As the saying goes, "Leeks are delicious, but pests and diseases are hard to control." This is a common challenge faced by leek growers. The primary pest in leek production is the leek maggot, while the main disease is gray mold. In late December, a leek greenhouse at Beijing Shiwexian Organic Farm was hit by a leek maggot infestation. The farmer tried four products but none could control the pest. Unexpectedly, applying a single dose of live bacteria saved the entire crop!

Organic Leek Encountered with the Crisis of Leek Maggots

Case 01 - Leek Maggots Control

The high standards of organic farming prohibit the use of chemical pesticides for pest control. Confronted with the persistent threat of onion maggots, agricultural technicians tested four commercially available biological control products. "After 20 days of testing four products, the onion maggots remained uncontrolled," lamented the farmer, a seasoned practitioner with over a decade of organic farming experience. Just as he was contemplating abandoning the harvest, Mr.Zhan, a green nitrogen agronomist, visited the farm to propose a solution. Many soil-borne pests and diseases stem from microbial imbalance, and targeted interventions with specific functional microbes can restore a healthy soil ecosystem. Mr.Zhan explained to the farmer: "Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a naturally occurring soil bacterium, produces a specific protein. When ingested by larvae, it converts into a toxin in their intestines, damaging intestinal cells and causing the larvae to stop feeding and die. This makes Bt highly effective against Lepidoptera pests like onion maggots." Moreover, BT bacteria do not accumulate in the environment, do not affect other soil organisms, and do not induce pest resistance. They are completely harmless to humans, livestock, and beneficial insects.

Leek with yellowing and withered leaves

Case 02 Bt live bacteria root irrigation, immediate efficacy

The farmer decided to select a plot with the most severe leech infestation for the experiment. On December 31, Bt live bacteria were applied to the roots of the leeks via drip irrigation at a ratio of 5 liters per mu, allowing the bacterial solution to directly contact the larvae in the soil.

Fermentation of Bt live bacteria using a live bacteria fermentation machine

Bt live bacteria colonization of the root of Chinese chives by root irrigation

Live bacteria colonize the roots of leeks

On the fifth day after root irrigation, the insect density decreased by more than 95%. By the seventh day, the leek maggots were almost completely eradicated, and new white roots sprouted from the lateral roots. The control cost was less than half of the traditional method.

Live Bacterial Rental: Elimination of 韭蛆 (Leek maggots), with lateral roots sprouting new white roots. "Through the live bacterial fermentation machine, 25% higher activity of Bt bacteria can be achieved within 24 hours, as it is produced and used on-site, avoiding the activity loss of traditional products during storage and transportation. Moreover, the metabolic products generated during fermentation can inherently promote plant growth and repair damaged root systems."

Case 03 BT Live Bacteria Control of Leek Maggots as a Typical Case

Today, leeks treated with Bt live bacteria through root irrigation not only eliminate the threat of leek maggots but also show gradual recovery in growth and a greener leaf coloration. More importantly, the culture medium used in the green nitrogen live bacteria fermentation equipment has obtained organic certification, and the bacterial solution produced by the live bacteria machine fully complies with organic certification standards. The news spread rapidly within Beijing's organic farming community, attracting neighboring farmers to visit and learn. The "food-first leek maggot control" approach has become a typical case of "organic green pest control in the capital." "Live bacteria prepared on-site have transformed our entire organic farming philosophy," said a farmer. "Previously, we passively responded to issues; now, we actively build a healthy field ecosystem."