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Common
Questions and Answers about the BioJect
1.
Why do I need to add more microbes
into the field if there are microbes
already out there?
2. Do the organisms
survive in the irrigation lines?
3. Do the bacteria
survive in the soil / turf environment?
4. What is the difference
between the BioJect and FreshPack?
Isn't FreshPack the same as the
"bugs in a jug" approach
that Eco Soil is opposed to?
5. How can I be sure
that the organisms applied are not
harmful to humans and other non-target
species?
6. Is there a risk
in over-application of microbes on
my golf course?
7. Does a pesticide
application reduce the activity of
the microorganism populations being
added through the BioJect?
8. What sorts of
university studies are being done
with the BioJect?
9. How do I know
the BioJect is actually growing the
bacteria and if those bacteria are
going out to the field?
10. What are the
space and equipment requirements
for the BioJect?
11. How can the BioJect
fit into my budget?
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new question
Answers
1. Why do I need to add more microbes into the field
if there are microbes already out there?
Answer: Even though substantial populations
exist in the environment, the existence of
those organisms that are beneficial
may be low in numbers. Modified rooting media,
such as USGA specification greens, are primarily
sand with low organic matter content, which
is a tough environment for the beneficial organisms.
Adding substantial numbers of organisms to
the soil environment on a frequent basis allows
beneficial bacteria to work in the turf environment
to help provide better growing conditions.
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2. Do the organisms survive in the irrigation lines?
Answer:
Based on repeated evaluations of the products
that are distributed by the sprinkler heads,
there is evidence that not only do the organisms
survive, but actually continue to grow in the
irrigation lines (though at a much diminished
rate). In one study, the bacteria were found
to be present without a substantial drop in
number at 12 days after injection. This is
a difficult evaluation to carry out, yet the
initial information gathered demonstrates the
existence and relatively even distribution
of organisms throughout the irrigation system.
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3. Do the bacteria survive in the soil / turf environment?
Answer: Once applied to the turf,
microclimate conditions such as moisture,
temperature, soil pH, and solar incidence
all have a dramatic effect on the survival
of an organism. The most difficult challenge
facing those introduced into a new environment
is competing with the indigenous populations
of organisms. Those organisms that already
exist within an environment have adapted
over many years, possibly millions, and
the chance that a new intruder can move
in and establish itself is slim.
The ability to compete for nutrients and for space (by producing
antibiotics or parasitizing the intruders)
provides the indigenous organism a strong
foothold. This is why the BioJect and
FreshPack hold such great potential.
Through repeated applications the bacteria
can get in and get their job done before
the local residents have anything to say
about it.
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4. What is
the difference between the BioJect and
FreshPack? Isn't FreshPack the same
as the "bugs in a jug" approach
that Eco Soil is opposed to?
Answer: One
Word: Fresh.
Basically, the
BioJect provides fresh microbes
to the entire course. FreshPack provides
fresh microbes to 1-3 acres, usually
greens and tees or targeted problem areas.
The BioJect delivers more frequent applications
(several times per week) at a lower concentration
than FreshPack with no labor input. Fresh
Pack is sprayed less frequently, usually
biweekly, at higher concentrations.
Its true that many biological products
face short shelf lives, sensitivity to
temperature, etc. BioJect overcomes this
by producing new organisms just prior
to application. FreshPack overcomes this
by delivering fresh packaged product
that has been carefully maintained and
is applied within a few days of receipt.
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5. How can I be sure that the organisms
applied are not harmful to humans and other
non-target species?
Answer:
The organisms that are used in the Eco Siol
programs do not grow and develop well at body
temperature. If they can't grow at body temperature,
then the chance that they can invade a human
and cause disease symptoms is virtually nonexistent.
Concerning other non-targets, the functions
that the program bacteria provide are very
specific, and the chances that they can cause
phytotoxicity to non-target plants or can kill
beneficial insects such as ladybugs are extremely
small.
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6. Is there a risk in over-application of microbes
on my golf course?
Answer:
Microbial population size is determined by
the conditions that are presented by the environment
to which they are introduced. When too many
bacteria are present based on the supplies
of food and other essentials, the excess numbers
will simply perish. The environment provides
a self-regulating system that helps keep much
of the biological portion in check. Another
important point is that it would take an incomprehensibly
huge number (many times the capacity of the
BioJect or FreshPack) to reach a point that
could even conceivably overwhelm a soil system.
