Sustainability powered by science
Improving nutrient use efficiency through biochemistry
Nitrogen and phosphorus are two nutrients essential to plant health. Although these nutrients exist in the soil and atmosphere, they are often found in a form that is unusable to plants.
Our research has discovered a way to provide more of these nutrients to the plant by harnessing the power of the microbes that already exist in the field.
Tapping into the potential in every field
How microbes and plants communicate
Chemical interactions are constantly taking place between plants and microbes. It’s how they communicate. Plants send chemical signals to microbes, many of which encourage the microbes to be more active.
For some microbes, this increased activity translates into more bioavailable nutrients (like nitrogen and phosphorus) for plants.
an Untapped potential in the soil
Over the past few decades, greater amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus have been applied to the soil, causing plants to rely less on microbes for bioavailable forms of these nutrients.
This has led to a reduction of microbial contributions of nitrogen and phosphorus in many agricultural settings. With over 100 million microbes per gram of soil, there’s a lot of untapped potential to get more out of what nature has provided if we can encourage the microbes to work harder.
Unlock the Full Potential of the Soil Microbiome
Interested in learning more about the soil microbiome? Download our free extensive guide and discover how you can cultivate soil that will serve you and your plants. You will learn:
- How microbes contribute to nutrient cycling
- Which microbes perform different soil functions
- Techniques for maintaining soil health that boost yields
SOURCE reactivates nutrient cycling
By mimicking a critical signaling molecule that plants naturally release through their roots, SOURCE wakes up different types of microbes and encourages them to take part in the plant-microbe relationship.
In nature, nutrients and chemicals move from the leaves of the plant to the rootzone through a process called translocation. SOURCE was designed to take advantage of this process, giving growers the ease of applying it as a foliar spray.
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These bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen and turn it into a form that plants can use. With SOURCE, nitrogen fixing bacteria become more active, turning atmospheric nitrogen into NH4+ — a form that can be taken in by the plant. Examples of free-living nitrogen fixing bacteria that SOURCE may activate include: azotobacter, nitrosomonas, klebsiella, among others.
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These microbes solubilize phosphorus that is bound by elements like calcium, aluminum, and iron in the soil. When SOURCE is present, phosphate solubilizing microbes begin to unlock the bound phosphorus, turning it into PO4 — a form that plants can use. Examples of phosphate solubilizing microbes that SOURCE may activate include: bacillus, pseudomonas, aspergillus, and others.
See how SOURCE improves plant health
Increases in biomass indicates a less stressed, more prolific plant.
See how SOURCE improves plant health
Increases in greenness indicates a healthier, less stressed plant.
See how SOURCE improves plant health
Increases in the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) indicates a less stressed plant.
See how SOURCE improves plant health
A higher plant senescence reflectance index (PSRI) indicates a more stressed plant.
*Data from lab testing using a multispectral imaging device to scan entire plants.
Demonstrated results: put the soil microbiome to work
In replicated small plot trials, using SOURCE increases yield and improves plant health.
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nitrogen results
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50% increase
in available n‑fixing bacteria
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2x increase
in n‑fixing activity
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16% increase
in n uptake at harvest
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phosphorus results
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18% increase
in available p‑solubilizing bacteria
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1.7x increase
in p‑solubilizing activity
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20% increase
in P uptake at harvest
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Product Pipeline
Future innovation
Our research improves nutrient efficiency, photosynthesis, and stress tolerance by enhancing the symbiotic relationship between plants and their environment.
Sound Branded Products
Discovery
Early Dev
Field Dev
Pre-Commercial
Commercial
SOURCE Corn
Commercial
SOURCE Soybean
Commercial