WGCIT STARTUP HELPS UNLOCK NEW SECRETS TO PLANT GROWTH
By Julia Nellis, Social Media Manager
The world’s population is projected to reach nearly 9.77 billion by 2050, requiring our world’s growers to increase their yields by more than 60 percent to keep up with demand, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Experts project that production in developing countries will need to nearly double their output.
To meet these demands, growers will need to increase the amount of biomass and chemical feedstocks to enhance yields, likely increasing agricultural waste products that are currently underutilized, such as pyroligneous acid, wood, vinegar, and liquid smoke. These byproducts, derived from the condensation vapors that are produced during the high-temperature, oxygen- free pyrolysis of agriculture biomass, are increasingly being marketed as biostimulants, aiding in plant growth. In a recent study, scholars Randi Noel, Michael J. Schueller, and Richard A. Ferrieri conducted a thorough examination of Coriphol™ , manufactured by Corigin Solutions, Inc., to understand its role in promoting yield growth. Comprising more than 150 chemical components, including organic acids, phenols, alcohols, aldehydes, esters, ethers, and ketones, Coriphol™ shows promise in enhancing yields across various crops such as tomatoes, rapeseed, cotton, lettuce, and onions. To address the knowledge gap surrounding the efficacy of pyroligneous acid products, soybeans were selected as the model crop for evaluating the performance of Coriphol™ across different dosage levels. A major U.S. crop with more than 87.5 million acres planted annually presented a significant opportunity for enhancing yields through Coriphol™ application. An outdoor study was conducted during the 2023 growing season and investigated the effects of various Coriphol™ treatment conditions on soybean plant growth, focusing on key parameters such as plant height, leaf count, and leaf size. Growth was determined using a tape measure and ruler, and measurements were taken in weeks 5 and 10. "An outdoor study was conducted during the 2023 growing season and investigated the effects of various Coriphol ™ treatment conditions on soybean plant growth, focusing on key parameters such as plant height, leaf count, and leaf size."
Sampling control were plants treated at germination with 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 gallons per acre of Coriphol™. Results indicated a clear-dose dependent relationship, with treated plants demonstrating substantial improvements in growth attributes compared to untreated counterparts. “Results in week 5 showed a clear dose dependency with treatment where plant height increased from 23.05 ± 0.91 to 32.55 ± 1.25 cm for untreated and 2.0 gal./acre treatment, respectively. Leaf count increased from 18.18 ± 1.24 to 35.18 ± 2.81 for untreated and 2.0 gal./acre treatment, respectively.Leaf length measured from the tip to the petiole connection increased from 8.17 ± 0.40 to 9.97 ± 0.36 cm for untreated and 2.0 gal./ acre treatment, respectively, and leaf width increased from 5.83 ± 0.25 to 7.23 ± 0.28 for untreated and 2.0 gal./acre treatment, respectively. Results in week 10 showed a similar pattern of behavior, although plants treated with 1.0 gal./acre Coriphol™ seemed to outperform those treated at the higher dose.” At the end of week 20, all soybean pods were harvested to ascertain the crop yield. Here’s what their 2023 harvest observations found: “The number of pods per plant increased from 260.83 ± 11.64 pods in untreated plants to 300.69 ± 15.42 pods with 0.5 gal./ acre Coriphol™ treatments, 366.33 ± 17.85 pods with 1.0 gal./acre treatments, and 347.22 ± 16.02 pods with 2.0 gal/acre treatments. Similar to growth performance traits in week 10, plants treated at 1.0 gal./acre slightly outperformed those treated at 2.0 gal/ acre in the number of pods harvested, although this difference was not statistically significant. Total pod mass also increased from 207.25 ± 16.12 gFW for untreated plants to 271.50 ± 38.33 gFW with 0.5 gal./acre treatments, 355.17 ± 21.71 gFW with 1.0 gal./acre treatments, and 350.05 ± 27.81 gFW with 2.0 gal./acre treatments.” Additionally, researchers noted that the photographs taken of the roots on the bottom of the planting pot for an untreated control plant and a treated plant varied significantly in root density, “When tallied, the root nodule count was observed to rise from 17.25 ± 3.35 nodules in untreated plants to 92.0 ± 27.14 nodules in plants treated at 2.0 gal./acre with Coriphol™ .” Noel, Schueller, and Ferrieri’s study provides compelling evidence that soil treated with the pyroligneous acid biostimulant, Coriphol™, enhances plant growth and overall yield in soybean, offering valuable insights for sustainable agriculture practices.
32 Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com May | June 2024
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