Kumara trial

How it works: Biostart Mycorrcin is a soil biostimulant that activates beneficial soil microbes, which stimulate healthy root growth and development leading to enhanced nutrient uptake, faster crop establishment and greater yield.

Kumara Trials

Trials showed that Mycorrcin-treated kumara crops had a higher plant survival rate, higher kumara tuber weights and improved marketable kumara yield and profitability.

Trials were conducted in commercial Northland kumara crops located in Ruawai, Dargaville and Ahipara. In these trials, Mycorrcin was applied at 4–6 L/ha in two applications, one at planting and a second application four weeks after planting. The kumara from the treated and untreated areas were harvested separately into standard 525 kg field bins and then levelled. The bins were then transported into storage sheds. A few days after harvest, all the bins harvested from 5,000 m² of the treated and untreated area were sent for washing, grading and packing and then analysed

1. Plant survival rate

The Mycorrcin-treated areas had 5% better plant survival rates.

2. Increased kumara tuber weight and size

Individual kumara weights were higher and more kumara were in the bigger size ranges.

In the Ruawai trial, the Mycorrcin-treated yield showed an increase of 33% in Premium grade kumara harvested.

In the Dargaville trial, there were increases in Mycorrcin-treated yields of the Premium (by 31%), Number 1 (by 22%), Jumbo (by 23%) and SM grades (by 41%).

In the Ahipara trial, the Mycorrcin-treated yield showed an increase of the number of Number 1 and Number 2 kumara grades by 37% and 83%, respectively

3. Increase Marketable Kumara Yield

Overall the application of Mycorrcin increased kumara yield in by 24–26% across the three trials (Table 1).

4. Profitability increase for kumara

The increased marketable yield led to increases in profit
(Table 2).

Mycorrcin is available in standard and certified organic form.