Biostimulating microorganisms in soil-less crop: using a bioreactor to improve tomato crops

Soilless horticulture was developed to protect crops from soil-borne pathogens. However, this 'sterilisation' of the plant rhizosphere is both a blessing and a curse, as it eliminates both beneficial organisms and pathogens. To make crops more resilient, CTIFL and DIVATEC have come up with a nitrifying biofilter that creates optimum ecological conditions for the development of plant-stimulating bacteria. The aim is to grow tomatoes without the use of phystosanitary products, while reducing the use of mineral fertilisers. This forum will present the results obtained during three years of trials. The presentation will cover the agronomic performance of the crops and the microbiological characterisation of the nitrifying biofilter.