Small Plot Trials Update

By: Adam Guy | Agronomy Sales Representative

We have seen some surprising and interesting results in our small plot trials this growing season, especially in the biological/biostimulant studies. With more ideal weather conditions, I was surprised by the results we have collected so far. Usually, most biological products require some form of environmental stress to show positive results; however, several products have shown promising and exciting results without the presence of too many stressors.

Plot Preparation and Planting

Corn Trials

Prior to planting, the trial areas were laid out and flagged. Our corn foliar/in-furrow trial is a 20- by 130-foot plot, and our corn biological/biostimulant trial is a 20- by 100-foot plot. Both the foliar/in-furrow and biological/biostimulant trials were planted on May 11. Untreated controls were also planted for each trial.

In-Furrow Treatments

In-furrow treatments were applied at planting.
» 10-34-0 | 5 gallons per acre
» 10-34-0 with Zinc 9 | 1 quart per acre

Pre-Emergence Biological/Biostimulant Treatments

Hopper Throttle and EndoFight were applied at planting on May 11. Network and Bio 800+ were applied on May 13.
» Network | 2 quarts per acre
» Bio 800+ | .5 gallons per acre
» Hopper Throttle | Per Label
» EndoFight | Per Label

Foliar Treatments

Foliar products were applied on May 31 at the V3/early post-emergence stage.
» Radiate | 2.6 fluid ounces per acre
» Tachline Pro | 1 quart per acre
» Boron 10% | 1 quart per acre
» Potassium-19 | 1 quart per acre
» Radiate (2.6 fluid ounces per acre) with Tachline Pro (1 quart per acre)
» NanoPro (4 fluid ounces per acre) with Tachline Pro (1 quart per acre)
» TERRAMAR | 1 quart per acre

Post-Emergence Biological/Biostimulant Treatments

Corn biologicals/biostimulants were applied on May 31 at the V3/early post-emergence stage.
» Network | 1 quart per acre
» Katapult | 1 quart per acre
» Network (1 quart per acre) with Katapult (1 quart per acre)

Soybean Trials

Before planting, the trial areas were laid out and flagged. The soybean sulfur study is a 20- by 110-foot plot, and the soybean foliar/biological/biostimulant study is a 20- by 120-foot plot. Both trials were planted on May 18. Untreated controls were also planted for each trial.

Sulfur Treatments

Rates of 0, 10, 15, 20 and 30 pounds of sulfur were applied on April 13.

Pre-Emergence Biological Treatments

Pre-emergence biological products were applied at planting on May 18.
» Bio 800+ | .5 gallons per acre
» Hopper Throttle | Per Label
» EndoFight | Per Label

Foliar Treatments

The soybean foliar products were applied on June 14 at the V2 to V3 growth stage.
» Radiate | 2.6 fluid ounces per acre
» Tachline Pro | 1 quart per acre
» Zinc 9 | 1 quart per acre
» Radiate (2.6 fluid ounces per acre) with Tachline Pro (1 quart per acre)
» NanoPro (4 fluid ounces per acre) with Tachline Pro (1 quart per acre)

Post-Emergence Biological/Biostimulant Treatments

Post-emergence products were applied on June 14 at the V2 to V3 growth stage.
» Network | 1 quart per acre
» AF5Plus | 2 quarts per acre
» TERRAMAR | 1 quart per acre
» Network (1 quart per acre) with AF5Plus (2 quarts per acre)

Data Snapshots

We have collected quite a bit of data since planting, including vigor, emergence, root and shoot weights, and tissue tests. While we are working on summarizing yield performance, here are the early takeaways.

Corn Trials

Biological/Biostimulant Treatments

Early in the growing season, we were able to see some solid differences in the corn biological/biostimulant data. The first thing that comes to mind with these products is an increase in early season vigor and emergence. Network applied as a pre-emergence shined, showing a 33% increase in plant emergence and a full growth stage ahead of the other treatments.

Root and shoot weights were collected at the V1 and V6 growth stages. At the V1 root dig, all treatments applied at planting showed an average of a 40% increase over the untreated control.

At V6, both Network and EndoFight showed excellent differences in development compared to the control. Network (applied pre-emerge) had a 20% increase in shoot and root weight. EndoFight had a 13% increase in shoot weight and 3% increase in root weight.

During the V9 to V10 stage, tissue tests were performed. EndoFight (P = +8%, K = +22%), Bio 800+ (P = +24%, K = +25%) and pre-emerge applied Network (P = +21%, K = +19%) had an increase in P and K in the plant tissue compared to the control.

In-Furrow Treatments

For the in-furrow portion of the study, we tested the effect of 10-34-0 and 10-34-0 with Zinc on the emergence and development of the corn crop. Using a starter fertilizer showed an approximately 20% increase in corn crop emergence. At V6, roots and shoots were collected to see differences in growth and development. The addition of starter fertilizer did not show a significant increase in plant biomass.

Foliar Treatments

As for the foliar products, treatments containing Radiate did show a slight increase of 5% in both root and shoot weights. However, the addition of NanoPro, an adjuvant helping increase the intake of foliar products, to Tachline did show the highest increases in plant biomass with approximately an 8% increase.

Soybean Trials

Sulfur Treatments

A plant tissue test was taken at the R1 growth stage. Sulfur was applied at rates of 0 (untreated control), 10, 15, 20, and 30 pounds per acre via ATS. All treatments did show an increase in sulfur in the plant tissue compared to the untreated control; however, the rates above 15 pounds did not show a significant increase in sulfur. As of now, it looks like 15 pounds of sulfur is optimum, showing a 10% increase in sulfur uptake.

Biological/Biostimulant Treatments

Emergence scores were collected but no significant differences could be observed in the counts. At the V1 growth stage, good differences could be observed in the seed talc (Hopper Throttle and EndoFight) and Bio 800+ products. Both Hopper Throttle and Bio 800+ showed a 35% increase in root and shoot weight. EndoFight showed a 21% increase in plant biomass.

At V6, another root and shoot weight collection was done. Bio 800+ and TERRAMAR showed around a 30% increase in plant biomass. AF5Plus showed a 17% increase in shoot weight and 21% increase in root weight.

Foliar Treatments

No significant findings could be observed in the early season evaluations. This could be due to adequate rainfall, normal conditions leading to more uniform growth and cooler July temperatures during pollination.

To get full yield results, see your Stutsman agronomist or drop us your info here.