A joint trial combining Kofuna® and Rootella® has begun, with efforts under way to quantify the synergistic effects of the two products using numerical data. In trials involving wet-rice cultivation, an increase in grain count was confirmed in the combined-use plot.
As demonstrating the effects of microbial soil amendments becomes a challenge in the market, a joint trial has begun combining Kofuna, handled by ニチモウ, with Rootella from 島貿易 to verify their effects using objective data. The two companies aim to promote acceptance among farmers by making use of the strengths of each product and exploring their combined effects.
Kofuna contains aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms and is designed to activate the soil and promote the decomposition of organic matter. Rootella, meanwhile, contains approximately 28,000 mycorrhizal fungi per gram and is used as a high-concentration product that promotes colonization on roots. The companies are also ensuring that instructions for use, including temperature control, are widely understood.
The joint trial was conducted using bucket-grown rice in comparative plots in a growth chamber, with evaluations covering 3 treatments: Kofuna alone, Rootella alone and combined use. Although no major difference was observed in colonization counts, a significant increase was found in the final grain count in the combined-use plot.
This season, field validation is under way at multiple sites, including Niigata and Hokkaido. In Sado City, the number of tillers in the Koshihikari variety increased by 21.6% versus the control plot, suggesting that the effects may emerge depending on compatibility with the crop.