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 Date | 100% | 75% | 50% | Target |
| 6-May | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22-May | 1.25 | 0.9375 | 0.625 | 1.25 |
| 6-Jun | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22-Jun | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7-Jul | 2.25 | 1.6875 | 1.125 | 2.25 |
| 22-Jul | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8-Aug | 1.75 | 1.3125 | 0.875 | 0 |
| 22-Aug | 1.5 | 1.125 | 0.75 | 0 |
| 6-Sep | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 6.75 | 5.0625 | 3.375 | 3.5 |
| Compared to Regional Average | 86% Less Water than Regional Average | 90 % Less Water than Regional Average | 93% Less Water than Regional Average | 93% Less Water than Regional Average |
Table of Irrigation Values and Yield Performance by Category
| Season Total Water (in inches) | Alfalfa Harvest Stage | Irrigation | Treatment | RFV Value | RFV Difference | RFV Difference % | RFV Advantage | RFV Rating |
| 6.75 | First Cutting | 100% | Bactelife | 224 | 19 | 9.27% | Bactelife | Supreme |
| *Regional average is 48 inches per acre. 100% irrigation value represents 86% less than region ave water use per acre | Untreated | 205 | ||||||
| Second Cutting | 100% | Bactelife | 192 | 27 | 16.36% | Bactelife | Supreme | |
| Untreated | 165 | |||||||
| Third Cutting | 100% | Bactelife | 209 | 34 | 19.43% | Bactelife | Supreme | |
| Untreated | 175 | |||||||
| 5.0625 | First Cutting | 75% | Bactelife | 198 | 7 | 3.66% | Bactelife | Supreme |
| *Regional average is 48 inches per acre. 75% irrigation value represents 90% less than region ave water use per acre | Untreated | 191 | ||||||
| Second Cutting | 75% | Bactelife | 237 | 49 | 26.06% | Bactelife | Supreme | |
| Untreated | 188 | |||||||
| Third Cutting | 75% | Bactelife | 237 | 30 | 14.49% | Bactelife | Supreme | |
| Untreated | 207 | |||||||
| 3.375 | First Cutting | 50% | Bactelife | 206 | 34 | 19.77% | Bactelife | Supreme |
| *Regional average is 48 inches per acre. 50% irrigation value represents 93% less than region ave water use per acre | Untreated | 172 | ||||||
| Second Cutting | 50% | Bactelife | 172 | 15 | 9.55% | Bactelife | Premium | |
| Untreated | 157 | |||||||
| Third Cutting | 50% | Bactelife | 230 | 52 | 29.21% | Bactelife | Supreme | |
| Untreated | 178 | |||||||
| 3.5 | First Cutting | Target 50% | Bactelife | 188 | 8 | 4.44% | Bactelife | Supreme |
| *Regional average is 48 inches per acre. Target irrigation value represents a 93%% less than region ave water use per acre | Untreated | 180 | ||||||
| Second Cutting | Target 50% | Bactelife | 181 | 19 | 11.73% | Bactelife | Premium | |
| Untreated | 162 | |||||||
| Third Cutting | Target 50% | Bactelife | 244 | 36 | 17.31% | Bactelife | Supreme | |
| Untreated | 208 |