This article is sponsored by Alabama-based biologicals company CHONEX.
As agricultural challenges mount, farmers worldwide are increasingly prioritizing soil health as a foundation for productivity and sustainability.
It is widely accepted that depleted soils lead to diminished yields, higher reliance on synthetic inputs, and reduced resilience to environmental stressors. Farmers who know these things firsthand are quick to recognize the benefits of healthy soil. As McKinsey’s Global Farmer Insights 2024 report underscores, an increasing number of farmers recognize the importance of improving soil biology to enhance nutrient cycling, boost crop resilience, and ensure long-term agricultural viability.
This growing awareness is driving demand for innovative solutions that not only improve soil health but also fit seamlessly into existing farm operations.
Farmers look to biofertilizers and biostimulants to boost soil health
Scaling soil restoration requires effective, economically viable solutions. Biofertilizers and biostimulants are emerging as critical tools for this effort.
Biofertilizers and biostimulants leverage natural microbial and organic compounds to enhance soil fertility, improve nutrient availability, and promote plant growth. As Syngenta notes, these products are gaining traction as sustainable alternatives or complements to traditional agrochemicals.
However, adopting bio-based solutions on a large scale demands formulations that align with the operational needs of modern, high-volume agriculture.
A core challenge? Special handling
Despite their benefits, many biofertilizers and biostimulants come with challenges. Their formulations often require special handling, storage, refrigeration, and application methods, which make it difficult — operationally and financially — for large-scale agricultural operations to adopt them.
Factors such as uneven application, clumping, or incompatibility with other inputs like fertilizers and pesticides can also deter widespread use. Farmers need products that are simple to apply, compatible with existing equipment, and capable of delivering consistent results across diverse field conditions.
Innovating to make soil health more accessible
Recognizing these challenges, companies like Chonex are innovating to make soil health solutions more accessible and scalable. Chonex’s StrongSoil®, for example, is formulated as a water-dispersible granule that can be shipped dry and then later tank-mixed. This makes it easier for farmers to integrate the product into their practices. It is compatible with most fertilizers, herbicides, and fungicides.
StrongSoil’s 80% success rate
After years of field trials, Chonex released StrongSoil® to targeted markets earlier this year and farmers around the US have reported yield increases after using StrongSoil®. Over four years of field testing across various crops and regions have shown an 80%+ success rate, meaning the product more than paid for itself with improved yield and reduced fertilizer input costs.
Furthermore, over two growing seasons StrongSoil demonstrated an average yield increase of 15% in corn and 12% in soybeans compared to untreated cropland.
The product contains essential nutrients like NPK, calcium, and chitin, as well as high populations of diverse beneficial microbes, including bacteria, fungi, and protozoa, which enhance soil biology. As growers only need to use small amounts of the solution, they can pay as little as $7 to $14 per acre.
“StrongSoil is unique because of its scope of functions for both soil and plant functionality,” Dr. Pam Marrone, cofounder and executive chair at the Invasive Species Corp. & Invasive Species Foundation and an advisor to Chonex, noted earlier this year.
Other organizations, including biotech startup Biome Makers and consulting company Understanding Ag, have also praised StrongSoil in the past as a promising tool for restoring soil health at scale.
To learn more or join the Pioneer Program for trial access, visit www.chonex.ag.
StrongSoil in summary:
- Microbial Power: High populations of diverse beneficial microbes, including bacteria, fungi, and protozoa, to enhance soil biology for enhanced nutrient uptake, carbon sequestration, and crop stress reduction.
- Essential Nutrients: N, P, K, calcium (Ca), and chitin for comprehensive soil and plant health.
- Low Use Rate: Only 1–2 ounces per acre, offering cost-effective application at $7–$14 per acre.
- Proven Results: Over four years of field testing across various crops and regions have shown an 80%+ success rate in improving yield, which is more than enough to pay for the product while also reducing fertilizer input costs.
StrongSoil results:
- StrongSoil improves soil organic matter by 8%
- Increases material biomass by 25% (in test plots)
- Reduces irrigation needs by 10%, thanks to improved water-retention capabilities in soil
- Increases carbon sequestration in StrongSoil-treated fields by 5% compared to non-treated fields
- Reduces usage of chemical fertilizers and pesticides for farmers by 20%
