View 2021 MiField Trial Results
For years, biostimulants have been one of the fastest growing crop inputs in the agriculture industry. They are becoming more mainstream, but there is still a lot of confusion about what biostimulants are and what they can do for a crop. They aren’t fertilizers, but they aren’t plant nutrition products or crop protection products either.
Biostimulants are part of a larger product category known as biologicals – a diverse group of inputs derived from naturally occurring substances that are used to stimulate plant growth, enhance resistance to plant pests or reduce abiotic stress.
Biostimulants, in particular, can promote plant health, growth and productivity processes, which can enhance nutrient uptake, nutrient efficiency and tolerance to abiotic stress. When used in conventional management plans, biostimulants have been shown to improve soil quality, improve plant access to nutrients, stimulate plant defenses, improve root growth and improve overall crop quality.
MiField Trial Results
In 2020, MiField Applied Research tested biostimulants on soybeans and corn. Periscope, a biostimulant product from GROWMARK was tested on soybeans and YieldON™, a biostimulant product from Valagro was tested on both corn and soybeans. These trial results demonstrate that biostimulants can be effective for enhancing plant health and improve overall crop quality.
Periscope on Soybeans
MiField Applied Research tested the use of Periscope biostimulant on soybeans in 2020. With in-furrow or foliar application, Periscope can improve the germination of seeds, plant emergence, root growth, seedling development and plant growth development throughout the growing season.
Four MiField Applied Research trials demonstrated an average yield response to Periscope applications yielded 1.2 Bu/A higher than the growers’ standard practices. Based on 2020 average input costs, the ROI on a foliar Periscope application on soybeans was $3.22 per acre and the breakeven point is less than a bushel of grain.
YieldON on Corn and Soybeans
In 2020, MiField Applied Research also tested the use of YieldON biostimulant on corn and soybeans. Through foliar application, YieldON can help increase row crop productivity by modulating cell metabolism and improving sugar and nutrient transport and lipid biosynthesis in the growing crop.
Nineteen MiField Applied Research trials demonstrated an average yield response to YieldON on corn of 7.5 Bu/Acre better than the growers’ standard practices. Based on 2020 average input costs, the ROI on a YieldON application on corn was $17.93 per acre. YieldON on corn also saw a 74 percent positive yield response, indicating that across most conditions and trials, YieldON had a positive effect on yield.
In soybeans, sixteen MiField Applied Research trials demonstrated an average yield response to YieldON of 2.27 Bu/Acre higher than the growers’ standard practices. Although the data set was small, the 50 percent positive yield response is encouraging. Based on 2020 average input costs, the ROI on a YieldON application on soybeans was $11.86 per acre and the breakeven point for YieldON is less than a bushel of grain.
Biostimulants on Your Farm
Environmental factors can play a role in the yield response observed from biostimulant applications. While data sets were regional, the yield responses for both Periscope and YieldON were encouraging, suggesting there is validity to these products that can provide real value and ROI to a farming operation.
MiField Trials are tested on multiple farms, across various geographies and multiple seasons, which best illustrates the variability of the yield responses obtained from biostimulants across various environments. Contact your local FS Crop Specialist about the impacts of foliar biostimulants and how those products responded in your area.
FS MiField Applied Research Trials test new agronomic practices, technologies and products on growers’ farms every season. You can benefit from this research-based data, applying it to your plan this season. The 2021 FS MiField Trials Results are now available. Click here to see results from the latest biostimulant trials.
Periscope is a trademark of GROWMARK. YieldON is a trademark of Valagro.
View 2021 MiField Trial Results
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