Precision Laboratories introduces first premium single component soybean inoculant

Maximizing the biological capabilities of soybeans to fix nitrogen and enhance yield is a critical step to nourish the earth's growing population. This prompted a decade of innovative collaboration between Precision Laboratories and Rizobacter S.A. to create new technologies that enhance efficiency and effectiveness of natural processes. Signum, the world's first premium, single-component soybean seed inoculant is their latest, most advanced development.

"Signum sets a new standard for premium, retailer-applied soybean inoculants because its unique formulation has only one component," said Terry Culp, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Precision Laboratories. "This means easier handing and fewer issues with product mixing for the applicator, while increasing yield for the grower."

Traditional premium soybean inoculants require mixing two or more components at the time of application. Signum delivers convenience and accuracy for the applicator by eliminating the need to mix additional parts to achieve bacterial stability and pesticide compatibility on the seed.

Trials, conducted in 2014, indicate Signum enhances soybean yield by 4.2 bushels per acre over untreated seed and 2.7 bushels over a competitive premium inoculant. The combination of seed-applied fungicides and insecticides with Signum produced an additional 2.5 bushels per acre over the fungicide and insecticide.

Signum achieves these advanced features and crop yields through three novel technologies that stimulate bacteria for aggressive root infection, strengthen the cell wall for greater desiccation resistance and enable single-component formulation. These are the bio-inducer, osmoprotection and intra-protector.

The bio-inducer stimulates the bacteria during fermentation to produce multiple nodulation determinants in advance of communication with the root in the soil. Osmoprotection strengthens bacteria cell walls to optimize survival during storage and seed application. Intra-protector provides single-component inoculation capability with increased concentration and survival of bacteria and superior pesticide compatibility.

"We've developed these technologies to ultimately deliver increased plant health and yield for the grower," said Culp. "With Signum, the indicators of increased yield are evident right from the start with enhanced stand, vigor and root nodulation."
Precision Laboratories develops products that are innovative, sensible and effective. Signum is an advanced technology produced from a 10-year partnership between Precision and the worldwide leader in biological products, Rizobacter S.A.