SMA – Let's Go Natural

SMA – Synbiotic Microbes & Algae

Living nutrition for soil and plants – natural strength from microbes, algae, and minerals.

Many Ways to Use SMA

SMA can be applied as a foliar spray, soil or root drench, seed soak, transplant dip, and through fertigation. This versatility allows nurseries and farmers to prime seeds, protect transplants, foster strong roots, improve soil biology, and support foliage health throughout the entire crop cycle—both under normal conditions and during stresses such as heat, drought, salinity, or disease pressure.

Summary of Uses

SMA is a synbiotic biostimulant that combines live microbes and microbial foods with marine or green algae, organic acids, and natural chelators. It encourages germination, root initiation, nutrient availability, photosynthetic efficiency, and tolerance to abiotic stress. In the soil, it nourishes beneficial microbiota and improves soil structure and cation exchange capacity; on leaves, it populates the phyllosphere with beneficial organisms and is easily absorbed by bioactive compounds. When used consistently, SMA supports establishment, growth, flowering, and fruit set, as well as overall resilience—helping to achieve uniform stands, better colour, and higher-quality yields.

Application Modes & Specific Benefits

A. Foliar Spray

Primary aim: To facilitate rapid physiological responses and support for the phyllosphere.
Key benefits:

Direct leaf uptake of bioactives for improved chlorophyll density, colour, and turgor.
Enhanced tolerance to heat/drought/salinity via betaines and algal osmoprotectants.
Competitive exclusion of foliar pathogens by beneficial microbes on leaf surfaces.

B. Soil / Root Drench

Primary aim: Rhizosphere activation and root architecture.
Key benefits:

Feeds soil microbes, increasing mineralisation and nutrient cycling.
Improves root branching and root hair density for efficient uptake.
Gradual improvement of soil structure, aggregation, and moisture retention.

C. Seed Soak

Primary aim: Priming and protection at emergence.
Key benefits:

Microbial inoculation and enzymatic priming for faster, more uniform germination.
Early defence against damping-off and soil-borne pathogens.
Stronger early vigour, shortening time to transplant or first true leaves.

D. Transplant Dip

Primary aim: Shock reduction and early colonisation.
Key benefits:

Protective microbial coating of roots at planting.
Faster establishment, reduced wilting, higher survival, and quicker growth restart.

E. Fertigation (drip/sprinkler/microjet)

Primary aim: Scalable, uniform delivery across blocks.
Key benefits:

Consistent, low-dose feeding of microbes and bioactives.
Complements mineral nutrition programmes by improving nutrient use efficiency (NUE).
Labour-saving and compatible with scheduled irrigations.

Benefits by Ingredient

Algae Complex (Kelp, Spirulina, Chlorella)

Kelp (marine brown algae): Natural plant growth regulators (auxins/cytokinins/betaines) that promote rooting, cell division, flowering/fruit set, and abiotic stress tolerance.
Spirulina (cyanobacterial biomass): Highly digestible proteins, amino acids, B-vitamins and pigments that feed microbes and support rapid seedling/vegetative growth.
Chlorella (green microalgae): Chlorophylls, carotenoids, micronutrients, and antioxidants that enhance photosynthetic efficiency and resilience.

Fermented Rice Water (FRW)

Source of lactic acid bacteria and enzymes; improves rhizosphere balance, helps residue breakdown, and supports beneficial biofilm formation on roots.

Brewer’s Microbes

Yeasts and metabolites supply B-vitamins and growth cofactors, accelerating microbial proliferation and phyllosphere support.

Brown Sugar & Molasses

Carbon substrates that energise microbes; molasses adds trace minerals and humectant properties that aid soil moisture dynamics.

Fulvic Acid

Low-molecular-weight chelator that complexes micronutrients, improves membrane permeability, and raises nutrient uptake efficiency.

Apple Cider Vinegar (with the “mother”)

Organic acids that stabilise pH in a plant-friendly range, lightly preserve the blend, and stimulate root exudation and microbial activity.

Ethanol (extractive/preservative role)

Assists in the extraction of algal actives and provides light preservation while maintaining viable synbiotic activity.

Dilution & Application Guidelines

General: Use clean, chlorine-free water when possible. Gently agitate the tank to keep components in suspension. Spray/drench in early morning or late afternoon.
Do not tank-mix with oxidisers (H₂O₂), copper, sulphur, strong alkalis, or high-EC salt shocks. If such products are required, apply them 3–5 days apart from SMA.

Foliar Spray

Standard: 1–2 ml/L weekly.
Stress/fruiting: 3–5 ml/L every 7–14 days.
Coverage: fine mist to the point of wetting (avoid runoff). Compatible with non-ionic wetters.

