A Detailed Explanation of the Role and Use of Nitrifying Bacteria

"Nitrifying bacteria" is a very broad research topic in the modern field of microbial science. Here, from the perspective oforchidofcultivation, I offer my own immature views for discussion with you, sir: So-called "nitrifying bacteria" refers to a class of bacteria that use ammonia or nitrite as their main energy source for survival, and can use carbon dioxide as their main carbon source. Nitrifying bacteria are among the ancient bacteria, widely distributed in soil, freshwater, seawater and sewage treatment systems, yet they rarely appear in large numbers in nature, because the distribution of nitrifying bacteria is affected by many environmental factors, such as nitrogen source, temperature, oxygen concentration, osmotic pressure, pH and salinity, and so on. "Nitrifying bacteria" are divided into "nitrosifying bacteria" and "nitrifying bacteria." The main function of nitrosifying bacteria is to convert ammonia nitrogen into nitrite; the main function of nitrifying bacteria is to convert nitrite into nitrate. Ammonia nitrogen and nitrite are mostly toxic substances produced in the course of aquaculture ororchidcultivation, so how to degrade these two substances has long been a focus of scientific workers in recent years. Because nitrosifying bacteria grow relatively fast and photosynthetic bacteria also have the effect of degrading ammonia nitrogen, modern technology has been able to successfully control ammonia nitrogen at a relatively low level. As for nitrite, because nitrifying bacteria in nature grow extremely slowly and no other microorganism has yet been found that can replace the function of nitrifying bacteria, the nitrite produced in the course of cultivation andcultivationhas become the key factor hinderingorchidgrowth. The organic or inorganic growing media we use in orchid cultivation, the management of watering and fertilizing, and the metabolic processes carried out by orchids during their growth and development will, over time, accumulate large amounts of organic matter. Under the action of heterotrophic bacteria, the proteins and nucleic acids in these organic metabolic substances slowly decompose, producing large amounts of ammonia and other harmful nitrogen-containing substances. Under the action of nitrosifying bacteria or photosynthetic bacteria, ammonia is converted into nitrous acid. After nitrous acid combines with some metal ions, it can form nitrite, and nitrite can in turn combine with amine substances to form nitrosamines with strong carcinogenic effects. Therefore, nitrite is often mentioned together with the notorious ammonia. Because long-term accumulation and poisoning by nitrite can reduce the orchid's own disease resistance and make it susceptible to invasion by various pathogenic bacteria, it is often regarded as the root cause of orchid disease. However, when nitrous acid is converted into nitric acid through the nitrification action of nitrifying bacteria, it easily forms nitrate, thereby becoming a nutrient substance that plants can absorb and use. Therefore, nitrifying bacteria are very closely related to the environment in which orchids are grown. We all know that "nitrification" must rely on autotrophic nitrifying bacteria to be completed. Soil contains abundant nitrogen sources and was originally very suitable for the growth of nitrifying bacteria. However, because individuals use different growing media for orchid cultivation, the growing media may also contain large numbers of heterotrophic bacteria. Due to the exclusion effect of heterotrophic bacteria, the places suitable for nitrifying bacteria to inhabit are obviously far fewer than in the natural environment. Therefore, there are not enough autotrophic nitrifying bacteria to consume the excess nitrite nitrogen. This is the problem thatorchid growersshould discuss. Regarding what you, sir, raised: "I know that what promotes the growth of nitrifying bacteria is ammonium ions and other ammonia nitrogen compounds in water. Some of these compounds can increase the growth of nitrifying bacteria under acidic and aerobic conditions (orchidcultivation also requires such an environment). Moreover, a technology has now appeared that uses zeolite to adsorb ammonium ions in water. When the concentration of ammonium ions in water decreases, the adsorbed ammonium ions can be released again for nitrifying bacteria to reproduce. I wonder whether this has anything in common with 'active soil'?" Here is a brief reply to you: "Active soil" is based on the principles of tissue culture and developed by combining theories from microbiology, botany and seaweed science. It is a new growing medium fororchidcultivation. The reason it is called "active soil" is that it can activate the activity of orchid fungi and photosynthetic nitrifying bacteria, promote the reproduction of orchid fungi and beneficial nitrifying bacteria colonies in the growing medium, supply the main nutrient source for orchid plant growth and provide necessary trace elements. These fungi are beneficial bacteria. Their actual function is to provide the best naturally optimized environment, based on the complex symbiotic balance among microbial communities, for the growth of orchid fungi and for achieving balance with orchid root cells. This balance is difficult for any artificial adjustment through chemically synthesized fertilizers or growth agents to achieve. On the other hand, it can filter and purify harmful toxins in water and eliminate pathogens latent in the growing medium, thereby enabling orchid plants to grow healthily and rapidly and increasing the shoot production rate. The composition of "active soil" uses seaweed as the base material, combined with a combination of multiple elements. Its main function is to rapidly reproduce orchid fungi and activate photosynthetic nitrifying bacteria, so that they quickly decompose organic matter and convert it into sugars, fatty acids, B vitamins and elemental substances, allowing orchid roots to absorb them quickly, promoting the growth functions of orchid plants, and increasing the shoot production rate of orchid plants. Active soil mainly has the following five functions: 1. Enzyme action: The main key force by which animals and plants can absorb nutrients lies in enzyme action. Active soil can promote enzyme action by orchid fungi, making phosphorus, potassium and trace elements easy to absorb. It can also prevent soil hardening. It can also rapidly decompose harmful substances in fertilizers and agricultural pesticides. After planting, the leaf surface turns dark green and the leaf texture becomes thicker. It easily increases the germination rate of orchid plants. 2. High-efficiency decomposition of organic matter: Humic acid from organic matter is transformed into a granular structure, with good absorption of solar heat oxidation and strong water retention. 3. Activation of soil bacteria: Active soil can promote an increase in the secretions of aerobic bacteria, decompose sulfides, salts and nitrates, prevent soil acidification and improve fertilizer efficiency. Activating aerobic bacteria can reduce acid-related diseases and decompose harmful substances; it also increases the reproduction of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, allowing free nitrogen in the air to be fully utilized. 4. Fermentation function: (1) The respiration of activated bacteria is good, producing carbon dioxide and creating plant nutrition. (2) Respiratory heat produces a temperature-raising effect, causing the temperature inside the orchid pot to rise by 2-3 degrees Celsius. Through interaction, it prevents root groups from freezing injury and makes orchid plants grow vigorously in the early stage after repotting. 5. Water quality improvement: Active soil can activate aerobic photosynthetic nitrifying bacteria in the growing medium, thereby decomposing toxic substances in water and purifying water quality. Taiwan, China Guo Jianmiao