Welsh Sustainable Inputs in Action Project: Assessing biological products’ impact on grass quality and yield

There is a growing acknowledgment of the potential benefits’ sustainable inputs like molasses and humates can provide in terms of improving forage quality, mitigating abiotic stress, and supporting crop yields while decreasing reliance on chemical inputs. A similar upward trend is evident for other biological and sustainable products, as featured in both academic studies and on-farm trials.

We aim to put some of these products to the test on three farms within Our farms network - Cilthrew, Crickie and Cwmrisca. Each farm will trial six different biological products, applied twice throughout the growing season, and evaluate their subsequent impact on grass quality and yield.  Applications will be carried out using a Tow and Fert implement, specifically designed for applying biological products. Each plot will also be marked with three GPS-located reference points for consistent sampling and assessments throughout the season. We will also leave a plot untreated to quantify any gains achieved and establish the return on investment to the products used.

The six products are as follows:

• Soil Point: A humic and fulvic acid-based soil conditioner, providing trace minerals and improving soil structure to support crop establishment, growth, and quality.
• Sea2Soil: A fish protein hydrolysate offering readily available amino acids and trace elements for both plant and soil health.
• Slygen: A microbial blend of beneficial bacteria and fungi that enhances soil biology and promotes plant growth.
• Kelp Crofters: A seaweed-based product rich in auxins, cytokinins, and gibberellins, designed to stimulate growth and improve resilience to stress events
• QLF TerraFed: Filtered molasses delivering plant-available sugars to feed both plants and soil microbiology.
• BIOCAT: A novel phage-based technology targeting harmful soil bacteria, aiming to rebalance soil microbiomes and support yield and grain protein levels.

The project will also contribute to the Sustainable Land Management outcomes including:

• Maximise carbon storage
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Clean water
• Resource efficient