LIFE GOES ON IN LEVEL 3 - Inta-Ag
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LIFE GOES ON
IN LEVEL 3
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WWW.INTA-AG.CO.NZ MAY 2020
ARTICLE
JEREMY CLARKSON OPENS FARM
SHOP AHEAD OF NEW TV SERIES
FARMERS WEEKLY UK - FEBRUARY 2020 Locals snapped up “good exercise” chicken eggs, “mildly
organic” horseradish, apple juice “without the rubbish” and
potatoes at £1.02 per 2kg, which a sign said were “less than
TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson
Aldi”.
has opened the doors to his new
farm shop, selling “guaranteed Mr Clarkson chatted to visitors outside his shop, where
he raffled off water in yellow bottles and handed out cider
non-organic” food grown on his farm. donated by Blur’s Alex James.
Mr Clarkson welcomed the public to his 404ha farm in
LOCAL PRODUCE
Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, on Saturday 22 February for
Liam Walker, a local county councillor, said: “It was great
the grand opening of the Squat Shop, named after his farm,
to see Jeremy opening his new farm shop here in west
Diddly Squat. Oxfordshire, where he plans to stock local produce.
Ahead of the opening, Mr Clarkson, 59, boasted on his “The agricultural industry is really important to us here and
Instagram page his shop “will put the supermarkets out of I’m hoping his new Amazon Prime documentary on buying
business. Bye, bye Aldi!” a farm will help to encourage more people to buy local
produce and raise the profile of farming among an audience
Writing on his Twitter page, he said the farm shop would be who wouldn’t normally be engaged. I wish him every success
unheated and meat-free and only sell produce grown on his in this new venture.”
farm.
Mr Clarkson has admitted to challenges running the farm
More than 100 customers turned up for the opening and The for more than a year as part of a forthcoming Amazon Prime
Grand Tour presenter later apologised for the “nightmare” show, which has the working title I Bought The Farm and is
muddy conditions of the makeshift car park. due to air later this year.fungicide”.
02 WWW.INTA-AG.CO.NZ
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03 WWW.INTA-AG.CO.NZ
ARTICLE
BUSTING MYTHS
LEADING THE WAY TO UNCOVER THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF EATING POTATOES
Potato Grower | March 2020 Findings from APRE studies are beginning to refute
Alliance for Potato Research and Education misinformed perspectives on potato health benefits
By Mitch Kanter, Chief Science Officer held by some researchers and influencers.
Potatoes are a nutritional powerhouse providing an excellent benefits as commercial products. There are currently six
source of vitamin C and potassium. In fact, compared to many APRE-funded studies dedicated to this area under way, and
other popular fruits and vegetables, potatoes provide the one publication available. Results from that study showed that
best nutritional value per dollar in the produce aisle. Even so, potatoes can be as effective as sports gels, and better than
potatoes continue to be mischaracterized and misrepresented consuming water only, for endurance during a timed cycling
among vocal researchers and influencers, with dated trial. Future studies will investigate other components of
assumptions largely supported by observational research. potatoes and their impact on sports performance.
Unlike controlled trials, which investigate a specific cause Another novel area of exploration focuses on a unique type
(i.e., eating potatoes) and effect (i.e., heart health)-usually of carbohydrate found in potatoes: a fiber-like compound
over a shorter time period-observational studies investigate called resistant starch. While all potatoes contain some
resistant starch, heating then cooling potatoes before
general associations between behaviors (food intake, exercise,
eating significantly increases the amount of resistant starch
lifestyle) and outcomes over a longer period. Cause and
present. As its name implies, resistant starch is not fully
effect cannot be determined via observational evidence
digested in the gut and is associated with myriad benefits,
alone. However, when it is contextualized with controlled
including supporting a healthy gut microbiome, helping to
trials, stronger links between potato consumption and
manage body weight by keeping people fuller for longer,
health outcomes can be uncovered. To help build a stronger
and supporting normal blood sugar control. Most studies
foundation of scientific knowledge and challenge these
use resistant starch extracted from corn and other grain
misinformed potato health perceptions, the Alliance for Potato
sources like oats and beans. To better identify the benefits
Research and Education
of potatoes’ unique resista.nt starch profile, APRE is currently
(APRE) was founded in 2011. funding four studies (three human, one animal), two of which
APRE is a not-for-profit organization comprised of U.S. have been published. Findings from these studies show that
and Canadian potato growers and processors dedicated resistant starch from potatoes could help curb adverse health
to advancing the scientific understanding of the role white issues associated with high-fat meals and improve the body’s
potatoes play in promoting the health of all people. While response to blood sugar immediately after a meal.
