University of Newcastle Research Examines PyroAg Wood Vinegar and Beneficial Soil Bacteria

New research involving PyroAg Wood Vinegar has provided further insight into how pyroligneous acid can influence soil microbial communities and plant growth-promoting bacteria.

Published in the peer-reviewed journal Soil Systems, the University of Newcastle research investigated the effects of different concentrations of pyroligneous acid, commonly known as Wood Vinegar, on microbial diversity in two different soils.

The findings provide important scientific evidence to help understand what happens below the soil surface when Wood Vinegar is applied at different concentrations.

Why Soil Microbiology Matters

Soil contains complex communities of bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms that contribute to nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition and plant-soil interactions.

Among these are plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), a group of beneficial bacteria associated with processes that can support plant growth and nutrient availability.

Understanding how agricultural inputs interact with these microbial communities is an important part of determining how they may fit within productive farming systems.

What Did the Research Find?

The researchers tested pyroligneous acid at concentrations ranging from 0.01% to 5% in two different soils and analysed changes in the microbial communities over an eight-week period.

Importantly, the response varied substantially depending on concentration.

At the lower concentrations tested, the researchers observed higher microbial diversity and increased dehydrogenase activity, an indicator of microbial activity, compared with untreated soil and soils receiving higher concentrations.

The study also identified enrichment of several plant growth-promoting bacterial genera at lower concentrations.

These included Bradyrhizobium, Azospirillum, Pseudomonas, Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium, Herbaspirillum, Acetobacter, Beijerinckia and Nitrosomonas.

The researchers concluded that applying pyroligneous acid at lower concentrations promoted microbial enrichment, particularly among plant growth-promoting bacteria, under the conditions studied.

Why Application Rate Matters

One of the particularly useful findings from the research is that more Wood Vinegar does not necessarily mean a greater response.

Microbial composition differed between the lower concentrations of 0.01% and 0.1% and the higher concentrations of 1% and 5%.

This reinforces the importance of appropriate dilution and application rates when incorporating Wood Vinegar into an agricultural program.

For PyroAg, research such as this contributes to the development of practical application guidance based on evidence rather than simply assuming that increasing application rates will produce better results.

Building the Evidence Behind Wood Vinegar

PyroAg has worked with researchers at the University of Newcastle to better understand Wood Vinegar and its interactions with agricultural and environmental systems.

This study provides another piece of that evidence, helping explain the relationship between Wood Vinegar, microbial activity and beneficial soil bacteria.

Continued research, together with commercial field experience, is helping PyroAg develop practical guidance for Australian growers considering how Wood Vinegar could complement their existing farming programs.

Read the Research

Effect of Pyroligneous Acid on the Microbial Community Composition and Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) in Soils

Sivaram, A.K., Panneerselvan, L., Mukunthan, K. & Mehraj, M. (2022). Soil Systems, 6(1), 10.