Cereals Live: Using fermented organic matter to boost crop and soil health

Carbon

Overall, from the original 13,400kg of grass cuttings, the resulting compost contained just 882kg of organic matter and 441kg of carbon.

Bokashi contained 2,080kg, and 1,040kg, respectively, with more nitrogen, energy, ash, protein and cellulose, too.

Mineral levels were also considerably higher, from potassium, sodium and magnesium to sulphur and most micronutrients.

The trial also considered the CO2 footprint of the compost and bokashi. In total, the compost required 3391kg CO2 equivalent to produce, compared to 350kg for the bokashi.

“Farmers are under increasing pressure to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions – and many are seeking to improve soil health at the same time,” says Andrew Sincock, commercial director at Agriton.

“Soil health and carbon sequestration are very likely to form part of the new Environmental Land Management scheme.”

Crop benefits

Following the initial trial, Agriton commissioned a second independent trial with SPNA Agroresearch to look at the impact of bokashi on both the soil and end crop. Replicated over three years, the bokashi-treated winter wheat averaged 8.9t/ha against compost at 8.74t/ha, with similar protein levels and bushel weights.

After three years, soil analysis revealed that nitrogen content was significantly higher in the bokashi treated plots, at 2402mg N/kg versus compost at 2,298mg/kg.

Sulphur, phosphate and potassium levels were also significantly higher, with organic matter content rising from 4.6 per cent in the control to 4.7 per cent with compost and 5.2 per cent with bokashi.

Biological life in the soil was generally higher when treated with bokashi than compost, with reduced levels of harmful nematodes, while weed and disease pressures were not statistically different.