Organic Soil Rejuvenation
Farmers Soil Food
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“Producing more food with fewer resources may seem too good to be true, but the world’s farmers have trillions of potential partners that can help achieve that ambitious goal. Those partners are microbes.”
American Society of Microbiologists
INCREASED YIELD
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The most significant benefit of co-branded products that contain the technology of SumaGrow® is the yield increase. These yield increases are achieved cost effectively as products containing SumaGrow® cost less than the fertilizer and other inputs they replace in most cases. How does it work?
Soil that is balanced and maintains a strong, viable community of soil microorganisms will grow higher yielding and healthier plants, even under stressful environmental conditions. Adding products containing SumaGrow® to your nutrient program inoculates the soil with these vital microorganisms that break down and capture bound, atmospheric and applied nutrients, hold water, and help balance the soil’s nutrients.
The technology of SumaGrow® was developed to help plants achieve their maximum potential, even in less than desirable conditions, like transplant, extreme temperatures and drought. The following results reflect the ability of products containing the technology of SumaGrow® to maximize yields for the producer.
The following is a representative sampling of results:
Alfalfa – Michigan State University – One gallon and 1.5 gallons of a product containing SumaGrow® were compared to a control field resulting in yield increases of 29 percent and 33 percent, and a profit advantage of $58 and $62 per acre.
Cattle Weight Gain – Murray State University (Kentucky) – cattle gain of 40.5 extra pounds during a 150 day grazing season; higher compared to grower standard fertilized pastures; also higher Animal Unit Months (AUM) and Return on Investment.
Corn – Arise Research & Discovery, Illinois – corn yield increased 19 percent, with a 50 percent reduction in fertilizer, compared to grower standard of 100 percent fertilizer.
Forage Grass – Tellus Consulting, Virginia – higher yield (36 percent), more nutrients (crude protein and digestible protein), improved soil (higher calcium, phosphorous, potassium and magnesium), greater weight gain (extra 2/10 of a pound per day) and lower cost than grower standard fertilized fields.
Golf Courses – Turfgrass Disease Solutions, Pennsylvania – golf course turf was comparable in quality and color using ReeCourse Golf (SumaGrow® inside) and 20 percent fertilizer (80 percent reduction) compared to 100 percent fertilizer, and color was better with solely ReeCourse.
Soybeans – Illinois Soybean Association Yield Challenge – won first place in District 9 (only district entered).
Strawberries – Holden Research, California – increased the net profit by $1185 per acre with a 20 percent reduction in fertilizer compared to grower standard.
Tea – Nanjing Forestry University, China – “… all parameters related to plant growth vigor increased by more than 25 percent as compared with those of untreated tea trees" and the product “produces positive effect on the soil.”
REDUCED FERTILIZER
While it may seem counterintuitive to reduce fertilizer usage to increase yields, a significant reduction of fertilizer is necessary to obtain the highest yield increases when using products containing the technology of SumaGrow®.The microorganisms in co-branded products containing SumaGrow® contain beneficial microorganisms specifically selected because they work within the soil and the root of the plant to capture existing and applied nutrients, unlock bound soil nutrients and convert nitrogen from the air into a form plants can utilize. Because of the microorganisms’ ability to efficiently utilize their resources, a reduction in applied nutrients is critical.For example, let’s say that 300 pounds per acre of NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium) were the normal application rate for a crop. If an additional 300 pounds per acre were added, the yield would likely decrease and the crop might be severely damaged. Because products containing SumaGrow® improve the efficiency of the applied nutrients, your crop only needs half (on average) or, in this example, 150 pounds per acre of applied nutrients. Using 300 pounds of NPK (the full treatment) could actually reduce the crop yield.There are several controlled studies which have been performed which show the negative effects of full fertilizer and the addition of SumaGrow® products.
Mississippi State University conducted controlled field trials on cilantro and tomatoes in Crystal Springs, MS. The table below shows the response of cilantro shoot yields comparing 50 percent conventional and 100 percent conventional fertilizer rates (growers standard), with the addition to both of a SumaGrow® product application at the rate equivalent to one gallon per acre.
The addition of SumaGrow® to the full fertilizer treatment showed an increase of only 7.5 percent (2.58 vs. 2.40) while the addition of SumaGrow® to the half fertilizer treatment (50 percent reduction) showed an increase in yield of 19.2 percent (2.98 vs. 2.50); as fertilizer was reduced the yield went up.
In tomatoes, the results were even more striking, as the tomato yield with 100 percent fertilizer and SumaGrow® product was actually lower than the yield with just 100 percent fertilizer. The table above shows the total number and weight of tomatoes comparing 50 percent conventional and 100 percent conventional nitrogen fertilizer rates, with the addition to both of a product containing SumaGrow at the equivalent rate of one gallon per acre.
The addition of SumaGrow® product to the full fertilizer treatment showed a decrease of 1.9 percent (72.7 vs. 71.3) in weight while the addition of a SumaGrow® product to the reduced fertilizer treatment showed an increase in yield of 15.1 percent (83.0 vs. 72.1); as fertilizer was reduced the yield increased.
Tecomate
Barenbrug’s U.S. subsidiary, Tecomate performed tests for hunters’ food plots to determine whether SumaGrow® increased the protein levels of forages. Higher protein levels are a contributing factor for larger antlers in deer.
Two different hunter food plot seed mixtures- Tecomate Monster Mix and Tecomate Max-Attract 50/50- were tested to determine both the protein percentage and yield. According to data points – 300 pounds per acre of triple 13 NPK fertilizer (a typical full fertilizer treatment) versus 300 pounds and the addition of one gallon per acre of a SumaGrow® product showed the yield actually decreasing, although, protein levels still went up with the addition of a SumaGrow® product.
When the traditional fertilizer treatment was reduced (200 lbs, 100lbs and zero) and a SumaGrow® product was added at the rate of one gallon per acre, yields increased. Protein levels continued to increase as the fertilizer was reduced. For the Monster Mix, the highest yield was obtained with a 33 percent reduction in fertilizer, or 200 pounds of triple 13 NPK per acre with the addition of a SumaGrow® product, and for the Max Attract 50/50, the highest yield was obtained with a 67 percent reduction in fertilizer, or 100 pounds of triple 13 NPK per acre and the addition of a SumaGrow® product.
There are other crops where fertilizer can be reduced even more than 50 percent. In many grass/turf applications – forage grass, grass hay and ornamental turf (including specialty applications such as golf courses) – fertilizer rates have been reduced 80-100 percent for tens of thousands of applications, often with better results than 100 percent fertilizer. Additionally, organic growers use products containing SumaGrow® as well as end users in many foreign countries without the addition of any petrochemical fertilizer. Notably, this includes China and India where testing has been performed without fertilizer and achieved significantly positive results.
