All plot trials were conducted through 3rd party research facilities:
Sir William Stephenson Research Center; Winnipeg, MB. (Peas, Wheat, Oats, Corn, Soybeans) 2020-2022
New Era Ag Research; Swan River, MB: 2021-2022 (Peas, Oats, Canola)
Peace Country Forage and Grain Association; Fairview, AB: 2019-2022 (Wheat and Canola).
Multi-Year field scale trials and farm evaluations have been conducted at sites in: Cardale, MB; Tilley, AB; Radville, SK; Reinland, MB; Elie, MB; Southern Ontario (multiple sites).
A ten-acre EcoTea™ soil health research site was initiated in 2022 at Discovery Farm at Langham, SK.
Oats
Three separate replicated trial sets with oats were conducted at both the Swan River and Winnipeg sites in 2021 and 2022, for a total of over 80 comparative plots. EcoTea™ Seed Dressings were used while reducing both applied N and P in varying amounts. Across all our trials oats has shown the most consistent positive yield response with EcoTea™, relative to other crops we have been trialing.
When N was reduced by 20% and P reduced by 10%. Even with the reduced fertility EcoTea™ treated oats saw an average yield increase of 7.05% in comparison to the conventional grower’s standard (full fertility).
When N+P were reduced by 47% and 30% respectively (Swan River Site Only), EcoTea™ treated oats saw an average yield reduction of 6.2%. Despite the significant reduction, the savings in fertility resulted in calculated net earnings increase of $30.00/acre at spring 2022 fertilizer and fall 2022 crop value prices. NOTE: The significant reduction of fertility is for research purposes and is not recommended as a commercial practice.
Spring Wheat
Three replicated trial sets with wheat over three years were conducted at both the Winnipeg, MB (3 yrs). All EcoTea™ seed dressings were trialed reducing both N+P in varying amounts. All three trials saw no statistically significant yield differences when compared with the conventional grower’s standard.
When N was reduced by 20% and P by 10%, there was a yield variance of less than 1.66% of EcoTea™ treated plots compared to the grower’s standard 100% rate fertility. This average was represented by 39 field plots over 3 trials, in 3 different crop years (2020, 2021 (Drought), 2022).
Two 3rd party farm scale trials were conducted with full fertility in Southern MB (Arnaud and Oakville, MB) showing an average of a 3bu/acre increase over grower’s standard. These results have not been replicated in small plot trials to date.
Left: Grower Standard Right: EcoTea™ Seed Dressings
Discovery Farm Wheat Plots Note
In crop year 2022 EcoTea™ undertook a field scale comparative plot trial at a 10-acre site managed by Discovery Farm, Langham, SK. A separate report on this project will be published later this January. The first year of this project trialed EcoTea™ seed dressings, in-furrow, and residue digester in conjunction with 5 different conventional programs using various rates and types of fertility, and standard herbicide program. These 5 plots were compared against a conventional grower’s standard with full rate fertility. Six plots of 1.5 acres each were seeded in late May into extremely dry soil conditions, a timely rain in early June ensured a crop came up, but for the remainder of the year the site only saw a total of 2.5 inches of rain, essentially drought conditions.
Other Crops
EcoTea™ products have full functional microbial diversity and have shown commercially positive affects on all crops and plants. We have dedicated multi-year customers using a variety of our products on Potatoes, Cereals, Oils Seeds, Legumes, Cranberries and Vineyards, based on their own trials. As we, grow our capabilities we hope to direct research efforts into these areas as well.
Nutrient Use Efficiency
Our work looking at nutrient use efficiency was focused on the ability of diverse communities of microbes to form symbiotic relationships with plants around nutrient availability.
Some specific microbial species within the community grow their populations by providing nutrients to the plants in exchange for exudates from plant roots. DNA testing and taxonomy shows EcoTea™ provides a wide range of species within this functional group filling varies niches.
The hypothesis guiding the 3rd party trial work in this area was clear. The relationship these microbial species form with crop roots should allow for a reduction in applied inputs without changing growth rates or yield when compared to grower’s standard.
Various fertility levels have been assessed over the 5 years of research work to evaluate the balance between standard yields and levels of applied inputs. Over multiple sites and replicates, the work has shown the underlying hypothesis to be true.
Proven benefit: Adding the broad-spectrum biology in EcoTea™ can allow for a measurable reduction in crop inputs.
Grower’s standard yields have been maintained while reducing inputs across various crops including wheat, corn, oats, peas, soybeans, hemp and canola. The work was conducted in numerous regions across the prairies from southern Manitoba to the peace country in northern Alberta.