Products of biotechnology offer the greatest potential for growers to achieve minimum inputs and maximum yields by enabling them to better manage the factors that drive input costs up as well as those that limit production.

There are three proven keys to creating a balanced soil for a profitable growing program.

• Life in the soil including the microorganisms in the soil, which is the foundation for the second and third keys;
• Physical which include tillage, planting, crop rotation, irrigation, etc.;
• Chemical which include fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, etc.

The following are recognized benefits of a healthy, balanced soil:

• More friable soil requiring less energy in cultivation
• Softer top soil causing less stress and damage to sprouting plants
• Faster and more complete seed germination frequently requiring less seed per acre
• Better decomposition of organic matter
• Better soil aeration and release of CO2 produced by microbial action in the soil organic matter
• More efficient use of soil moisture often reducing costs of irrigation
• Greater drought resistance
• More rapid water penetration and less erosion
• More effective use of plant nutrients present in the soil by increasing organic conversion to plant available forms
• Faster, larger, healthier root formations, and better nutrient absorption
• More efficient use of plant nutrients with an increased fertilizer and chemical efficiency
• Release of nutrients that otherwise would not be available to the plant
• Less loss of nutrients by leaching
• Soluble plant available nutrients are held in the root zone
• Yield increases, often 20% or more
• Quality increase by escalating carbohydrates (sugars and starches), oils and proteins
• Often greater resistance to insect and fungus damage due to healthier, less susceptible plants
• Less weeds
• Less toxicity

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