adhering to strict research integrity guidelines, APRE has Beyond revealing potatoes as a source of quality
invested more than $4.5 million in research grants, resulting carbohydrates that can have a positive impact on health,
in 30 studies and six publications to date. Findings from the findings can also identify new
six published studies are beginning to refute misinformed ways to use and market potatoes. Moreo1er, APRE’s research
perspectives on potato health benefits. program can catalyze exploration around specific potato
ingredientslike resistant starch and potato carbohydrates
NEW FINDINGS, NEW APPLICATIONS and protein-for use in product formulations as a novel way to
While most of the APRE-funded research develop healthier, more nutritious foods and supplements.
is still being conducted, recent findings are beginning to We encourage the potato industry to use these studies in
show new applications and uses for potatoes, specifically for marketing and promotions
athletes looking for a whole food fuel source, and people to learn more and to get engaged and. All studies mentioned
trying to better control their blood sugar through diet. in this article can be found on www.apre.clrg. You’ll also find
It’s accepted that optimal physical performance requires more information on potato nutrition and the APRE research
high-quality, nutrientdense carbohydrates and proteins. While program, and be able to sign up for our newsletter to keep
there are many commercial, processed products available for updated on the latest research on potatoes. If you would like
athletes, APRE is investigating whether potatoes, a whole-food to learn more about how you can support APRE research,
source of carbohydrates, can have the same performance send an email to info@apre.org.
04 WWW.INTA-AG.CO.NZ
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05 WWW.INTA-AG.CO.NZ
ARTICLE
GRAY AREA
RHIZOCTONIA DISEASE IN POTATO MAY BE MORE COMPLICATED THAN YOU THINK.
Potato Grower Magazine | March 2020 As the tuber expands, the dark lesion infecting brassicas to hops. AG2-l
By James Woodhall, breaks up and the darker, affected isolates can vary in their aggressiveness
University of Idaho Extension tuber areas spread out, resulting in the to stems, sometimes causing more
Plant Pathologist localized darker russeting. Sometimes, if severe stem infection than AG3-PT, but
that initial infection site was severe and with some isolates causing very minor
Rhizoctonia is a fungus that can cause deep enough, it can result in a crack or lesions. It tends not to be a prolific
a wide range of symptoms in potatoes
fissure as the tuber expands. producer of sclerotia on tubers.
both in the tubers and the growing
Infection of the stems is typically AGs of Rhizoctonia typically
plant. Most people may be familiar with
referred to as stem canker. These are associated with sugarbeets, AG2-2 IIIB
it in tubers as the “dirt that doesn’t wash
sunken brown lesions that can appear and AG4 HGII, can also cause moderate
off or black scurf. It can also cause
on sprouts as they are emerging. stem canker in potato, but in glass
a symptom called “elephant hide” in
tubers as well as cracks and deformities. Infection can progress over the house experiments did not cause black
In the growing plant, the fungus can season, and sometimes the lesions can scurf. Interestingly, there is a strain
infect stems (stem canker), stolons and coalesce, effectively girdling the stem of Rhizoctonia that affects wheat and
roots. Overall, this fungus can cause and resulting in stem death. The stolons barley (AGS) that when inoculated onto
marketable yield losses of up to 30 can also be affected in a similar way, potatoes exclusively infected only the.
percent and can be difficult to manage, resulting in fewer potatoes (although In field trials this strain caused yield
as it can survive in both soil and seed. yield by weight is not affected, since losses approaching 30 percent, thereby
Effective management is further those potatoes that are produced are highlighting the importance of root
complicated because the fungus exists typically larger). The fungus can also health on yield.
as a “species complex” with different infect roots, causing darker, shorter Management of the disease should
strains known as anastomosis groups
roots and having a direct relationship start with Rhizoctonia-free seed.
