Biofilm in drip lines
Microorganisms can attach to the inner surfaces of pipelines and emitters, where biofilm can develop.
Water microbiology
Water microbiology in irrigation systems
Microbial formulations for professional use in water storage, recirculation and drip irrigation systems.
Microbiology in irrigation water
Why microbiology matters in water and irrigation
Irrigation water is never sterile. In water silos, reservoirs, pipelines and emitters, microorganisms are continuously active. They respond to temperature, organic load, retention time and the composition of the water.
Those microbial conditions help determine how stable a system behaves, from water quality in storage to flow through drip lines. Viewing the full water path as a biological environment makes it easier to manage for consistent conditions.
Familiar from practice
What growers encounter in irrigation and storage systems
Biofilm in drip lines, uneven flow and shifting conditions in water storage are familiar situations. They rarely have a single cause, but microbiology is almost always part of the picture.
Organic buildup
Organic residues can accumulate over time in tanks, filters and irrigation lines.
Clogged emitters
Deposits and biofilm can restrict emitters, resulting in less even water distribution.
Shifting conditions
Microbial populations in stored water can fluctuate as temperature, water quality and organic load change.
Three types of clogging
Not every clog is microbiological
A dripper with reduced flow can have several causes. Identifying the cause determines which action is appropriate and clarifies what a microbial approach can and cannot contribute.
Microbiological
Biological deposits
Microorganisms form a layer on pipeline and emitter surfaces. This is the part of the issue a microbial approach addresses.
Chemical
Mineral deposits
Calcium, iron and manganese can precipitate in pipes and emitters. This points to assessing water chemistry and, where appropriate, considering acid treatment. In practice, mineral and biological deposits often occur together.
Physical
Particles and suspended solids
Sand, silt and organic matter enter the system mechanically. These factors form part of assessing the water and irrigation system as a whole. Multiple causes are often involved at the same time.
Clogging in an irrigation system often results from a combination of biological, chemical and physical factors. That is why we consider the complete irrigation water system and help determine which approach fits your situation.
The water path
From water storage to emitter
Microbial conditions change along the way. Water held in a silo behaves differently from water that has circulated through a recirculating pipe network for days.
That is why BIOMICROBES looks at the full water path and at the point where a microbial solution genuinely fits.
Our water solutions
Two microbial formulations for the water system
DRIP LINE en WATER TREATMENT each work at their own point in the water path: one in distribution toward the emitter, the other in the stored water that feeds the system.
Drip irrigation
DRIP LINE
Microbial formulation for the routine maintenance of drip lines and emitters.Key characteristics
For continuous use in professional drip irrigationHelps maintain consistent irrigation flowHelps reduce the risk of emitter cloggingSupports routine management and maintenance of drip irrigation systems
Water storage
WATER TREATMENT
Professional microbial formulation for stored agricultural water.Key characteristics
Helps establish and maintain biological balance in stored agricultural waterSupports stable water conditions during storageSupports consistent irrigation water conditionsIntended for water silos, storage tanks, reservoirs and recirculating systems
Why BIOMICROBES
Microbiology for day-to-day water system management
BIOMICROBES develops microbial formulations for irrigation and water storage in professional agriculture and horticulture. From product development and formulation to batch control and application guidance, quality and reproducibility are central to our approach.
Focused on the water system
For irrigation and water storage
Clear specifications
Defined per product
Batch and quality control
Identity and concentration
Practical support
For integration into routine management
Practical questions
Questions about water microbiology and irrigation
Why microbiology in irrigation water matters and how water storage and drip lines differ.
Do I need to keep the pH low to guarantee that microbial products work?
There is no general rule that a lower pH is better. Acidity affects microbial growth, while species and strains have different limits. The crop and the nutrient solution also have requirements. Distinguish between the pH of the concentrate, the diluted solution and the root zone. Use a product-specific application range; a low pH in the bottle or a general growing value does not prove that efficacy is guaranteed.
Why is measuring only the pH of my irrigation water not enough?
pH describes the acidity at the moment of measurement. Alkalinity indicates how much acid the water can neutralize, partly due to bicarbonates. Two water sources with the same pH can therefore react differently to the same acid addition. Also have alkalinity and EC determined and, where needed, assess the individual salts. This lets you match water treatment more closely to the nutrient solution and the substrate.
Should I correct the pH before or after adding the microbial product?
Follow a mixing order that has been established for the combination. Mixing the microbial product directly with concentrated acid can temporarily create very different conditions from the final tank pH. A pH measurement afterward therefore does not tell you everything about the exposure during mixing. Have a product-specific mixing order confirmed in advance, stating how the water is prepared and when the product is added.
Do the microorganisms simply pass through every irrigation filter?
You cannot infer that from the name of the bacterium. Filters differ in how they work, and the formulation may contain particles or aggregates. In addition, an ordinary particle filter is not the same as a membrane that retains microorganisms. Map the filter type, filtration rating and injection point, and have the product’s suitability checked. Do not remove or bypass necessary filtration based on a general assumption.
Can I use live bacteria in a system with UV or disinfectants?
That requires coordinating the application route. Disinfection can also affect the added microorganisms. Map where the treatment is located, whether the water passes through that step again and whether an active agent remains after treatment. Use this to determine the injection point and application timing. Do not simply switch off a necessary disinfection step; there is no general waiting time that applies to all systems and products.
Is every biofilm undesirable?
Microorganisms can attach to a surface in a protective layer. Around a root, such an organization can contribute to the establishment of certain bacteria. In an irrigation line, buildup can be undesirable. What it means depends on the location, composition and consequences. So do not automatically use “biofilm” as a synonym for contamination, and do not infer a cleaning effect in lines from root colonization.
Mixing and application
Can the microbial product go in the same stock tank as my fertilizers?
A concentrated A or B stock tank requires a different assessment than diluted nutrient solution. In that tank, the salt concentration and sometimes the acidity are much higher. Suitability in the final tank therefore does not prove suitability for the stock tank. Have the exact fertilizers, dilution, residence time and microbial formulation assessed before dosing them together in one stock tank.
Is a jar test enough to know whether products can be mixed?
A jar test can reveal visible problems such as flocculation, precipitation or separation. It does not tell you whether the bacteria remain viable or whether both products retain their function. For microbial products, physical mixability, biological compatibility and crop safety are separate assessments. So check what a compatibility statement has actually tested.
Can I prepare a diluted solution the day before?
The shelf life of a closed concentrate does not automatically apply to a diluted solution. After dilution, conditions change and added inputs can affect viability. Only prepare a batch in advance when product-specific stability data are available. Have it confirmed how much time is allowed between mixing and application, and under which conditions.