Efficacy of Biostimulants to Improve Soil Health, Nutrient Availability and Crop Yields in Water-limited Environments

Commodities

Practices

The use of biostimulants in grain crop production is gaining popularity among farmers and crop consultants, mostly driven by a surge in product marketing campaigns, high fertilizer costs, and low profit margins. However, there is paucity of information to back claims made by manufacturers and agro-chemical companies regarding the impacts of these amendments on soil health, nutrient availability, improved crop yields and quality. Most research data available from product manufacturers is derived from studies conducted in controlled environments or product testimonials with no peer-reviewed research to validate claims. Particularly, dryland grain crop producers who have been recipients of persistent marketing campaigns of biostimulant companies are needing information on how these products will work in water-limited environments with annual rainfall of < 600 mm. This research and education project will provide critical and immediate information needed to address producer questions on sustainable use of biostimulants to improve nutrient availability, water infiltration, maintain soil health and increase crop yields in dryland systems. We propose to conduct field experiments across six locations including producer farms in western Kansas over three years to investigate the effects of different commercially available biostimulants on nutrient availability, soil health and crop yields. This research will be conducted across soil types, environments, precipitation zones and cropping systems. The impact of biostimulants on profitability compared to conventional nutrient management practices will be quantified. Findings of the study will identify site-specific conditions (crops and soil type) for the best performance of these products. Results of the study will help farmers select the most cost effective biostimulants and provide recommendations on fertilizer and biostimulant use. Applying biostimulants, if effective, could reduce fertilizer amounts applied, add carbon to degraded dryland soils, build soil microbial community to potentially increase soil health, nutrient cycling and fertilizer use efficiency and crop productivity. In addition, enhancing fertilizer use efficiency with biostimulants could potentially decrease nutrient loss and adverse effects to the environment. The above outcomes have potential to increase the sustainability and profitability of dryland crop production, and reduce environmental impacts associated with fertilizer use, while building soil health, which are consistent with the broad-based outcomes of the NCR-SARE grant program.

Objectives include: i) review available biostimulants in the market and document suggested field use, ii) conduct field research to quantify efficacy of biostimulants to improve soil health and crop yields, iii) conduct economic analysis to quantify profitability of biostimulants in dryland grain crop production. At completion of the study, we anticipate a significant increase in farmer knowledge and understanding regarding commercial biostimulants types, when, where and how to apply these products to improve crop productivity and soil health. This project will provide needed information on economic benefit of biostimulants as a soil and nutrient management strategy in no-till dryland systems.