Strawberry soils — often medium to heavy in texture, prone to waterlogging, and managed under tight crop cycles — tend to develop structural imbalances that compromise root oxygenation and microbiological equilibrium. These conditions lead to physiological instability, limited vegetative growth, and greater susceptibility to diseases such as Phytophthora spp., Fusarium spp., and Rhizoctonia spp.
Additionally, acidic irrigation bulbs generated by fertigation can trigger uncontrolled solubilization of certain elements, increasing salinity and reducing the real availability of essential nutrients. The need for technical interventions that restore soil biological functionality without interrupting crop cycles has become a top priority in modern strawberry production.
SoilEkky: Targeted Action in the Root Zone
SoilEkky, Probelte’s soil bio-stimulant, is specifically formulated to act on the functional soil regions surrounding the root — the rhizosphere. It combines two spore-forming microbial strains, Bacillus siamensis B12 and Bacillus halotolerans B13, both highly adaptable to stress conditions such as poor aeration, high pH, and dense soils typical of intensive strawberry systems.
Its mode of action is based on three core mechanisms:
- Controlled hydrolytic activity on proteins, starches, and cellulose within the clay–humus complex.
- Microbial competition for space and resources in the rhizosphere, fostering a more resilient microbial community against root pathogens.
- Induction of systemic responses in the plant to abiotic stress (hypoxia, salinity, compaction) without disrupting its primary metabolism.
Effectiveness Throughout the Crop Cycle
Field experience shows that repeated applications of SoilEkky at key stages — rooting, full vegetative growth, and reproductive phases (flower initiation and fruit filling) — promote:
- Higher density of active fine roots.
- Faster recovery after thermal or water stress.
- Reduced vegetative standstill losses.
- More stable uptake of nitrogen and potassium.
These benefits are particularly evident in high-pressure environments, under limited rotation systems, or where biological soil imbalance has previously been identified.
Technical Use and Recommendations
SoilEkky is applied through fertigation or localized irrigation, preferably during the final stage of irrigation, leaving about 15% of the time for system flushing.
Recommended dosage: 5–10 L/ha per application, adjusted every 15–25 days depending on climate and soil stress conditions.
It can be integrated into a multi-product program with complementary bio-stimulants such as AirEkky or PowerEkky, supporting a holistic approach to soil and plant physiology management.
Conclusion
The use of biotechnological tools like SoilEkky addresses the need for preventive, long-lasting soil interventions that indirectly enhance plant health and efficiency. With proper planning, this type of soil bio-stimulation allows agronomists to anticipate and mitigate structural and biological imbalances in the soil–root system, strengthening the productive resilience of strawberry crops.
