USU Wellsville: Alfalfa Protein Summary

USU Wellsville: Alfalfa Protein Summary

Utah State University Research Team

Matt Yost. Agroclimatic Extension Specialist. Plants, Soils, and Climate (PSC)

Tina Sullivan. Ph.D. Plant Science. Plants, Soils, and Climate (PSC)

2023 Preliminary Results

Result #1

Bactelife Higher RFV 100% in all Tests

In all cases (100%), Bactelife treated alfalfa outperformed untreated alfalfa in Relative Feed Value (RFV). RFV is the most important economic indicator of alfalfa and represents the crop nutrient feed value. 

Result #2

Advanced Water Reduction

Test fields used less than 86% of average water use and had comparable yields in tonnage to regional alfalfa production. 

Result #3

Near-Average Yields Without Fertilizer

With no fertilizer of any form, Bactelife Performed near region averages in production. 

2023 Water Stress Testing of “Nano Symbiotic Catalyst Technology”

This technology merges two technologies: Plant growth Promoting Fungi and Bacteria (Known as bioinoculants or biofertilizers) combined with Nano Sized Nutrients (78 trace minerals and small amounts of NPK). These technologies combined enable farmers to reduce water and nutrients between 30-50%. Utah State University tested Bactelife Industries’ “Nano Symbiotic Technology” on Alfalfa from May to September 2023 at the USU Wellsville location. USU researchers designed and executed a “Water Stress” test to measure performance in Untreated and Bactelife alfalfa plots with 100% irrigation (no water stress) to 50% irrigation (50% less water, increased water stress). Irrigation was divided between 4 watering events over the entire year. In a region that uses between 42 and 48 inches of water, USU research irrigated between 6.75 and 3.375 inches of water in the 100% to 50% irrigation. This represents an advanced water stress model of 86% to 93% reduction in water compared to farmers surrounding the USU test site. Furthermore, no fertilizer or herbicides have been used on these fields since 2022 (2 years of no fertilizer application). 

Alfalfa Irrigation by Treatment by Water Turn

(Inches of Water)

2023 Date100%75%50%Target
6-May0000
22-May1.250.93750.6251.25
6-Jun0000
22-Jun0000
7-Jul2.251.68751.1252.25
22-Jul0000
8-Aug1.751.31250.8750
22-Aug1.51.1250.750
6-Sep0000
Total6.755.06253.3753.5
Compared to Regional Average86% Less Water than Regional Average90 % Less Water than Regional Average93% Less Water than Regional Average93% Less Water than Regional Average

Table of Irrigation Values and Yield Performance by Category

Season Total Water (in inches)Alfalfa Harvest StageIrrigationTreatmentRFV ValueRFV DifferenceRFV Difference %RFV AdvantageRFV Rating
6.75First Cutting100%Bactelife224199.27%BactelifeSupreme
*Regional average is 48 inches per acre. 100% irrigation value represents 86% less than region ave water use per acreUntreated205
Second Cutting100%Bactelife1922716.36%BactelifeSupreme
Untreated165
Third Cutting100%Bactelife2093419.43%BactelifeSupreme
Untreated175
5.0625First Cutting75%Bactelife19873.66%BactelifeSupreme
*Regional average is 48 inches per acre. 75% irrigation value represents 90% less than region ave water use per acreUntreated191
Second Cutting75%Bactelife2374926.06%BactelifeSupreme
Untreated188
Third Cutting75%Bactelife2373014.49%BactelifeSupreme
Untreated207
3.375First Cutting50%Bactelife2063419.77%BactelifeSupreme
*Regional average is 48 inches per acre. 50% irrigation value represents 93% less than region ave water use per acreUntreated172
Second Cutting50%Bactelife172159.55%BactelifePremium
Untreated157
Third Cutting50%Bactelife2305229.21%BactelifeSupreme
Untreated178
3.5First CuttingTarget 50%Bactelife18884.44%BactelifeSupreme
*Regional average is 48 inches per acre. Target irrigation value represents a 93%% less than region ave water use per acreUntreated180
Second CuttingTarget 50%Bactelife1811911.73%BactelifePremium
Untreated162
Third CuttingTarget 50%Bactelife2443617.31%BactelifeSupreme
Untreated208