How to set up on-farm crop trials testing microbial inoculants

Author: Will Sibly

Problem: There is increasing awareness of the environmentally harmful effects of artificial fertilizers used in crop production across Europe and beyond. On top of that, recent disruptions in global supply chains have led to dramatic increases in the price of manufactured fertilizers, making them less financially attractive to farmers. Growers are seeking more cost-effective and environmentally beneficial solutions to improve soil fertility, water and nutrient use efficiency, to ultimately build resilience through improving and maintaining quality of agricultural soils. Furthermore, the threat that climate change is posing to crop yield stability is increasing each year, with multiple abiotic and biotic stresses affecting crops with increasing frequency.

Solution: Microbial inoculants (MI) are soil amendments containing beneficial microorganisms, able to promote crop health and growth. A wide range of MI products are available commercially, presented as inputs for crop production that increase soil fertility and nutrient accessibility in crops. MI can be easily applied to soils, seeds and crop roots, and are cheaper than more resource-intensive inputs. Furthermore, the contents of MI are biological and free from chemical products, lowering their environmental impact in contrast to manufactured nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilisers. The effects of MI on soil and crop health can vary depending on local environmental conditions and management. This means it is a good idea to test any products on-farm to determine if they will provide a benefit at a given location. Aimed at farmers, advisors and researchers thinking of carrying out their own on-farm trials testing MI, this practice abstract provides guidance to design trials that assess their impacts as a natural method to increase soil fertility, soil health and crop growth.

zenodo.org: How to set up on-farm crop trials testing microbial inoculants