(AGs), each of which can cause slightly
with yield losses. Many labs offer a visual assessment
different symptoms and have its own
The most important strain, or AG, for Rhizoctonia on seed tubers, but
host ranges and biology.
is Rhizoctonia solani AG3-PT. This molecular tests are also available.
The most familiar symptom, black
can cause considerable black scurf, Although effective seed treatments are
scurf, is caused by the development
aggressive stem and stolon cankers, available, seed severely infested with
of a fungal survival structure known as
sclerotia on the surface of the tuber. moderate root disease and elephant Rhizoctonia should be avoided.
Such sclerotia not only reduce tuber hide. The elephant hide symptoms that In-furrow treatments can be
quality, but are important in seed AG3-PT causes tends to be darker and also effective but will not eradicate
tubers as they can initiate disease in the possibly less scaly than that caused the-fungus from fields. Five-year
subsequent crop. but other strains such as AG2-l and rotations are recommended if possible,
Black scurf is not, however, the binucleate Rhizctonia although this may not help when there
only symptom that appears on tubers. (BNR) species. Although AG3-PT has are high levels of Rhizoctonia AGs that
Sometimes elephant hide-a thick been recovered from some cereal crops, infect other crops present in the soil. In
russeting, scaly or corky symptom-can it tends to struggle to survive in soil this instance it may be useful for a lab
be observed on tubers. Elephant compared to other AGs. However, it is to confirm the AG present if significant
hide can be localized or scattered
a prolific producer of black scurf; as disease is observed. Several labs in the
throughout the tuber and sometimes
AG3-PT sclerotia adhere to seed tubers, Pacific Northwest can test the soil for
is associated with cracks or other
the pathogen can survive and spread. various AGs prior to planting, which
deformities. Symptoms referred to
It survives poorly as the elephant hide could provide useful information if there
as elephant hide have also been
symptom. Although the fungus has is a persistent problem. Work funded
associated with other pathogens and
abiotic causes. However, it has been been isolated from elephant hide on by the Northwest Potato Research
confirmed that several strains of freshly dug tubers, after 12 weeks in Consortium is currently underway
Rhizoctonia can cause elephant hide cold storage it is almost impossible to to further characterize the strains
symptoms. These symptoms result from recover Rhizoctonia from elephant hide. present in the region and inorease
the fungus infecting tubers very early in The AG2-l has also been detected in our understanding of this complicated
the season-just after initiation. Idaho. This strain has a wide host range fungus.
06 WWW.INTA-AG.CO.NZ
INTRODUCING
POTATO PARTNERS IN ASSOCIATION WITH
POTATO PARTNERS – WHAT IS IT? SIGN UP TO POTATO PARTNERS TODAY!
• Potato Partners is a technical support programme for It’s FREE to become a Potato Partner.
Syngenta potato products, to help you get the best Be first to hear what’s new from us for potatoes.
possible results. Sign up TODAY and receive a FREE thermos bottle!
• Potato Partners = Products + Innovation + Support Refer to one of the Inta-Ag team to join
INTA-AG IN ASSOCIATION WITH SYNGENTA
WANT TO INVITE YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN
THE 2020 YIELD COMPETITION
RULES:
You must be a Potato Partner member (see an Inta-Ag staff member to join)
Grower must nominate paddock before planting
Paddock will be GPS’s and flagged as being part of the competition
At any point the grower can have the yield assessed by Staphyt
Competition date is 1st August to 1st March 2021
CONTACT ONE OF THE INTA-AG TEAM TO JOIN TODAY
07 WWW.INTA-AG.CO.NZ
INTRODUCING THE
BIOSTART RANGE
AVAILABLE AT INTA-AG
Digester
Technical Sheet Foliacin Potatoes
Foliacin Trial Sheet
Technical Sheet Vegetables, cover crops
Technical Sheet Increase Potato Yield
and general crop trash
Vegetables Vegetables with BioStart Products
BioStart Digester is a soil microbial stimulator that activates those beneficial, naturally occurring bacteria and fungi in your
soil responsible for decomposition.
