BiOWiSH Technologies has discovered the solution to end crop residue burning, a global farming practice that causes significant human health and environmental problems resulting from emissions. The Sydney-based firm has successfully completed a trial that tripled crop yields without the need for burning crop residue. Utilizing its core biotechnology, BiOWiSH Technologies has developed a crop protection product called BiOWiSH Crop that has the ability to accelerate the decomposition of crop residue, suppress fungal disease, and release nutrients back into the soil.
In a controlled experiment, the company worked with farmers to treat several plots containing unburned rice crop residue with BiOWiSH-Crop and the herbicide “glyphosate” prior to planting corn seed meal. When compared against plots where rice crop residue was burned, the treated plots surpassed the production yield of the burned plots by up to 268 percent.
The controlled experiment was conducted in Northern Thailand where farmers plant rice and corn seed meal on a rotating basis during the year. Another three farms are scheduled to use the new solution in November 2009, this time adopting additional measures to further enhance the initial results.
Crop residue, if left unburned, improves soil fertility by increasing soil moisture and re-introducing essential nutrients into the soil, reducing the need for fertilizers.
Utilizing conservation tillage technology, BiOWiSH Technologies has the ability to accelerate the decomposition of crop residue, suppress fungal disease, and release nutrients back into the soil.