Efficacy Data for HYT A Registration in Spain Shows Compelling Yield Increases

DAVIS, Calif. (May 10, 2018)—Recent field and greenhouse trials produced double-digit yield gains for grape, strawberry and tomato plants treated with HYT^® A, a microbial crop input from Agrinos. The trials were conducted in Spain at Murcia, Huelva and Almeria—leading areas of fruit and vegetable production that supply much of Europe. 

The efficacy trials were conducted in response to recent changes in Spain’s regulatory framework for microbial fertilizer products, which requires additional data to meet higher efficacy and product quality assurance standards to support registration. 

“We are pleased that Spain implemented higher standards and regulatory requirements for microbial fertilizers,” said Terry Stone, Agrinos vice president of regulatory affairs and sustainability. “At Agrinos, we support a regulatory requirement for companies to validate the claims and benefits of their microbial and biostimulant crop inputs with a high level of scientific data. These products will ultimately be available to growers around the globe and clear demonstration of the benefits is important to ensuring adoption of this sustainable technology.”

37 Percent Increase in Grape Yield
In the first trial, performed by Eurofins, six separate treatments of HYT A were applied to eight-year-old grape vines in Murcia from January through August 2017 for a total application rate of 22 liters per hectare (applied first at 6 L/ha, then 4 L/ha, then every third week at 2 L/ha). Fertilizer was applied with HYT A through drip irrigation every third week. The untreated control plots received standard farmer inputs. 

The Agrinos HYT A-treated plots yielded 37 percent more marketable fruit per plot (Figure 1). Additionally, the HYT A plots produced 22 percent more grape bunches than the control plots.

Figure 1

2.8 Ton Per Hectare Increase in Strawberry Yield
In a greenhouse trial conducted by Eurofins in Huelva, researchers studied strawberry yields for plots treated with HYT A at two treatment application levels versus untreated controls that received standard farmer inputs. The strawberries were planted on October 19, 2016, and harvest began January 16, 2017. The plants were harvested 25 times during the trial. 

The strawberries treated with Agrinos HYT A at the 22 liters per hectare rate (approx. 2 L/ha/application) yielded 17 percent more marketable fruit than those in the control treatment (Figure 2) –  a difference of 2.8 tons per hectare or 2,498 pounds per acre.

Figure 2

Greater Yields, Larger Tomatoes
For tomato growers, results indicated the benefits of HYT A are two-fold, increasing both fruit yield and fruit size in greenhouse trials conducted by Fitotest SL in Almeria. 

The plots were planted on February 22, 2017, and harvested 15 times between May 23 – July 26. Fertilizer was applied with HYT A through drip irrigation every week. HYT A was applied to treated plots at two levels while the untreated controls received standard farmer inputs.

Results (Figure 3) demonstrated significant yield improvements for both HYT A treatments (1x and 2x) over the control plots. HYT A plots yielded 13,500 to 16,920 kilograms per hectare—or 12,045 to 15,095 pounds per acre—more fruit across the 15 combined harvests than the control plots. 

Figure 3

Fruit size also benefited, with HYT A plots producing a substantial size advantage as well. Depending on the application level, plots treated with HYT A produced 10 to 14 percent larger fruit than plants in the control plots (Figure 4).

Figure 4

“These results further demonstrate the benefits and return on investment growers receive when HYT A is applied,” said Michael Austin, Agrinos global head for agronomy. “We are extremely pleased to provide growers with innovative new tools like HYT A that are proven to improve plant health, crop quality and yields while supporting agricultural sustainability.”

About Agrinos
Agrinos is a biological crop input provider committed to improving the productivity and sustainability of modern agriculture. Agrinos’ range of biofertilizers and biostimulant products help farmers to practice profitable agriculture by providing increased crop productivity, improved efficiency of conventional fertilizer and a reduced environmental footprint.

Based on Agrinos’ proprietary High Yield Technology (HYT) platform, the HYT^® products provide benefits by strengthening the soil-based microbial ecosystem, stimulating crop development at key points in the growth cycle and boosting natural plant resistance to environmental stresses. With solutions for a variety of crop categories, the technology comprising the HYT products has demonstrated its value in third-party trials in key agricultural regions worldwide