A Locally Produced Bioinoculant (H-Start) Increases Field Pea (Pisum sativum) Yield Using Reduced Fertilizer: A Pilot Study with Implications for Low-Input Agriculture

Abstract

Modern agriculture is an intensive process that disrupts the natural soil microbiome through the use of toxic chemicals such as fungicides. This reduces the soil's ability to support robust biomass production, lowering yields. Complex bioinoculants are heterogeneous mixtures of organisms from natural sources, such as compost, that can be added to soil to restore the natural soil microbiome. H-Start is one such bioinoculant (HumaTerra Regen Ag Inc.). Due to the lack of literature on complex bioinoculants, we aim to present a pilot study to identify potential effects of interest (alpha = 0.10) to inform future experimental designs. To achieve this, field pea (Pisum sativum cv. AAC Carver) was grown in Saskatchewan field soil in a growth chamber, with or without H-Start, at 75% or 100% of the recommended monoammonium phosphate (MAP) rate (n = 3 pots per treatment). By monitoring leaf size, leaf count, height, yield, and soil characteristics, we found that plants treated with H-Start were taller between days 21 and 28 (p = 0.089) and had a greater leaf size index (number of leaves x primary vein length2) over time (p = 0.002). H-Start at 75% MAP also produced the highest yield (p = 0.077). These results suggest H-Start influences the soil microbiome and the plants that depend on it. This is important because complex bioinoculants can be produced locally. Thus, bioinoculants may become increasingly relevant in low-income areas, which often lack the economic ability to sustain food imports and are the first to be affected by disruptions to the agri-chemical supply chain.