• Jul 21, 2017

Observing Soil and Plant Health From the Ground Up

Emerging corn plants
Nurturing good soil health and providing adequate plant nutrition are critical to helping ensure optimal yield potential in corn crops, according to a set of on-farm trials conducted in multiple states. Here are individual observations about the advantages of applying microbes to boost soil health and adding stabilizers to improve nitrogen use efficiency.  
 
Observation #1: Feed Your Soil, Boost Your Yield Potential
Soil microorganisms play a critical role in soil quality, mineralization, recycling nutrients from crop residue and aiding in nutrient uptake and assimilation. Maintaining healthy, active microbial populations is important, particularly in conventional tillage systems that disturb natural soil function.
 
Through on-farm trials, WinField United is researching how soil microbe applications can help improve low soil fertility. According to ongoing on-farm trial data, appropriate soil microbial applications can generate a yield response. Our microbial product testing has shown that a spring soil microbial application improved corn yields across 19 trials. Yield results showed an interaction between the total pounds of nitrogen applied and the amount of rainfall received during the growing season.
 
This early data indicates soil microorganisms appear to help boost soil health and nitrogen efficiency.
 
19 Innovation Trial locations in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota and Wisconsin showed an average yield advantage of 4.1 bushels per acre when a soil microbe application was made.*


Total applied nitrogen and season rainfall factored into corn yield response.


Observation #2: Proper Plant Nutrition Meets Demand
Nitrogen is a significant operational cost, so it is imperative to protect this investment by ensuring it is available when crops need it most. With input productivity in mind, WinField United is using on-farm trials to research how nitrogen stabilizers can improve nitrogen use efficiency.
 
Data from 2016 currently shows anhydrous ammonia stabilizers can be an important part of a nitrogen management program. In seven on-farm trials, corn fertilized with nitrogen stabilizers demonstrated a yield advantage over the control group as well as greater stalk and root growth at key growing intervals. Early data shows that nitrogen stabilizers may increase yield and keep nitrogen investments on their acres.
 
Nitrogen stabilizers provided an average yield advantage of 1.1 bushels per acre in seven on-farm innovation trials in Illinois, Iowa and Kansas.*
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* Yield response will vary year to year, depending on variables such as rainfall, soil type and mineralization.
 
Results may vary. Because of factors outside of Winfield Solutions’ control, such as weather, product application and any other factors, results to be obtained, including but not limited to yields, financial performance or profits, cannot be predicted or guaranteed by Winfield Solutions.