Benefits of using Digester Figure 1. Impact of
HowDigester on Oat Stubble
it works
Applying the foliar biostimulant Foliacin
Digesterto the foliage
returns of plants
organic matter improves
to the soilApplying
overall
the plant
by promoting foliar health,
biostimulant Foliacin to the foliage of plants improves overall plant health,
Biostart Mycorrcin is a soil biostimulant that activates This demonstrates that Mycorrcin is an effective and robust
growth and resilience particularlythe
in times of plant of
rapid breakdown stress. growth
leaf litter, cover crops, andand
old roots resilience particularlybeneficial
in timesmicrobes
of plantinstress.
your soil, stimulating healthy root soil biostimulant in multiple geographical locations, soils and
post-harvest crop trash in horticultural crops. growth and development leading to enhanced nutrient for a range of different potato varieties.
Applied directly on to The crop trash, Digester activates the Foliacin work? uptake and better crop establishment.
How does Foliacin work? benefits ofHow
using does
Foliacin: The benefits of using Foliacin: 2. Reduces Amount of Rejects
decomposition microbes already present in the soil. For Biostart Foliacin is a foliar-applied plant health stimulant
Foliacin contains a mixture of fermentation extracts • Improves plant healthFoliacin contains a mixture of fermentation extracts • Improves plant health a) Auckland Trial: The increase in marketable potato yield
vegetable and cover crops, breaking down crop trash makes that helps plants to withstand environmental stress. was due in part to a decrease in reject weight from 11.3% of
of beneficial bacteria, as well as a range of itother plant
easier • Improves
to prepare seedbeds, plant
reduces of beneficial
growth
blockages of seedbacteria, as well as a range of other plant • Improves plant growth
biostimulants and nutrients, including amino acids, Potato Trials • Improves recovery from periods of environmental total yield to 7.9 of total yield.
drills and proteins, • Improves
improves accurate recovery
seed placement. biostimulants
from periods
Digester, and
by of nutrients, including
environmental stressamino acids, proteins, stress
seaweed extracts and trace elements. seaweed extracts and trace elements.
fungal spray stress UntreatedTrials show that Mycorrcin, of Foliacin b) Pukekohe Trial: Their were fewer rejected potatoes from
efficiently decomposing • the crop residue
Improves thatfrom
recovery many chemical Digester 4orL/ha
• Improves a combination
recovery from chemical spray stress
and bacterial pathogens and Mycorrcin: the Mycorrcin and Foliacin-treated crop at 9.1 T/ha, which
Foliacin has two modes of action: • survive
Aids in on between
green crops,has
leafFoliacin
retention reduces
twooptimising
and modes of action: • Aids in green leaf retention and optimising was 12% of total harvest compared to the untreated crop (9.1
1. It activates the beneficial microbes livingdisease
on thepressure
leaf’s on consequent crops. potential
photosynthetic 1. It activates the beneficial microbes living photosynthetic potential
1. Digester
Figure 2. Effect of Increased
on the leaf’s yield
on Oat Stubble Breakdown T/ha; 14% of total harvest).
surfaces (biofilm) which enhances the plant’s
Trialsresilience
show that Digester: surfaces (biofilm) which enhances the plant’s eightresilience
In Pukekekohe
trials, 2019
conducted in commercial potato crops, the
especially after fungicide application. especially after fungicide application. application of Mycorrcin, either as a single application
1. Enhances the Breakdown Direction of Cover
for Crops
use 1000
in-furrow at planting (8 L/ha) Direction for use
or split application (5 L/ha at
2. It stimulates the plant’s systems that promote plant 2. It stimulates the plant’s systems that promote plant
Cover crops are used by growers to build
• Foliacin canupbesoil organic with most crop
co-applied planting and 3 L/ha at mounding) • Foliacinlifted marketable
can potato
be co-applied with most crop
health and growth, as well as green leaf retention, which health and growth, as well
800 as green leaf retention, which
matter. One of their issues is getting the cover crop residue yield on average by 7.5 T/ha or 11% (range 6 – 16%).
enables greater levels of photosynthesis. Enhanced protection and/or nutritional
enables greaterspray applications.
levels of photosynthesis. Enhanced protection and/or nutritional spray applications.
