In 2023, trials of Saprogrow technology were conducted by the Biosystems and Environmental Engineering department of Jomo Kenyatta University to assess the efficacy of Saprogrow Mycorrhiza and Humate as an alternative agronomy to the traditional practice of reliance on chemical fertilizers.
The trials were conducted on four sites around the country:
JKUAT demonstration farm, Kiambu, Lelo Vegetable Farm, Kisaju Kajiado County, Marigat National Irrigation Authority Farm, Baringo County, Gideon International Orphanage Farm, Ramba, Homa Bay. At each site two crops were sown, Maize and Capsicums.
Each crop was subject to 5 main treatments:
i) C: Control – watering with no inputs;
ii) T: Traditional – with an application of DAP fertilizer at the rate of DAP:75 kg/acre;
iii) H: Saprogrow Humate only;
iv) M: Saprogrow Mycorrhiza only;
v) A: Full Saprogrow treatment of Mycorrhiza and Humate.
The trial plots were replicated 3 times at each site.
In all cases the plots treated with Saprogrow Mycorrhiza and Humate (A), consistently gave the best results EXTRACT FROM THE JKUAT FINAL REPORT
Plants grown with the full Saprogrow treatment showed high survival rates, even in dry weather, it is an indication that these products could be used in dryer regions in the country.
This study demonstrated that Saprogrow technology has the potential to increase crop yields, enhance plant growth and increase plant vigour, even in extreme weather, and for Mycorrhiza to increase plant root density and hence the ability to access more nutrients within the soil profile.
The results of these efficacy trials were consistent across the four test sites. Maize yield consistently showed that the use of Saprogrow products, a combination of Mycorrhiza and Humate, increased yields. Similarly, capsicum showed consistent increase in yield with the use of Saprogrow products in all four sites. Hence the one-season results were used to make the following conclusion:
The combination of Saprogrow Mycorrhiza and Humate (Treatment A) showed significant effects compared to the rest of the treatments in terms of yield, root analysis and plant growth characteristics for the plants under study. The table below shows the average across the 4 trial sites of the increase in yield over the Control of both the crops planted with chemical fertilizer and with Saprogrow.
EXTRACT FROM THE JKUAT FINAL REPORT SUBMITTED TO KEPHIS, RECOMMENDING REGISTRATION APPROVAL OF SAPROGROW MYCORHHIZA AND HUMATE PRODUCTS.
Plants grown with the full Saprogrow treatment showed high survival rates, even in dry weather, it is an indication that these products could be used in dryer regions in the country.
This study demonstrated that Saprogrow technology has the potential to increase crop yields, enhance plant growth and increase plant vigour, even in extreme weather, and for Mycorrhiza to increase plant root density and hence the ability to access more nutrients within the soil profile.
The results of these efficacy trials were consistent across the four test sites. Maize yield consistently showed that the use of Saprogrow products, a combination of Mycorrhiza and Humate, increased yields. Similarly, capsicum showed consistent increase in yield with the use of Saprogrow products in all four sites. Hence the one-season results were used to make the following conclusion:
The combination of Saprogrow Mycorrhiza and Humate (Treatment A) showed significant effects compared to the rest of the treatments in terms of yield, root analysis and plant growth characteristics for the plants under study.
Biosystems and Environmental Engineering department of JKUAT
