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Biological Products for Corn and Soybean
PFI Research on Biological Products for Corn and Soybean
Biological products are derived from living microorganisms or natural substances and are designed to benefit soil nutrient cycling, enhance soil fertility, stimulate plant growth, improve plant stress tolerance and more.
Determining any benefits to crop yields and financial returns from biological products has been a subject of high interest in PFI’s Cooperators’ Program for the past six years. Since 2019, seven cooperators have conducted 16 on-farm trials on various biofertilizer and biostimulant products:
- MycoApply Soil Inoculant for Corn and Soybeans – 2019
- Holganix Bio 800+ Compost Tea for Corn – 2023
- Utrisha N Biological Nitrogen Supplement for Organic Corn – 2023
- Biostimulant Effects on Corn – 2024
- Biochar Seed Treatment Effect on Corn – 2024
- Sulfur Fertilizer and Humic Acid Amendment for Soybeans – 2024
Most of the trials (81%) showed no benefit to the use of biological products on the farms that tested them. It’s worth pointing out the unofficial PFI Cooperators’ Program disclaimer: What works for one farmer may or may not work for another farmer. In other words, testing practices, strategies or products with on-farm research is a time-honored way for farmers to see things for themselves and make informed decisions.
If you’d like to participate in an on-farm trial, please contact Stefan Gailans, stefan.gailans(at)practicalfarmers(dot)org.