Residual Stubble (kg/ha)
broken down before the next seedbed needs to be prepared. 600 The trials were conducted over multiple seasons in the
plant health ensures heightened plant resilience and plant health ensures
• For best results spray early morning, early heightened plant resilience and • For
major potato growing regions ofbest
Newresults
Zealand,spray early morning, early
including
continued growth even during periodsAoftrial was conducted in May 2019, where an Auckland
environmental continued
evening or in overcast conditions.growth even during periods of
856 environmental -65%
evening
commercial oat cover crop was sprayed with glyphosate. 400 Canterbury, Pukekohe, ** Hawkes Bay ororOhakune.
in overcast
Theconditions.
or chemical stress. or chemical stress. 3. Improved Crop Returns
Half of the cover crop was sprayed with just glyphosate, and varieties used in the trials included Agria, Innovator and
200
Russet Burbank. Across the eight trials the application of Mycorrcin
the other half with a mixture of glyphosate and Digester, 294 increased gross profits per hectare by $2,075/ha (assuming a
with the Digester added at a rate of 4 L/ha. After six weeks 0
Figure 1. Effect of Mycorrcin on Increasing Potato Yield $300/T price for marketable potatoes).
Crop Timing there was an obvious visual difference in theCrop
Programme paddock (Figure Timing
Untreated
Programme
Digester 4 L/ha
1). For each treatment area, several plots were assessed 18%
Variety Region
Yield Increase Gross Margin
for residual oat trash, and the addition of Digester to the 16% (T/ha) Increase
FigureEarly3. Microscopic
growth/first14%view of Impact of Digester
Yield Increase Over Standard (%)
Early growth/first
glyphosate 0.5 application
L/ha in a minimum of 200stubble
had increased L/ha of breakdown
water with cropby protection and/or 0.5 L/ha in a minimum of 200 L/ha of water with crop protection and/or Canterbury
Russet Burbank 10 $2,714
Vegetables including cover spray through Vegetables including on Oatcover Stubble
spray through
to harvest 65% (P < nutritional
0.01) spray
thereby applications.
improving the Re-apply
incorporationevery
of 10–14
the days. to harvest
12% nutritional spray applications. Re-apply every 10–14 days.
Agria Pukekohe 6 $1,664
potatoes, onions, potatoes,
trash into the soil (Figure 2). Observation of the treated oat onions, 10%
brassicas, lettuce, trash by microscope showed that it was more brassicas, lettuce,
broken down 8% 16% Agria Hawkes Bay 8 $2,114
15%
squash, carrots and After periods(Figure 3) and fibrous with a higher level of squash, carrots and
saprophytic After periods 6% 13% Innovator Hawkes Bay 4 $1,184
of stress such of stress such 10% 11%
1 L/ha in a minimum of 200 L/ha ofsweetcorn
water withofcrop
theprotection and/or 4% 1 L/ha in a minimum of 200 L/ha of water with crop protection and/or
sweetcorn as drought, fungi present on the stubble. Microbiological analysis as drought, 6% 7% Agria Ohakune 9 $2,444
extreme heatcrop nutritional
or residue showedspray applications.
it had higher levelsRe-apply every yeast
of beneficial 10–14 days. extreme heat or 2% nutritional spray applications. Re-apply every 10–14 days.Agria Pukekohe 6 $1,631
phytotoxicityspecies on the treated samples. phytotoxicity 0%
Canterbury Pukekohe Hawkes Hawkes Ohakune Pukekohe Pukekohe
2019 2019 Bay 2019 Bay 2018 2009 2009 2007 Agria Pukekohe 10 $2,774
This study demonstrates that the application of Digester
Untreated Digester 4 L/ha
with glyphosate enhances the breakdown of a cover crop.
Biostart New Zealand 0800 116 229 biostart.co.nz | Biostart Australia 1800 359
Biostart New559 biostart.com.au
Zealand 0800 116 229Biostart
biostart.co.nz
New Zealand 0800Australia
| Biostart 116 229 biostart.co.nz
1800 359 559 biostart.com.au
| Biostart Australia 1800 359 559 biostart.com.au
SCROLL TO READ
45 Kitchener Road, Pukekohe
09 237 0430
Foliacin
Technical Sheet
Vegetables
Applying the foliar biostimulant Foliacin to the foliage of plants improves overall plant health,
growth and resilience particularly in times of plant stress.
