What crops can benefit from inoculants and what kind of yield impact can they have?
XiteBio Technologies U.S. sales managers Doug Tigges says the first questions he typically gets from growers include whether an inoculant or biological product is easy to use; how it fits into management of the crops grown on the farm; and whether it delivers return on investment.
In this report from Commodity Classic at Houston, Texas, Tigges tells RealAgriculture’s Bernard Tobin that inoculants fit just about any crop grown in Canada and and U.S. “We’re talking about corn, soybeans, wheat, pulse crops, tubers — like potatoes and sugar beets — and vegetables,” he says.
Based in Winnipeg, MB, XiteBio is led by President and CEO Dr. Manas Banerjee and offers a full line of inoculants and biologicals. “It’s very important to him that they’re scientifically proven that they also show a good return on the investment for the grower,” says Tigges.
From a bottom-line perspective, on a crop like soybeans, Tigges says growers can expect to spend the equivalent of one-third of a bushel of soybeans to gain a return of 1.5 to 2.5 bushels from an inoculant product. “They can be applied by a retailer, a grower can use them if they have a seed treater, or they could go in-furrow. So there’s different ways to utilize the products, but at the end of the day, they still have to be easy to use and you have to see a return on the investment.
One of the key benefits of inoculants is the ability to aid root development and early plant growth, says Tigges. “Stand establishment is important and if you get corn, or any crop, off to a fast start you usually end up finishing strong. And that usually means better stalks, better standability and drydown, and more yield.” Watch the video below.
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