USA corn multi-year trials

In-field use and demonstrations in Australia’s cropping regions had identified positive yield responses when applying BioAg’s fermented liquid cultures on a range of crops.

In order to get more reliable, replicable, year on year results we needed to run independent, small plot replicated trials. Agricenter International was engaged to perform a range of trials on behalf of BioAg to evaluate the impacts of applying BioAg’s liquid biostimulants over Dent Corn with differing fertiliser regimes.

This report details the outcomes of trials performed on corn. Each year, a full biostimulant treatment was applied to a fertiliser application representing grower standard practice (GSP), and another representing GSP less 15% Nitrogen. Several additional biostimulant programs were performed over the five years in order to evaluate additional aspects of biostimulant performance.

Trial aim

To evaluate the impact on corn yields when applying BioAg liquid biostimulants to fertiliser regimes representing GSP, and GSP less 15% nitrogen.

Method

Each plot had fertiliser applied prior to planting as well as additional nitrogen fertiliser knifed in at the appropriate growth stage (typically at or just prior to V8).

Fertiliser rates were based on standard practice in the Tennessee area. GSP had solid fertiliser applied at the rate of; 22kg of nitrogen, 39kg of phosphorus and 80kg of potassium per hectare (approximately 200kg/ha of MAP and 160kg/ha of MoP); plus the equivalent of 168kg/ha of nitrogen knifed in as liquid fertiliser (UAN).

Plots, where fertiliser applied, was GSP less 15% nitrogen (GSP -15%N), had the same amount of solid fertiliser applied, but a reduced amount of liquid fertiliser, being the equivalent of 143kg of nitrogen per hectare.

The treatments can be grouped as follows:

• T1 was performed each year and represents GSP
• T2 and T2a represent GSP with a full biostimulants program
• T3 and T3a represent GSP -15%N with a full biostimulants program
• T4 represents GSP with only soil applied Soil & Seed
• T5 represents GSP -15%N with only soil applied Soil & Seed
• T6 represents GSP -15%N with a full biostimulants program at lower rates than T2 and T2a, and
• T7 represents GSP with a full (yet reduced) biostimulants program applied at planting only.

Results

Yield results for treatments are provided below in tonnes per hectare:

Yield results per treatment per year

Conclusion

The overlay of a complete BioAg biostimulant program on GSP for the production of Dent Corn delivered the best yield results for all treatments trialled. It provided higher yields than GSP every year.

Benefits were achieved across all seasons; irrespective of achieving high or low yields for GSP and delivered financial benefit in each year. While other treatments delivered yield benefits in most years, a number of the results were not statistically significant.

It is evident from the trials that consistent increases in yield were achieved when utilising a full biostimulants program, including soil-applied and foliar biostimulants.