Feature photo: Growth experienced in wheat in the Southern Cape after Rhizovator™ application.

Dr Koos Bornman, General Manager; Strategic Agricultural Services Omnia

It is a generally known fact that the world will have to produce 70% more food by 2050 to feed its expected population of 9 billion people. In developing countries, such as in Africa, food production will even have to be doubled.

When the increased social and urban demands for agricultural land are taken into account, little opportunity remains for lateral expansion. In fact, an increase of only 70 million hectares, or less than 5%, in arable land, is predicted FAO High Level Expert Forum, 2009. Due to the above mentioned, an urgent outcry can be expected for a second Green Revolution, which should increase the efficiency of food production per unit area in a sustainable way.

Bill Gates, one of the protagonists of such a second Green Revolution, said: “The charge is clear – we have to develop crops that can grow during a drought, that can survive a flood and that can withstand diseases and pests. We need higher yields on the same area amidst more unfavourable weather conditions.” Within the Green Revolution, another revolution emerged, namely the Brown Revolution. The Brown Revolution is often regarded as the only sustainable action against a world-wide food crisis. “It aims towards entering the next era for farmers who should give as much attention to the improvement of soil quality as they are giving to raising crops. It revolves around less tillage and conservation practices that will conserve the soil structure and especially root health”(Lawton Corn and Soybean Digest, Jan 2013).

The understanding of soil conservation and root systems is an age old challenge, as Mary Beth Albright explains in The National Geographic of 13 October: “The Brown Revolution is here. Soil should indeed be treated with respect; in the words of Leonardo da Vinci: ‘We know more of the movements of celestial bodies than we know about the soil under our feet.’ These words were spoken 500 years ago, and soil scientists admit that they still hold true.”

Omnia Nutrilogy® joined the Brown Revolution 13 years ago with the establishment of OmniBio™. OmniBio™ is a research and development unit within Omnia that studies soil life and health, and develop related concepts and products. Recently, the emphasis was shifted to the root system and particularly the rhizosphere (contact between soil and root) to find ways of improving root development. Part of the unit’s aim is to increase nutrient and water use efficiency, and to raise the levels of resistance against diseases.

It seems as if root systems of crops are inhibited, apart from unhealthy soil, as a result of various factors. Recent research proved that genetical manipulation of plants may negatively affect their root systems. Research on small grains in the United Kingdom showed a fourfold reduction in the root length density of wheat. This trend was also noticed in 17 other crops (White, Sylvester-Bradley and Berry, 2015).

The creation of a healthy environment for roots to thrive in and the addition of natural stimulants, can dramatically increase root growth, double water utilisation efficiency (White et al, 2015), and improve nutrient uptake by up to 400% (Fusseder and Krauss (1986) in Marschner, 2002).

OmniBio™ already developed a product range grouped under the trademark, Rhizovator™. These products contain various stimulants, including the well known humates, kelp extract and amino acids, but also exciting new components.

Each of these products is specifically formulated for a certain crop group and region. Depending on the specific case, certain micro element combinations can also be added to provide for locality specific needs. The Rhizovator™ products were not only tested in various greenhouse potted tests with grains and canola, but also in formal field trials. Research was also done on orchard and vineyard crops.

Statistically significant reactions in root growth were noted in all cases, with an increase of up to 200% in root mass (Figures 1 and 2). Field tests in the Southern Cape have shown a statistically significant root mass increase of 23% on wheat, and even a 10% yield improvement as a result of the product.

Statistically significant increases (up to 26%) were also noticed in chlorophyll content (measured with the Minolta SPAD-502 meter), as well as increased nutrient uptake of more than 60%.

The Rhizovator™ product was applied in grape trials in three locations (Groblersdal, Worcester and Upington) to determine its effect on the establishment of vine cuttings. The results were astonishing. Some vine shoots reached the support wire within four months after planting, and even formed fruits (Figure 3).

In Groblersdal a yield of 4 500 boxes of export quality grapes was achieved within 15 months after planting the vine cuttings. More Rhizovator™ products are being developed for various applications on various crops. The latest emphasis shift is towards the addition of live microbic cultures to serve as both stimulant and inhibitor of root diseases such as phytophtora and nematode infestations.

Omnia Nutrilogy® will definitely continue the Brown Revolution to improve root growth as well as the rhizosphere and/or soil health. In this way, critical aspects such as water and nutrient utilisation efficiency will be increased and sustainability will be supported.

Become part of the revolution!

Primary references:

Marschner, H 2002. Mineral nutrition of higher plants. Academic Press, London. Second edition.

White, CA, Sylvester-Bradley, R & Berry PM 2015. Root length densities of UK wheat and oilseed rape crops with implications for water capture and yield. J Exp. Bot. 66 (8) 2293-2303.