Low inputs and high yields achieved by unlocking crop potential with bio-stimulants
Combining drilling with the timely application of biological crop stimulants has resulted in encouraging yield responses and improved quality performance, independent trials and first-time user tramline trials indicate.
AminoA products are natural bio-stimulants, obtained through enzymatic hydrolysis. Containing essential amino-acids that plants synthesise throughout their growth cycle, they can contribute positively to yield and quality if the plant is not already producing optimal levels of amino-acids itself.
The latest replicated trials with a single use, autumn application of AminoA has provided yield responses of 0.5t/ha, matching other single application trials in 2018 at T1 and T2 timings. Other independent trials gave 10.3% more yielding in OSR crops. But how does this relate to experiences on farm, with the paying customer?
Farming some 1659ha ranging from Kelso, Scotland, to Cambridge, Triton Farms director Simon Chaplin believes the use of AminoA FLO from AminoA Bio-stimulants has been crucial in increasing yields and profitability.
Mr Chaplin first trialled AminoA back in November 2017 to boost rooting development on late drilled crops. Applying the product in February as the crop is emerging from the ground, Mr Chaplin has found AminoA FLO to stimulate greater root development, seeing crops on his Abington Park Farm in Cambridgeshire at even 7th wheat, looking more like 1st wheat.
“Our philosophy is very much about extending the profitable part of our rotation, and seeing our 4th, 5th 6th and even 7th wheat looking like 1st wheat, is making a difference,” explains Mr Chaplin.
The results are showing at the weighbridge too, as the second harvest since using AminoA products reflects. “2018 yields on the weighbridge at Abington were our best-ever until now, with some 750 tonnes more across the farm,” Mr Chaplin adds.
With 2019 harvests still coming in across Triton Farms, indications are that this record will again be broken. Trials over 36 x 0.5ha plots have shown 0.47 t/ha yield increase when 2 litres of AminoA FLO was applied at early flowering to winter wheat, with 0.31 t/ha when 1 litre was applied flowering. This is following a full season’s programme, and results would have been even more dramatic had it not been for previous treatments.
Over the two farms near Kelso in Scotland, Mr Chaplin has seen 5.1 t/ha over 320 acres of OSR at the weighbridge, in some places this would have been at least 6 t/ha. Winter wheat averaged at least 11.5 t/ha over 650 acres, with some parts being in the upper 12 t/ha, all 1st wheats.
Key to the success across all Triton Farms has been the low input costs. At Abington Park Farms, fungicide costs have averaged at just £22/ha and herbicides at £32/ha on wheats, with Mr Chaplin planning to reduce further for the next crop. His agronomist confirmed no visible diseases, despite these low input costs.
Similar yield responses have been reported elsewhere in the country. Tramline trials on an 800-acre farm in Northumberland have seen a yield response of 8% on OSR, with wheat results to follow. A Doncaster farmer claims AminoA has given him a 1 t/ha yield increase in spring oats.
One Leicestershire farmer using AminoA FLO for the first time on his 200ha farm growing wheat, OSR and fodder beat amongst others, reports good yield responses and plans to use the product again next year, having seen enough positive evidence.
In Peterborough, farm manager James Robinson explains, “As with others, we have seen good yields all round, but we have seen some changes compared to other local fields.
“Our OSR certainly stayed greener and for longer on the fields where we applied AminoA. Likewise, despite the very dry spring, when AminoA was applied to spring barley it greened up very quickly and produced a good yield,” he adds.
Mr Robinson enjoyed an average yield of 9t/ha on the spring barley, proving to be the thickest crop he had seen.
Richard Philips, managing director of AminoA Bio-stimulants says, ‘’Our products are deliberately designed to have broad spectrum activity, as they contain every essential amino-acid that plants synthesise throughout their growth cycle.”
He adds, “Repeated use of our products, in combination with other agrochemicals, will enhance their effectiveness and produce a yield response in the crop, as these results are proving.”