Organics: December Organics Update
Posted on December 12, 2022
Organics: 2022 Trial Results
As you are working to plan for 2023, I wanted to share some on-farm organic trial results performed by our customers. In these trials, three OMRI Listed® products were tested including PureStart® liquid fertilizer and Fulvic LQ™ from The Andersons, and Utrisha™ N from Corteva™. These trials were scattered throughout Indiana and covered different soil types and organic practices.
PureStart liquid fertilizer trials
PureStart liquid organic fertilizer is the first OMRI Listed liquid fertilizer specifically designed to be used as a high phosphorus row starter. Produced from steamed bone meal and other natural components, PureStart provides nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium for seedlings to encourage early, even emergence and maximum yield at harvest.
In this first trial and in the image below, the corn on the left received 5 gallons of PureStart in-furrow at planting, while the corn plants on the right did not.
The corn treated with PureStart yielded 5 bu/ac more and had an ROI of $12.50/acre over the untreated. It was noted this field went through some significant weather stress through the growing season.
| Treated | Untreated | |
| Harvest Date | 11/5/2022 | 11/5/2022 |
| Weight Method | Climate | Climate |
| Yield | 72 bu/acre | 67 bu/acre |
| Moisture | 19.53% | 19.99% |
The next PureStart trial occurred within the plot circled in white below.
The corn treated with 9 gal/ac of PureStart in-furrow at planting yielded an additional 13 bu/ac, providing an ROI of $59.50 per acre over the untreated check.
| Treated | Untreated | |
| Harvest Date | 10/5/2022 | 10/5/2022 |
| Weight Method | Climate | Climate |
| Yield | 146 bu/acre | 133 bu/acre |
| Moisture | 24.70% | 24.20% |
Fulvic LQ and PureStart trials
Due to its ability to be added into a variety of applications including at planting and sidedress, Fulvic LQ is used by some as a liquid starter. Fulvic LQ is a high purity organic fulvic acid. This formulation contains a high concentration of the measurable fulvic fraction of humic substances, helping plants to better realize their full genetic potential. Fulvic LQ’s clearer color compared to other carbon substances enhances its user-friendliness and compatibility. Fulvic LQ’s unique properties increase bioavailability of the nutrients it accompanies in the tank, and drastically increase absorption into the plant.
In the image below, the ears on the far left are untreated, the middle ears received 1 qt/ac of Fulvic LQ in-furrow, and the ears on the right received 8 gal/ac of PureStart 2x2.
The hybrid was the same throughout the whole field where the trial was done. The corn that that received Fulvic LQ had an ROI of $36/acre over the untreated check, and the PureStart treatment had an ROI of $57/acre over the untreated check.
| Treated P | Treated F | Untreated | |
| Harvest Date | 10/20/2022 | 10/22/2022 | 10/22/2022 |
| Weight Method | weigh wagon | weigh wagon | weigh wagon |
| Yield | 137 bu/acre | 129 bu/acre | 125 bu/acre |
| Moisture | 20.12% | 20.13% | 19.80% |
Utrisha N field trials
Utrisha™ N nutrient efficiency optimizer is a biological solution that provides a variety of crops with an alternative, sustainable nitrogen source.
In the image below, the organic corn stalk on the left received 5 oz/ac of Utrisha N at V7, the stalk on the right did not receive Utrisha N. The side of the field treated with Utrisha N yielded 3 bu/ac more than the untreated side of the field, resulting in an ROI of $18.50/acre over the untreated check. The hybrids were the same for the treated and check.
| Treated | Untreated | |
| Harvest Date | 9/21/2022 | 9/21/2022 |
| Weight Method | weigh wagon | weigh wagon |
| Yield | 193 bu/acre | 190 bu/acre |
| Moisture | 24.60% | 25.20% |
Utrisha N was also tested in organic soybeans. The treatment resulted in a yield gain of 3 bu/ac and a ROI of $44/acre over the untreated check. Both treatments utilized the same variety.
| Treated | Untreated | |
| Harvest Date | 10/3/2022 | 10/3/2022 |
| Weight Method | weigh wagon | weigh wagon |
| Yield | 79 bu/acre | 76 bu/acre |
| Moisture | 12.40% | 12.60% |
The last trial with Utrisha N was performed on transition organic wheat. In the image below, the first row of wheat heads did not receive Utrisha N, the second row received Utrisha N at Stage 6 (first node of stem visible). Both treated and untreated are the same variety.
The treated wheat yielded 3 bu/ac better and had an ROI of $40/acre over the untreated check.
| Treated | Untreated | |
| Harvest Date | 6/28/2022 | 6/28/2022 |
| Weight Method | weigh wagon | weigh wagon |
| Yield | 112 bu/acre | 109 bu/acre |
| Moisture | 15.90% | 17.70% |
If you have any questions on these trials, please do not hesitate to contact me and I will do my best to answer them. I hope you have a blessed and safe rest of 2022 and look forward to what 2023 brings!
©2022 The Andersons, Inc. All rights reserved. PureStart is a registered trademark of The Andersons, Inc. Fulvic LQ is a trademark of The Andersons, Inc. Utrisha is a trademark of Corteva Agriscience. OMRI Listed is a registered trademark of Organic Materials Review Institute.
