Farmers are tasked with feeding the world. Importantly, this requirement comes every year, meaning the impacts associated with crop production compound over multiple years. While emerging tenets of restorative and sustainable high-intensity agriculture (RA) center around soil health, adoption of these practices has faced challenges due to perceived incompatibility with farmer’s profit motive. Harvest size and quality still drive agronomic decisions for growers worldwide. There thus exists a need to thoroughly understand the relationship between RA practices, impacts on soil health and agronomic efficiency in a representative example of commodity crop production.

As a high-efficiency fertilizer platform, the Aqua-Yield R&D team has completed the first of a series of soil microbiome (fungi, bacteria) trials evaluating the impact of repeated nanoliquid technology integration in a soybean production program. With the help of California-based Biome Makers Inc. (West Sacramento, CA), and collaborating partners at Seacole Specialty Chemicals, Inc. (Plymouth, MN), this study tracked beneficial and pathogenic populations of soil microbes over the course of the production season, through harvest. 

While preliminary, and only the first of many such experiments, results of this study are encouraging, including - but are not limited to: (1) NanoPro induced higher microflora populations and activity compared to untreated check soil samples (no Aqua-Yield nanoliquid application), observed as significantly higher rates of cellular respiration, (2) NanoPro induced lower levels (population size and activity) of pathogenic microflora compared to untreated checks, (3) NanoPro induced 300-fold higher levels of beneficial and symbiotic Trichoderma fungi compared to untreated checks, and enriched native populations of specific fungi with insecticidal, nematicidal and plant-stress resilience promoting activities. 

Cumulatively, use of nanoliquid technology in central Minnesota soybean production appeared to put selective pressure on the soil microflora profile, enhancing fungi and bacteria that result in more robust, more resilient crops that are better-equipped to maximize yield while selecting against known pathogens.  

What does this mean?  It's too early in our studies to fully comprehend the soil activity and benefits produced by nanoliquid technology, but we are encouraged by what we are seeing so far.  Nanoliquid technology is new in the agricultural space, and we are dedicated to educating ourselves through trials to maximize the benefits nanotechnology offers.

Stewardship of the land that feeds the world can help ensure food security for decades to come. In parallel, we value the unique position growers are in with weighing these short-term needs against longer-term ideals. We view this as the first of many impactful studies that speak to the improved uptake of nutrient and crop protection chemistry delivery afforded by nanoliquid technologies.  We position them in the growing framework of soil-health centered restorative agriculture practices and inputs while maintaining or exceeding current harvest targets wherever food is grown. As we look to continue telling this story in 2022 studies and beyond, we expect to assess the impact of Aqua-Yield’s nanoliquid technology product profile through more trial replication, in varied soil types, diverse climates, as well as with different crops.

Please reach out to our R&D team at chris@aquayield.com with any questions on study, or how our nanoliquid technology can help you reach the yield and environmental goals you’re after for 2022, and (well) beyond.