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7. Does a pesticide application reduce the activity
of the microorganism populations being added
through the BioJect or FreshPack?
Answer:
The activity of pesticides is typically specific
to the pest that is targeted. Let's take a
fungicide for instance; the specificity is
very much limited to the control of fungal
organisms. In fact, most of the fungicides
are targeted for specific types of fungal organisms.
For example, Banner performs well in the control
of Dollar spot (Sclerotinia homeocarpa)
but does not control Pythium (Pythium
sp.). Studies performed by Dr. Joe Vargas
(Michigan State University) and Dr. Eric Nelson
(Cornell University) demonstrated that fungicides
had no measurable detrimental effects on bacteria.
Recent university studies are showing that
the use of fungicides in conjunction with Spotless
(a component of the BioJect's BioEnhancement
Program) actually extends the period of control
beyond which the fungicide alone is capable
of providing.
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8. What sorts of university studies are being done
with the BioJect and FreshPack?
Answer:
Over the past few years there has been a rapidly
expanding interest in the BioJect among University
researchers. Previous research has included
Dr. Joe Vargas' work at Michigan State University
examining the sensitivity of certain turf diseases
to Pseudomonas aureofaciens (spot-less),
and Dr. Pete Dernoeden at the University of
Maryland evaluating the interaction between
beneficial bacteria and chemical fungicides.
Researchers evaluating the Eco Soil's microbes
include: Dr. Joe Vargas, Michigan State University;
Dr. Eric Nelson, Cornell University; Dr. Peter
Dernoeden, University of Maryland; John Breshnahan,
University of Massachusetts; and Dr. Bruce
Clarke, Rutgers University.
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9. How do I know the BioJect is actually growing the
bacteria and if those bacteria are going out
to the field?
Answer: The software on the control
system provides a summary of the daily performance
of the system, which can show how many days
each month the machine performed its fermentation
and injection. To assess population levels,
we have established testing kits and procedures
for samples to be analyzed and certified at
independent labs. During the summer of 1997,
Eco Soil examined the irrigation water and
turf samples of several representative golf
courses around the country for the presence
of BioJect target bacteria. In nearly every
case, we detected substantial levels of the
target bacteria in the samples of the irrigation
water and turf, showing a relatively even distribution
of bacteria throughout the irrigation system.
University researchers have also conducted
replicated trials on certain courses and have
found similar results.
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10. What are the space and equipment requirements for
the BioJect?
Answer:
Any site where the BioJect is to be installed
must have: A weatherproof shelter with available
space of 90" W x 105" L x 95"H;
A dedicated 120 VAC circuit rated at 20 amp
service; A drainage output; A source of potable
water to fill the BioJect with 25 gallons daily
which falls within the following parameters:
Pressure 35-65 psi, Flow rate 5-10 gpm, Turbidity
<0.5 NTU TDS < 1000 mg/L Ph 6.5 8.5 Iron
< 0.3 ppm In most situations, effluent irrigation
water is not a problem, as long as the incoming
water feeding into the BioJect is of potable
quality. This is because the water in which
the bacteria grow must meet a more specific
set of requirements to maximize the conditions
conducive to growth. Once the fermentation
cycle is complete and the bacteria are injected
into the lines, they can tolerate a wider range
of conditions, such as effluent irrigation
water.
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11. How can the BioJect fit into my budget?
Answer:
The BioJect system is designed to provide a
biological component to your overall turf management
program. The benefits your course receives
from the use of the system can either reduce
the inputs you currently purchase for your
course and/or provide improved turf quality
without a dramatic cost increase. After all,
the ultimate evaluation of success is the quality
of the playing surface produced vs. the dollars
spent getting there. The BioJect promotes a
better quality turf through:
- Maintaining
disease in a less severe state
- Increasing
time available to treat turf disease
- Improving
conditions in roughs and green surrounds
- Slowing
progression of resistance development
to chemicals
The actual financial
savings depend on the area of the country,
the disease pressure that the course is
under and its fungicide budget. Some customers
with as little as a $35,000 annual fungicide
budget have completely paid for the system
from chemical cost savings by usage reduction
in the first year, while other customers
with much higher budgets have not. The
degree of cost savings depends on how
thoroughly the program is integrated into
the existing chemical spraying programs,
the degree to which the superintendent
is willing to push the spray programs,
and the disease level that the superintendent
is willing to tolerate.
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