Soil / Root Drench

Nursery pots/trays: 2–5 ml/L every 1–2 weeks (200–400 ml per 20 L mix per m² bench as a guide).
Field beds/trees: Apply 0.5–1.0 L of mixed solution per plant (rate within 2–5 ml/L) or banded along the row.

Fertigation

Open field: 20–50 L/ha per application, every 2–4 weeks, depending on crop stage and soil biology goals.
Protected cropping/greenhouses: 10–20 L/ha weekly or split-dose with irrigations at low concentration.

Seed & Seedlings

Seed soak: 1–2 ml/L for 30–60 min; surface-dry in shade before sowing.
Seedling trays (drench): 1–2 ml/L weekly until transplant.

Transplant Dip

3–5 ml/L; dip roots 1–2 min immediately before planting. Follow with a light drench at establishment.

Programme Integration & Timing

With fertilisers: SMA is a biostimulant/biology builder, not a primary NPK. Use alongside your mineral or organic nutrition. Expect improved NUE and better response to baseline fertiliser rates.
Crop stages:
- Priming: seed soak → uniform emergence.
- Establishment: transplant dip + early drenches → strong roots.
- Vegetative: foliar + fertigation → canopy and stress tolerance.
- Reproductive: foliar at lower but regular doses → fruit set/quality.
Environmental notes: Avoid extreme heat (>30–32 °C leaf surface) and midday sun for foliar work. Ensure adequate soil moisture for drenches/fertigation to activate biology.

Compatibility & Tank-Mix Guidance

Caution: High-EC fertiliser shocks and concentrated phosphoric acid can suppress biology—separate by days or dilute sufficiently.
Order of mixing: Water → SMA → adjuvant (if used). Maintain gentle agitation. Use within 12–24 h of tank mixing.

Quality, Handling & Storage

Appearance: Brown-green liquid with mild fermented aroma; light sediment may occur—shake before use.
pH: Mildly acidic (typically ~3.2–3.8).
Storage: Cool, dark place, sealed. Do not freeze or store in direct sunlight. Keep out of reach of children and animals.
Shelf life: Best within 12–18 months unopened; use within 3–6 months after opening for optimal vitality.

Troubleshooting & Best Practice

Leaf speckling or scorch: Dose too high or sprayed in heat—reduce to 1–2 ml/L and spray at cooler times.
Biofilm in tanks/lines: Over-concentration or stagnant lines—flush with clean water routinely; keep fertigation rates within guidance.
Slow response in tired soils: Increase soil drenches and incorporate organic matter/mulch to feed biology.
Uneven effect: Ensure uniform coverage, adequate agitation, and chlorine-free water.

Summary

SMA is a synbiotic biostimulant designed for versatile, practical use. It primes seeds, protects transplants, develops dense root systems, energises soil microbiology, and enhances foliage performance—thereby improving nutrient efficiency, stress tolerance, stand uniformity, and crop quality. When integrated into routine programmes, SMA helps nurseries and farmers achieve healthier soils, more vigorous plants, and more resilient crops.

Area-Based Planning & Quantities (How much SMA you need)

A) Foliar Spray (1–2 ml/L routine; 3–5 ml/L in stress/fruiting)

Area	Routine (1–2 ml/L @ 500 L/ha)	Stress/Fruiting (3–5 ml/L @ 500 L/ha)
500 m²	25–50 ml SMA	75–125 ml SMA
1 000 m²	50–100 ml SMA	150–250 ml SMA
1 ha (10 000 m²)	0.5–1.0 L SMA	1.5–2.5 L SMA

Tip: If your sprayer runs 300 L/ha, multiply the ml/L rate by 300 instead of 500 to recalculate your SMA need.

B) Soil / Root Drench (2–5 ml/L; apply ~1 L solution per m²)

Area	SMA required per application
500 m²	1.0–2.5 L SMA
1 000 m²	2.0–5.0 L SMA
1 ha (10 000 m²)	20–50 L SMA

Apply every 1–2 weeks, depending on soil biology goals and crop stage.

C) Fertigation (drip/sprinkler/microjet)

Area	SMA required per application
500 m²	1.0–2.5 L SMA
1 000 m²	2.0–5.0 L SMA
1 ha (10 000 m²)	20–50 L SMA

Frequency: every 2–4 weeks in open field; weekly/light split-doses in tunnels/greenhouses.

D) Seed Soak (1–2 ml/L; 30–60 min)

Batch planning: 1 L of soak solution typically treats ~1 kg seed (or ~10,000 small veg seeds).
SMA needed per 10 L soak: 10–20 ml SMA.
Make only what you’ll use the same day, air-dry seed in shade before sowing.

E) Transplant Dip (3–5 ml/L; 1–2 min dip)

Rule of thumb: 50–100 L of dip solution treats ~1,000 seedlings (depends on rootball size).
SMA needed:
- For 50 L dip → 150–250 ml SMA
- For 100 L dip → 300–500 ml SMA