5-year continuous trials of microbial products in Estonia

Baltic Agro is the leading distributor of agricultural inputs across the entire Baltic region (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia). As the market leader, they always strive to stay ahead of the market in terms of technology know-how. To that end, they frequently conduct multi-year trials to eliminate as many variables (weather conditions) and ensure the trial data is as reliable as possible. In this article we present Baltic Agro’s multiyear trial data of Nando’s microbial products.

In total Baltic Agro has set 3 trial locations for the purpose of testing Nando microbial products:

1. Perevara oü in Jõgevamaa, Estonia
2. Kuusiku testing center, Estonia
3. Laekvere pmü in Virumaa, Estonia

The products tested were:

1. BioSplito – straw decomposing microbial product.
2. BioSpektrum – nutrition and biostimulation focused microbial product.

Perevara oü in Jõgevamaa

The trials were started in 2019. Despite every season (in total 5) testing a different crop, the results remained consistent. Treatments tested were:

1. Control (standard technology)
2. Standard technology + BioSplito in autumn for decomposition (previous crop) + BioSpektrum in spring (current crop)

Each year significant improvements to harvest yield were observed, ranging between 4.62% and 46.24% (average 16.04%). After calculating the economical impact, the average increase in profits for the farmer was 131€ per hectare each year.

Kuusiku testing center

Similarly to the previous location, the trials date back to 2019. In total 4 different crops were tested and once again consistent results were achieved. Treatments tested were:

1. Control (standard technology)
2. Standard technology + BioSplito in autumn for decomposition (previous crop)
3. Standard technology + mixture of BioSplito in autumn (previous crop) and BioSpektrum (current crop) + BioSpektrum in spring (current crop).

Identically to the previous location, substantial improvements to the harvest yields were observed in both treatments. Since this location featured an additional treatment of BioSplito only, it captured perfectly the fertilization capabilities through straw decomposition alone – BioSplito singlehandedly improved the harvest yields by between 4.88% and 20.48% (average 14.08%). Nevertheless, the best results were achieved when BioSplito was used in combination with BioSpektrum – harvest yields increased from 11.86% to 26.51% (average 18.22%). After calculating the economical impact, the average increase in profits for the farmer was 162€ per hectare each year.

Laekvere pmü in Virumaa

After 3 years of successful results in the other 2 trial locations, a 3rd one was added. So far the trials featured 2 different crops. Treatments tested were:

1. Control (standard technology)
2. Standard technology + BioSplito in autumn for decomposition (previous crop) + BioSpektrum in spring (current crop)

Once again consistent results were achieved – Nando products were able to improve the harvest yields by 6.11% in the first year and 5.67% in the second (average 5.89%). After calculating the economical impact, the average increase in profits for the farmer was 182€ per hectare each year.

Conclusions

Nando products have shown consistent performance across 3 different locations over a course of 5 years with 5 different crops (winter wheat, winter and summer barley, field peas, winter rapeseed). Conducting the same trial in the same location for a number of consecutive years, decreases the impact of random variables such as varying weather conditions, which are often considered the biggest challenge in any agricultural product testing.