Some canola growers this spring will be able to test whether they can increase their yield using the kind of inoculants common in pulse crops.
For the first time, a seed treatment for canola containing growth promoting rhizobacteria will be available, but only in limited supplies and only with the purchase of Brett Young canolas.
“We want to be cautious,” said research and development director Manas Banerjee.
“We want to make sure that everybody does it properly. After that we’ll be able to open it up to the market.”
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Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria are similar to the nitrogen-fixing bacteria common with pulse crops, but their action goes beyond improving root-level nitrogen production.
“It’s not just nitrogen fixation. It’s making the plant better,” Banerjee said.
“What the growth promoting does is stimulate the plant. It’s a better looking crop. It’s a healthier crop. It means less infestation of pests and less disease.”
The rhizobacteria product will be available as BioBoost in canola. Treatment for soybeans will be called Soy Superb. The treatment will come this year mixed with peat for application close to seeding time, but in the future, Brett Young hopes to offer it other forms, including pre-coated.
Banerjee said BioBoost increases yield by an average of eight percent, although a few test plots achieved slightly less and some much more.
“The effect is so obvious.”
The Brett Young research was partially funded by $450,000 from Manitoba’s Agricultural and Research Development Initiative, a federal-provincial agency that promotes developments that could help farmers.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency approved the product in 2006.
Brett Young is also working on growth promoting rhizobacteria treatments for corn, alfalfa and turf grass. The company is one of North America’s biggest grass seed suppliers, with huge demand coming from the proliferation of golf courses in the U.S. sun belt.
Banerjee said BioBoost is important for Brett Young because seed company competitors won’t have a similar product soon.
“We can’t compete with all the big multinationals, so what we have to do is something different, something unique to have to offer to our customer,” Banerjee said.
