Premier Tech: AGTIV^® THRIVE™ SOYBEAN, an easy to use inoculant combines Bradyrhizobium and mycorrhizal fungus

Editor’s note: As a widely commercialized product, Bradyrhizobium-based inoculants have great market prospects. According to data disclosed in the "Manual for Bioinput Analysis for Agricultural Use: Inoculants" recently released by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), in the 2022/23 soybean season, inoculants with Bradyrhizobium bacteria were used on 85% of cultivated area, while co-inoculation, or the combined use of Bradyrhizobium and Azospirillum, was used on some 35% of the country’s crop area, highlighting the advancement of this technology.

The use of inoculants can provide tremendous economic benefits. As mentioned in the ″Manual″ published by Embrapa, in soybean crops alone, over $25 billion is saved annually by using inoculants with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Recently, we spoke to some experts who are well-versed in Bradyrhizobium inoculants to gain a deeper understanding of this type of product. The experts are: Adam Fast, Field Solutions Specialist at Lallemand Plant Care; Dr. Manas Banerjee, President & CEO of XiteBio; Marc Beland, Senior Director Agriculture at Premier Tech; Andrea de Figueiredo Giroldo, Marketing and Technical Development Director at Agrocete, and Antonio Carlos Zem, CEO at Biotrop. 

Below is the transcript of the interview with Marc Beland, Senior Director Agriculture at Premier Tech.

Marc Beland, M.Sc Biol.

Senior Director Agriculture at Premier Tech

Could you provide an overview of Premier Tech's AGTIV^® line of Bradyrhizobium inoculants for soybeans, including single and dual-action products with mycorrhizal fungi or Bacillus pumilus?

Premier Tech’s reliable inoculants for soybeans are available in the AGTIV^® brand of products with Bradyrhizobium japonicum bacteria for nitrogen fixation in single action liquid and granular formulation options under AGTIV^® FUEL™ SOYBEAN. 

Growers searching for added benefits of a dual action product can look to the powerful combination of the mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis (formerly known as Glomus intraradices) and nitrogen fixing bacteria found in AGTIV^® THRIVE™ SOYBEAN. Products are available in a liquid formulation for in furrow application, a powder formulation for mixing with seeds or a granular formulation applied in the furrow, all three options are to be used at the time of planting. 

Finally, AGTIV^® ENRICH™ SOYBEAN is a dual action liquid formulation containing the beneficial bacteria Bacillus pumilus which is combined to Bradyrhizobium when treating soybean seeds for promoting a healthy rooting area. 

All of these formulation options are designed for ease of use, compatible with the growers’ equipment and preferred method of inoculating soybeans.

What quality control measures and testing protocols does your company employ to ensure consistent high performance of your product?

Our quality control process is very rigorous and is done at many steps in the process of bringing a finished product to the market. The first step in our quality control, in the case of bacteria is to quantify the viable cells per mL once harvested out of the fermentation process to confirm the organism meets the guaranteed minimum analysis. In the case of mycorrhizal fungi, a viability test is performed on the spores to ensure they meet the viable spores per mL required for the next formulation step. 

If the finished product is in liquid, powder or granular formulation, a second count of viable bacteria cells or fungal spores is performed to confirm the finished product meets the minimum guarantee on the label. 

The final and most important step in the quality assurance process is to take a sample of the finished product and execute a performance assay in the greenhouse. This process is to ensure all organisms remain viable after the formulation process. In the case of rhizobium bacteria, a nodulation test is performed where nodule formation and vigor is counted and confirmed to meet our standards. In the case of mycorrhizal fungi, plant roots are harvested and stained to observe and quantify colonization of roots by mycorrhizae to ensure functionality of the organism.    

Recent studies have revealed that the combination of microorganisms like Bradyrhizobium and Pseudomonas oryzihabitans can increased crop yield in comparison with individually treated crop. In your opinion, what additional benefits do these combinations provide?

Indeed, farmers are looking for added value inoculants to increase the performance of their soybean crop, it is for this reason that the majority of our soybean product sales come from a combination of Bradyrhizobium and the mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis (formely known as Glomus intraradices) packaged into one easy to use product AGTIV^® THRIVE™ SOYBEAN. Two formulation options are available, a granular for in-furrow application use or a powder for mixing with seed. It is well documented that mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen fixing bacteria collaborate for increased legume performance and termed the tripartite symbiosis. The mycorrhizae provide increased phosphorus supply to the plant via its extensive external hyphae network, the plant then provides more phosphorus to the rhizobia to increase nodule performance which leads to more nitrogen fixed and available for plant growth. More detailed information can be found at www.ptagtiv.com/en/blog/tripartite-symbiosis/.

As a seed applied added value option, we combine Bradyrhizobium and Bacillus pumilus for those that prefer to have their beans pre-treated with a liquid formulation before seeding. In this dual action product, bacillus surround the root system and nodules with a biofilm which serves to create a healthy rooting environment for better growth.

Based on field trial data, what typical yield increases or ROI can soybean growers expect to see when using your AGTIV^® THRIVE™ SOYBEAN product?

In third party independent trials, soybean yields are 3.4 bushels per acre more with our dual action AGTIV^® THRIVE™ product when compared to multi-action competitor products. This yield increase provides a significant return on investment for the grower. Details can be found at www.ptagtiv.com/en/results/

How about AGTIV^® ENRICH™ SOYBEAN product?

In third party independent trials, soybean yields are 1.7 bushels per acre more with our dual action AGTIV^® ENRICH™ product when compared to liquid on seed applied competitor products. This yield increase provides a significant return on investment for the grower. Details can be found at www.ptagtiv.com/en/results/

What do you think are the new trends and directions in the development and application of Bradyrhizobium inoculant in the future?

Farmers are increasingly looking to improve the profitability of their operations in an environmentally conscious manner and are looking for easy to use, multi-action inoculants. These inoculants must perform the traditional function of nitrogen fixation. Combining them with other biologically active ingredients, such as mycorrhizae or Bacillus, can enhance nutrient absorption properties, improve soil and root health by limiting losses due to pathogens, help mitigate abiotic stresses, and contribute to limiting GHG emissions and maximizing fertilizer use efficiency.

This story was initially published in the 2024 Seed Treatment Special. Download the magazine to read more stories.

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