Page 29 - Vol.39-No.5

SEEDS & PLANTSTOCK

NEXT GENERATION OF XBEET

ENRICH COMING SOON…

We’ve also started exploring the benefits
of giving germinating plants earlier access
to nutrients. By placing nutrient packages
within the seed coating, itself, we’re pro-
viding access to vital nutrients during those
Jordan Long crucial first 3-4 weeks which helps seedling
Lead Scientist development. So far trial results are very
positive. The nutrient packages developed
At Germains Seed Technology our work is are increasing the speed of germination
never done. We run a continuous research while helping them to establish earlier than
and development programme to ensure those treated with our existing product. Like many growers, most of Richard’s
farmers have the latest technology at their 270ha of sugar beet is ploughed and lev-
disposal. So, despite Xbeet enrich 200’s Complementing these potential new nu- elled off in the autumn, before being beet
outstanding performance in the field during trient packages is a second biostimulant. harrowed, ahead of drilling in spring.
the last two years, we have been looking Nutrients are actively more bioavailable
to improve it further. to plants and are, therefore, the perfect Richard is pushing boundaries with his
Our lead scientist, Jordan Long, and his partner for our new nutrient packages. choice of drilling date. Watching soil tem-
peratures closely, he is finding that opti-
team have been trialling a wide range of With both these new formulations al- mum conditions are tending to fall between
new technologies – from microbes to bi- ready in on-farm trials, the next generation 20th and 24th March, as opposed to the
ostimulants – to unearth combinations that of Xbeet enrich could be coming very soon. more traditional 10th March, finding that
will make sugar beet seed germinate faster Xbeet enrich on the farm later sown crops are higher yielding.
and more uniformly, producing seedlings
that will grow away stronger and quicker. One of the growers involved in putting As for many, the exceptionally dry spring
our new products through their paces is and summer of 2022 caused havoc with
Continuous improvements are possible Richard Cobbald farm manager at the Bart- sugar beet yields both on the Bartlow Es-
by combining new technology and the low Estate in Cambridgeshire, who man- tate and Richard’s contract farms. Despite
latest understanding of the crop’s biology ages over 2,500ha of arable land, via joint a five year average of 80t/ha, in 2022
and physiology, with our ever deepening ventures and contract farming agreements. Richard averaged 59t/ha. He describes the
agronomic knowledge and understanding situation as ‘disappointing’, particularly as
of industry needs. The size and complexity of the enterprise Xbeet enrich 200 had done its job and saw
is one of the reasons why Richard ensures
New ingredients in the pipeline his sugar beet seed is treated with Xbeet him achieve his target of 100,000 plants/
ha at establishment.
Our research and development team are enrich 200. Reliability is key, which is why
putting two types of microbes, rhizobac- Richard values Xbeet’s enhancements in The year before was very different. Again,
teria and endophytes, through their paces. emergence, development and ongoing Xbeet enrich 200 performed well, giving
Rhizobacteria are bacteria that live in the plant health. strong emergence and establishment. This
soil directly around a plant’s roots and are Richard values speedy seed emergence, time, it was followed by a good season. In
influenced by plant exudates. Endophytes aiming for over 100,000 plants per hectare 2021, Richard averaged well above 80t/
are microbes that can live inside roots, be- and this was achieved in both 2021 and ha with the highest yielding field coming
tween their cells, nitrogen-fixing bacteria 2022 thanks to Xbeet enrich 200. in at just over 90t/ha and the lowest, at
being a good example. 75t/ha.

Circle 35 on enquiry card
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companies already serve a fast growing tional efficiencies and more predictable and
group of joint customers with data & AI
precise control are endless.

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