How does Foliacin work? The benefits of using Foliacin:
Foliacin contains a mixture of fermentation extracts • Improves plant health
of beneficial bacteria, as well as a range of other plant • Improves plant growth
biostimulants and nutrients, including amino acids, proteins, • Improves recovery from periods of environmental stress
seaweed extracts and trace elements. • Improves recovery from chemical spray stress
Foliacin has two modes of action: • Aids in green leaf retention and optimising
1. It activates the beneficial microbes living on the leaf’s photosynthetic potential
surfaces (biofilm) which enhances the plant’s resilience
especially after fungicide application.
2. It stimulates the plant’s systems that promote plant Direction for use
health and growth, as well as green leaf retention, which • Foliacin can be co-applied with most crop
enables greater levels of photosynthesis. Enhanced protection and/or nutritional spray applications.
plant health ensures heightened plant resilience and • For best results spray early morning, early
continued growth even during periods of environmental evening or in overcast conditions.
or chemical stress.
Crop Timing Programme
Early growth/first 0.5 L/ha in a minimum of 200 L/ha of water with crop protection and/or
Vegetables including cover spray through
to harvest nutritional spray applications. Re-apply every 10–14 days.
potatoes, onions,
brassicas, lettuce,
squash, carrots and After periods
of stress such 1 L/ha in a minimum of 200 L/ha of water with crop protection and/or
sweetcorn as drought,
extreme heat or nutritional spray applications. Re-apply every 10–14 days.
phytotoxicity
Biostart New Zealand 0800 116 229 biostart.co.nz | Biostart Australia 1800 359 559 biostart.com.au
BIOSTART WWW.INTA-AG.CO.NZ
Digester
Technical Sheet
Vegetables, cover crops
and general crop trash
BioStart Digester is a soil microbial stimulator that activates those beneficial, naturally occurring bacteria and fungi in your
soil responsible for decomposition.
Benefits of using Digester Figure 1. Impact of Digester on Oat Stubble
Digester returns organic matter to the soil by promoting
the rapid breakdown of leaf litter, cover crops, old roots and
post-harvest crop trash in horticultural crops.
Applied directly on to crop trash, Digester activates the
decomposition microbes already present in the soil. For
vegetable and cover crops, breaking down crop trash makes
it easier to prepare seedbeds, reduces blockages of seed
drills and improves accurate seed placement. Digester, by
efficiently decomposing the crop residue that many fungal Untreated Digester 4 L/ha
and bacterial pathogens survive on between crops, reduces
disease pressure on consequent crops.
Figure 2. Effect of Digester on Oat Stubble Breakdown
Trials show that Digester: Pukekekohe 2019
1. Enhances the Breakdown of Cover Crops 1000
Cover crops are used by growers to build up soil organic
800
matter. One of their issues is getting the cover crop residue
Residual Stubble (kg/ha)
broken down before the next seedbed needs to be prepared. 600
A trial was conducted in May 2019, where an Auckland -65%
400 856 **
commercial oat cover crop was sprayed with glyphosate.
Half of the cover crop was sprayed with just glyphosate, and
200
the other half with a mixture of glyphosate and Digester, 294
with the Digester added at a rate of 4 L/ha. After six weeks 0
there was an obvious visual difference in the paddock (Figure Untreated Digester 4 L/ha
1). For each treatment area, several plots were assessed
for residual oat trash, and the addition of Digester to the
Figure 3. Microscopic view of Impact of Digester
glyphosate application had increased stubble breakdown by
on Oat Stubble
65% (P < 0.01) thereby improving the incorporation of the
trash into the soil (Figure 2). Observation of the treated oat
trash by microscope showed that it was more broken down
(Figure 3) and fibrous with a higher level of saprophytic
fungi present on the stubble. Microbiological analysis of the
crop residue showed it had higher levels of beneficial yeast
species on the treated samples.
This study demonstrates that the application of Digester
Untreated Digester 4 L/ha
with glyphosate enhances the breakdown of a cover crop.
