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Handle biostimulant seed treatments with care

Extension research is finding biostimulant seed treatments have a limited impact on soybean yield across major growing regions.

Michigan State University cropping systems agronomist Manni Singh tells Brownfield land grants in 22 states studied products in 100 locations.

“Among all the data, we did not see a significant difference where any of these products gave us a significant yield improvement,” he shares.

Singh says researchers believe storage and handling can affect the viability of products.

“Exposure for even up to a week can cause a huge shift in microbial composition of some of these products, so our recommendation as of now is to preferably use within that same day once you open it,” he says.

He says there is some evidence biologicals can change soil health over time.

“Even if we are not seeing changes in plant growth, development, and yield, are we changing soil biology?” he says researchers are asking. “We are starting to see some of that, especially when we were really careful handling these products.”

Nine seed treatments were tested in 2022 and 2023 by the Science for Success team. The study will continue through 2026.