All farmers and growers aspire to operate a financially viable growing operation, achieving consistent, high-quality yields, year in and year out. With changing weather patterns and poor soil conditions becoming more prevalent, as well as the need to reduce chemical impacts, adopting innovative and sustainable solutions which benefit you, the grower and the environment, is the key to success.
This month we’ll explore effective strategies for maximising broadacre crop yields, using four specialised inputs from Roots, Shoots & Fruits: Rootella F, Mycorrhizal fungi,Superzyme, beneficial fungi and bacteria, Synergizer, a great source of NPK fertiliser, and Mobilizer, a quality fulvic acid product, for an integrated approach to enhance growth, yield and resilience in your crops.
Rootella F, Mychorrhizal fungi for New Plantings
When it comes to new plantings, quickly establishing a robust root system is crucial and this is especially true for broadacre crops like sweetcorn, cereals or pasture. Rootella F, a mycorrhizal fungi inoculant, promotes healthier roots by extending the root surface area. This increased root mass helps crops like sweetcorn access more water and nutrients, even in challenging soil conditions.
Why Rootella F?
- Enhanced Nutrient Uptake
When Mycorrhizal fungi attach to a root system, they essentially act as an extension of that root system. This enables your crops to exploit a larger volume of soil for minerals and water. This symbiotic adaptation with plants has provided them with the ability to maintain adequate phosphorus requirements under low P conditions and organic forms of nitrogen, whilst enhancing growth and production. - Disease Resistance
Research has shown that the nutritional benefit crops receive from connecting with mycorrhizal fungi increases their disease resistance. Also, the threadlike structure of the fungi dominates the soil, preventing pathogenic fungi from reaching your crops. The organisms transmit chemical signals between plants warning and preparing against attack. - Strong Early Growth
Early application of Rootella F, Mycorrhizal fungi, provides new broadacre crops with a boost in their growth phase. The addition of mycorrhizal fungi in the seed raising process has shown to improve germination and survival rates, so Rootella F is perfect for mixing with seeds or applied in-furrow. - Additional Benefits
There are an array of other benefits to growers and the environment through the use of Mycorrhizal fungi. Reduced water requirements, less nematode pressure, prevention of toxic uptake by plants eg salt, aluminium or copper. Mycorrhizal inoculation of plants increases all aspects of pollination through increased bee visitation, it enhances soil structure and of course the Glomalin that they secrete holds CO2 permanently in the soil reducing environmental CO2 issues.
Read about the use of Rootella, Mycorrhizal fungi to increase sweetcorn yields in this trial:
Yield Increase of Corn using Mycorrhizal inoculant
Superzyme – Beneficial Biological Organisms
Superzyme contains beneficial bacteria and fungi and, in combination with Rootella, Mycorrhizal fungi, these powerful biological agents improve nutrient uptake, and boost plant resilience in broadacre crops, ensuring long-term health and productivity. Investing in sustainable biological organisms not only reduces plant loss but also increases germination and yields, leading to long-term savings and greater profitability.
One broadacre crop which thrives with the addition of Superzyme is Kale. Trials over three years in the Canterbury region have shown that the addition of Superzyme produced higher average dry matter, adding valuable supplementary feed as well as increasing the biological fertility of soil.
You can read about this trial, conducted in Canterbury, here:
Comparing dry matter yield outcomes using biological treatments on Corsa Kale
Synergizer – High Potency Phosphorus, NPK Fertiliser
Synergizer can be used as an immediate, potent and highly available source of phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen. The low-efficiency uptake by crops of soil-applied phosphorus and nitrogen fertiliser is a major concern because of its negative impact on production costs and the environment.
To improve efficiency in crops, agronomic practices such as precise timing and placement as well as targeted application rates of foliar fertiliser, through products such as Synergizer, supplying three important macro elements, should be a norm in nutrient and crop management.
Phosphorus, a key mineral in plant photosynthesis driving reactions from germination to plant / grain maturity, is tied up in cold, wet climates, when grass growth is slow, and under hot, dry conditions. Synergizer is designed for foliar application and is quickly absorbed by crops, immediately addressing deficiencies, improving nutritional balance and providing enhanced growth.
For broadacre crops, high phosphorus levels are important to meet the energy needs of these fast-growing crops when soil uptake can be very limiting. Foliar applications of Synergizer can overcome the issue of P being locked up under various weather conditions and under different soil pH.
Mobilizer, Fulvic Acid, for Better Hydration and Mineral Uptake
Fodder beet is a key fodder crop that demands optimal hydration and nutrient absorption. Mobilizer, a liquid fulvic acid solution designed to enhance the uptake of mineral nutrients and improve water efficiency, is a game-changer for fodder beet, and indeed all root and vegetable crops.
How Mobilizer works:
- Hydration Boost:
Mobilizer improves the plant’s water retention capacity, which is vital for broadacre crops in dry periods. A natural plant electrolyte, Mobilizer helps the crop stay hydrated and maintain consistent growth, under extremes of weather conditions through increased cell membrane pressure. - Increased Mineral Uptake:
Fulvic acid enhances the uptake of essential minerals as it can unlock complexed minerals in the soil and transport them from the soil to the crop. The combination of deeper water access and enhanced mineral absorption allows broadacre crops like fodder beet or corn to achieve its full growth potential. - Flexible Application:
Whether used as a one application pre-planting treatment or during the growth phase, Mobilizer can adapt to your cropping schedule for maximum impact.
There are many trials showing that Mobilizer and root crops are a match made in heaven. You can read more about these trials here:
The Synergy Between Products
The combination of these environmental products is particularly powerful producing a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate benefits, providing crop resilience and protection to a range of both biotic and abiotic stressors. Biological organisms increase your most important asset, your soil, creating a perfect environment for broadacre crops like sweetcorn, kale, fodder beet or vegetables to thrive.
Adopting integrated solutions can help achieve higher yields, improved crop quality, and greater resilience to stress and extreme weather conditions.
Ready to elevate your crop performance? Consider incorporating Rootella F, Superzyme, Synergizer, and Mobilizer into your planting programme.