BIOSTART WWW.INTA-AG.CO.NZ2. Improves Asparagus Crop Trash Breakdown Figure 4. Effect of Digester on breakdown of
The application of Digester has been shown to enhance asparagus trash in autumn
asparagus crop trash breakdown. Asparagus crops require
their vegetative spears to break down during the autumn/
Before Discing and Digester Application
winter period. In a recent trial, Digester was applied at 4 L/
ha to asparagus crop trash before being incorporated into
the soil. Five weeks afterwards the asparagus crop trash in
the treated area was more decomposed than the untreated
area (Figure 4). The breakdown of this crop trash will benefit
the yield of asparagus in the following spring.
3. Breakdown of Maize Crop Trash Improves Yield
After the harvest of maize grain cropsv, significant levels
of crop residue remain, often more than 10-12 T/ha. Crop
trash remaining in spring ties up soil nitrogen, inhibiting the
growth and germination of the next crop. Therefore, it is
important that all maize crop trash is broken down quickly
over winter, prior to spring planting.
In continued maize cropping, Digester has been shown 35 Days After Application
to improve the breakdown of maize crop trash thereby
increasing the yield of the next maize crop. In two successive
trials Digester was applied at 4 L/ha in July directly on to
crop trash from a commercial maize crop in a Bay of Plenty
where the paddock was re-sown in maize in the following
November and yield was observed for both treated and
untreated paddocks. In year 1 of the trial, application of
Digester increased grain yield by 12% (1.4 MT/ha; Fig 5a), and
in the subsequent year, Digester increased grain yield by 8%
(1.1 MT/ha; Fig 5b).
The rapid breakdown of maize crop trash by Digester Untreated 4 L/ha Digester
benefited the yield of the following crop.
Figure 5a. Maize Grain Yield (T/ha) 2012 Figure 5b. Maize Grain Yield (T/ha) 2013
13 15
14
12
Grain Yield (T/ha)
Grain Yield (T/ha)
13
14.5
12.9
12
11 13.4
11.5 11
10 10
Standard Digester Standard Digester
Biostart New Zealand 0800 116 229 biostart.co.nz | Biostart Australia 1800 359 559 biostart.com.au
WWW.INTA-AG.CO.NZPotatoes
Trial Sheet
Increase Potato Yield
with BioStart Products
How it works
Biostart Mycorrcin is a soil biostimulant that activates This demonstrates that Mycorrcin is an effective and robust
beneficial microbes in your soil, stimulating healthy root soil biostimulant in multiple geographical locations, soils and
growth and development leading to enhanced nutrient for a range of different potato varieties.
uptake and better crop establishment.
2. Reduces Amount of Rejects
Biostart Foliacin is a foliar-applied plant health stimulant a) Auckland Trial: The increase in marketable potato yield
that helps plants to withstand environmental stress. was due in part to a decrease in reject weight from 11.3% of
Potato Trials total yield to 7.9 of total yield.
Trials show that Mycorrcin, or a combination of Foliacin b) Pukekohe Trial: Their were fewer rejected potatoes from
and Mycorrcin: the Mycorrcin and Foliacin-treated crop at 9.1 T/ha, which
was 12% of total harvest compared to the untreated crop (9.1
1. Increased yield T/ha; 14% of total harvest).
In eight trials, conducted in commercial potato crops, the
application of Mycorrcin, either as a single application
in-furrow at planting (8 L/ha) or split application (5 L/ha at
planting and 3 L/ha at mounding) lifted marketable potato
yield on average by 7.5 T/ha or 11% (range 6 – 16%).
The trials were conducted over multiple seasons in the
major potato growing regions of New Zealand, including
Canterbury, Pukekohe, Hawkes Bay or Ohakune. The
3. Improved Crop Returns
varieties used in the trials included Agria, Innovator and
Russet Burbank. Across the eight trials the application of Mycorrcin
increased gross profits per hectare by $2,075/ha (assuming a
Figure 1. Effect of Mycorrcin on Increasing Potato Yield $300/T price for marketable potatoes).
