We sometimes receive the question whether bacteria die when no nutrients are available. Fortunately, this is not the case, and there are several reasons for this.
The Aquaflow microbial product contains essential nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), as well as trace elements in a slow-release form. These stimulate the development of the bacteria. Additionally, the product contains a small amount of organic material (not oil), which serves as a carbon source. This helps the bacteria during the start-up phase, allowing them to multiply and grow.
When this carbon source is depleted and no other available carbon is present in the soil, the bacteria can survive by entering a dormant state. They do this by, for example, forming endospores, where they minimize their metabolism and wait for more favorable conditions. In this form, they can survive for extremely long periods, just like natural soil bacteria can.
What makes Aquaflow bacteria unique is that they are naturally capable of breaking down oil, unlike most natural soil bacteria. The latter only develop this property when exposed to mineral oil components for extended periods.
By administering Aquaflow microbes, an extra assurance is built in that oil is actually broken down. Moreover, these specialized bacteria can transfer their oil-degrading properties to natural soil bacteria through a process called conjugation. This enhances and accelerates the degradation process in the soil.