When it comes to farming, healthy soil is everything. It feeds your crops, supports strong roots, and helps plants stand up to stress. But did you know that one of the best tools for building better soil isn’t a machine or a chemical, it’s a microbe? Meet Bacillus subtilis – a naturally occurring soil bacterium that’s quietly revolutionising arable farming.
Unlock Soil Power: Let Bacillus Boost Your Crops
Imagine crops that naturally resist drought, diseases, and poor soils, no chemicals needed.
Bacillus subtilis does all that: fixing nitrogen, freeing nutrients, and guarding against threats.
Try it and grow stronger yields the sustainable way.
What is Bacillus subtilis?
Bacillus subtilis (or just B. subtilis) is a beneficial bacterium found in soil, compost, and around plant roots. It’s what scientists call a “PGPB”, a Plant Growth-Promoting Bacterium. That means it helps crops grow stronger, healthier, and more resilient without the need for synthetic fertilisers or pesticides.
It’s been used for years in sustainable agriculture, and new research shows just how powerful it really is.
Key Facts
Powerful Plant Growth-Promoting Bacterium (PGPB)
Fixes nitrogen, solubilises nutrients, produces growth hormones
Boosts drought, salinity, pest, and disease resistance
Enhances soil structure, water retention, and fertility
Trials show 30–75 % growth increases; biofilm forms work best
Safer, eco-friendly, and cost-effective vs. chemical inputs
Why Bacillus stands out:
- It forms tough spores, resilient to drought, heat, and soil stress.
- Creates biofilms in the rhizosphere to help roots absorb water and nutrients.
- Produces natural plant boosters: auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, and ACC-deaminase for stress relief.
What Can B. subtilis Do for Your Farm?
Here’s why more and more arable farmers are turning to B. subtilis as part of their soil management and crop care:
1. Fights Plant Diseases Naturally
Bacillus subtilis produces natural antibiotics like surfactin, iturin, and fengycin that kill or block harmful fungi and bacteria in the soil, like Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, or Pythium.
👉 Fewer diseases = fewer losses.
2. Builds Plant Immunity
It doesn’t just fight off disease, it also primes your crop’s immune system, helping it defend itself better when faced with pests or stress.
3. Boosts Root Growth and Nutrient Uptake
This microbe helps make phosphorus and nitrogen more available to your plants. It even fixes atmospheric nitrogen and produces natural plant hormones like auxins.
👉 That means stronger roots and better nutrient uptake.
4. Improves Drought and Salt Tolerance
Bacillus subtilis forms protective biofilms around roots, keeping moisture in and supporting the plant when conditions get tough, like during heatwaves or dry spells.
5. Cleans Up Soil
It can break down toxins, heavy metals, and chemical residues left behind by synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. That’s good for the soil, the environment, and future harvests.
6. Grows Well With Your System
Its spores are heat-tolerant and long-lasting, making Bacillus subtilis easy to apply – whether as a seed treatment, soil drench, or foliar spray. It fits into conventional, regenerative, or organic systems.
What Makes B. subtilis Better Than Chemicals?
| Feature | Bacillus subtilis | Chemical Fertilisers |
|---|---|---|
| Nutrient release | Natural and long-lasting | Fast, but leaches away quickly |
| Disease control | Natural protection | Needs synthetic fungicides |
| Soil health | Improves biodiversity and structure | Can degrade soil over time |
| Environmental impact | Safe and eco-friendly | Can pollute water and harm wildlife |
Real Results on the Field
- Increased wheat yields in salt-affected soils
- Less root rot in barley and maize
- Better phosphorus availability in low-input systems
- Reduced fertiliser needs without lowering productivity
Final Thoughts
Bacillus subtilis is like having a tiny farmworker in the soil, working 24/7 to protect your crops, feed your plants, and care for your soil. It’s not just a product, it’s a long-term investment in your land’s health.
As synthetic inputs become more expensive and environmental rules get stricter, biological tools like B. subtilis will only become more important. The future of farming is living, and it starts with microbes like this one.
Ready to try it on your farm?
Our Bacillus-based biopreparations are made for real-world conditions and UK farming systems. Get in touch to learn how they can work for your crops.