18% Yield Increase Gross Margin
Variety Region
16% (T/ha) Increase
Yield Increase Over Standard (%)
14% Russet Burbank Canterbury 10 $2,714
12%
Agria Pukekohe 6 $1,664
10%
8% 16% Agria Hawkes Bay 8 $2,114
15%
6% 13% Innovator Hawkes Bay 4 $1,184
10% 11%
4%
6% 7% Agria Ohakune 9 $2,444
2%
0%
Agria Pukekohe 6 $1,631
Canterbury Pukekohe Hawkes Hawkes Ohakune Pukekohe Pukekohe
2019 2019 Bay 2019 Bay 2018 2009 2009 2007 Agria Pukekohe 10 $2,774
Biostart New Zealand 0800 116 229 biostart.co.nz | Biostart Australia 1800 359 559 biostart.com.au
BIOSTART WWW.INTA-AG.CO.NZBroccoli
Trial Sheet
Increasing Broccoli Yield
with BioStart Products
How it works
Biostart Mycorrcin is a soil biostimulant that activates
beneficial soil microbes, which stimulates healthy root
growth and development leading to enhanced nutrient
uptake and better crop establishment.
Biostart Foliacin is a foliar-applied plant health stimulant
that helps plants to withstand environmental stress.
Broccoli Trial Results Mycorrcin
Trials showed that Mycorrcin and Foliacin reduced
transplantation shock, improved uniformity and increased
the percentage of marketable heads in commercial
broccoli crops.
Untreated
All trials were conducted on commercial broccoli crops in
Pukekohe, Auckland. All plants received the same standard
Figure 1a
fertiliser programme throughout the trial.
1. Improves broccoli plantlet
establishment
Broccoli plantlets were drenched
Untreated Mycorrcin with a 1:100 Mycorrcin solution in the
nursery four weeks prior to planting
and transplanted into a seed bed to
which 6 L/ha of Mycorrcin was applied
on the day of planting.
The Mycorrcin pre-soaked plantlets
developed larger roots and were
bigger and stronger in the nursery
(Figure 1a). The Mycorrcin-treated
plants also established more rapidly
in the field (Figure 1b) and this led to
both yield and head size benefits by
Figure 1b harvest time.
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BIOSTART WWW.INTA-AG.CO.NZ2. Improves broccoli head size Figure 2. Effect of Mycorrcin on Broccoli Head Size at harvest
Mycorrcin application in the nursery
Standard
(soaking trays in 1:100 Mycorrcin + 17 % Mycorrcin
120
solution) and to the seed bed (6 L/ha)
+ 18 %
increased broccoli head size at harvest. 110
In two independent trials Mycorrcin 100
Head Diameter (mm)
treatment statistically significantly
(P < 0.001) increased broccoli head 90
size by 17 and 18%, respectively (Figure 113 105
80
97
2), leading to an improved yield. The 89
increased broccoli head size would 70
have allowed an earlier harvest date. 60
Trial 1 Trial 2
In trial two, the number of total heads
harvested was increased from 83% for
Standard programme to 94% for the Figure 3. Effect of Mycorrcin and Foliacin on the Percentage of Broccoli Heads
Mycorrcin treated beds. Cut per Harvests
3. Decreases time to harvest 45
Standard
and increases yield 40
Mycorrcin & Foliacin
A commercial broccoli crop received 35
a full BioStart Programme through the 30
Heads Cut (% of crop)
growing season: Mycorrcin (soaking 25
44
trays in 1:100 Mycorrcin solution and 20
39
apply 6 L/ha to the seed bed) and three 15 33 30
26
foliar applications of Foliacin (1 L/ha). 10
At the first harvest, more of the
5 9
0
Mycorrcin and Foliacin treated plants Cut 1 Cut 2 Cut 3
were harvested in the first cut (33%
versus 9% of Standard crop), showing
that the BioStart programme improved Figure 4. Effect of Mycorrcin and Foliacin on Broccoli Head Diameter
the maturity and uniformity of the
crop (Figure 3). The head diameter
120
of the BioStart-treated broccoli was
26% larger than the standard plants 110
(Figure 4).
100
Head Size (mm)
The total heads harvested from the
90
Mycorrcin and Foliacin treated 112
plants was 98% of the planted crop, 80
compared to 83% of the Standard 89
70
Crop: an increase of 16%.
This provides a significant return to 60
Standard Mycorrcin & Foliacin
the grower.
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