the market today are originated from mineral deposits, generally lignite (low grade coal). These lignite based products contain only a small percentage of a passive humic acid, of which only a small amount of the humic acid is actually available to the plant. In sharp contrast, the active humic acid contained in the AFB is nearly all available to the soil and plant immediately.

The AFB increases microorganism activity in the soil, as well as re-establishing and increasing earthworms in the soil. The earthworm is one of the best fertilizer manufacturing plants available to the soil. After soil has passed through the earthworm’s digestive system, it is called castings. Earthworm castings contain 5 times more nitrogen, 7 times more phosphorus, 12 times more potassium, and the soil contains 50% more bacteria, than the soil did before passing through the earthworm. Also, if too much nitrogen is used, it will decrease their numbers. The AFB helps to improve the soil by creating a healthy aerobic environment for the beneficial aerobic organisms to function. This insures that the crop residue will break down into organic matter quickly and then into the useable form of Humus, and the natural cycle continues as it was designed, by nature.

These are the processes by which Kozgro’s organic fertilizer and plant food, AFB, creates an environment that is conducive to beneficial organisms that naturally help to control Parasitic Nematodes in the soil and the plant.

KOZGRO WORKS WITH THE CAUSE - NOT THE SYMPTOM