FIPS-Africa trials stimulate farmer interest in Gro-Plus
19 May 2011
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Recently FIPS-Africa staff have been visiting farmers in Western Kenya who have taken part in trials which compared conventional sowing of dry maize seed with priming (soaking the seed in water overnight) followed by application of the Real IPM Company's Gro-Plus product, which supplies a small amount of phosphate fertilizer. On about half the farms visited clear benefits could be observed in terms of improved plant growth in the plots where seed priming and Gro-Plus had been used.
Farmers who had experienced the beneficial effect of Gro-Plus, like the lady farmer shown above, reported that they were interested in using the product again.
It appeared that the Gro-Plus product has most impact in fields where untreated crops showed signs of phosphate deficiency.
The improvement in plant growth observed due to Gro-Plus (faster germination, taller, stronger plants, thicker stems and greener leaves) was typically less than observed from the use of improved soil management options - a topic covered in a recent news story.
A key facet of FIPS-Africa's approach is to support farmers to carry out their own on-farm mini trials.
Henry Wainwright, MD of the Real IPM Company which has developed the Gro-Plus product, said:
19 May 2011
Tweet
Recently FIPS-Africa staff have been visiting farmers in Western Kenya who have taken part in trials which compared conventional sowing of dry maize seed with priming (soaking the seed in water overnight) followed by application of the Real IPM Company's Gro-Plus product, which supplies a small amount of phosphate fertilizer. On about half the farms visited clear benefits could be observed in terms of improved plant growth in the plots where seed priming and Gro-Plus had been used.
| Dry planted: phosphate deficiency, stunted | Water primed + Gro-Plus: healthy looking |
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Farmers who had experienced the beneficial effect of Gro-Plus, like the lady farmer shown above, reported that they were interested in using the product again.
It appeared that the Gro-Plus product has most impact in fields where untreated crops showed signs of phosphate deficiency.
The improvement in plant growth observed due to Gro-Plus (faster germination, taller, stronger plants, thicker stems and greener leaves) was typically less than observed from the use of improved soil management options - a topic covered in a recent news story.
A key facet of FIPS-Africa's approach is to support farmers to carry out their own on-farm mini trials.
Henry Wainwright, MD of the Real IPM Company which has developed the Gro-Plus product, said:
"The field trials and demonstration plots by FIPS has shown a similar percentage (just over half) of small-scale growers reporting a clear visible benefit of using Gro-Plus. This corresponds to Real IPM's surveys in numerous farms that have used Gro-Plus in Nyanza Province. It is clearly important to have Gro-Plus tested in as many agro-ecological zones as possible to be able to assess the true benefit and potential applicability. The fact that FIPS, an independent organisation are reporting these positive results is both reassuring and supports the selection process that RIU have correctly identified a Best Bet."
| Dr Henry Wainwright demonstrates the application of Gro-Plus. March 2011 (01:42)< |  |
