Climate-smart agricultural programs, often referred to as regenerative programs, are gaining momentum through various methods like carbon capture, no-till, cover cropping, biologicals and other greenhouse-gas-reducing practices. But selecting a program can be challenging because many often require a shift in management practices. That involves greater degrees of intensity, investment or financial risk – leaving farm managers feeling exposed and apprehensive. But not all programs and practices need to be that way.
Bio-enhanced fertilizers, are a first step toward a more-regenerative farm because they often require minimal investment and little or no changes to current farm management practices. That makes a new product easier to implement.
Some bio-enhanced fertilizers are an opportunity for growers to mitigate the risk of other more-intensive transitional regenerative practices. Cover-cropping is generally understood to be good for long-term soil health and biodiversity. But the potential risk of short-term yield loss can be prohibitive enough to keep farmers from taking the leap. A recent study conducted by Iowa State University suggests that bio-enhanced fertilizer helped reduce the impact of yield loss in a first-year cover-crop system. That will be an on-going area of study but certainly suggests that bio-enhanced fertilizers can be a valuable tool for overcoming challenges associated with the adoption of innovative farming practices.
Bio-enhanced fertilizers, specifically those using endophytic microbes, help enable the release of bound nutrients from the soil. That improves the efficiency of fertilizer applications and optimizes yield potential by improved nutrient uptake. With variable input prices squeezing profit margins, it’s an obvious win when farmers can make more-efficient use of fertilizer-input investments.
It's noteworthy that increasing production efficiency, without a corresponding increase in inputs and cultivation area, plays a pivotal role in reducing the carbon intensity per bushel of grain produced. And enhanced nutrient-use efficiency, especially in nitrogen fertilizers, can also result in reducing nutrient loss to unproductive pathways. That has the potential to mitigate soil nitrous-oxide emissions, an extremely potent greenhouse gas with an equivalency of 298 times that of carbon dioxide. Therefore even slight reductions in nitrous-oxide emissions can significantly impact the overall carbon-intensity score of a farm operation.
With the correct biological-fertilizer enhancement there can be flexibility in reducing the rate of fertilizer required while still meeting existing yield goals. That has an even-bigger impact on carbon-emissions reduction, volatilization and farm economics.
Choose enhancements carefully
Fertilizer companies around the globe are refining traditional fertilizer-product lines with new products enhanced with biological microorganisms. But not all bio-enhancements are created equally. Some on the market don’t meet product claims so it’s important to do some research. Select a product with a proven track record that has been tested under various growing conditions – conditions that span a variety of environments, climates, soil types and management practices. Ask questions about the company’s research program and remember that consistency is king. Products that are proven to help growers achieve better production per acre consistently and economically will be the most effective for sustainability in the long term.
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Reputable products are tested using replicated commercial-development trials and on-farm demonstration trials.
• Replicated commercial-development trials are conducted by independent third-party research organizations to provide replicated data.
• On-farm demo trials are conducted to ensure that research data translates to a similar impact on actual production farms.
A single split-field trial is not sufficient to prove whether a product, program or practice change will perform consistently enough to meet an individual farm’s needs. Examining data from both methods is necessary to assess, compare and validate results for real-world farm-management systems.
Look for a natural and safe non-genetically modified product that can be coated onto dry fertilizers or mixed with liquid fertilizers. Choose one with data-supported compatibility and stability for the relevant supply chain. The correct biological should complement a farm’s standard practices and enhance crop production – not replace proven current practices. That enables a producer to implement a program seamlessly without incurring additional risk or investments in infrastructure.
Choose practices carefully
Beyond applying any one biological organism, it’s important to consider how fertilizers interact with bio-enhancements to both improve yield potential and sustainability. Look for brands that empower farmers to do what works best for their land and operations.
It’s great when a producer can find a program that rewards him or her for the sustainability measures already in place – not just for a new practice. That may give a producer the opportunity to stack practices such as using a bio-enhanced fertilizer in combination with a cover-crop program.
Agricultural sustainability initiatives should be easy-to-use, consistently beneficial, have a balanced cost of implementation with incentives and – above all – demonstrate profitability for the farmer.
Visit www.biowishtechnologies.com for more information.
Ronaldo Knychala is a senior carbon-field-activities manager with BiOWiSH Technologies. He’s a seasoned agronomist with more than 14 years of international experience in agronomy field operations across various crops and environments. During the past five years he’s specialized in sustainable agriculture and carbon markets, actively working to advance sustainable practices and explore new opportunities. Visit www.biowishtechnologies.com for more information.