Italy - Parma

In 2015, nadicom began a field trial in Parma, Italy at the experimental farm STUARD, which is part of the University of Parma. The Parma region is well-known for the cultivation of Lucerne (Alfalfa), playing a big role in the production of the unique Italian cheese Parmigiano-Reggiano. Lucerne has high protein content and is used for cattle feeding in this region.

As well as Lucerne, different varieties of clover (such as Trifolium incarnatum) are cultivated in Italy as a cover crop and used for cattle feeding.

Rhizobia (field trials 2016 – 2018)
 
Three different varieties of Lucerne were inoculated with nadicom’s rhizobia mix on the basis of Ensifer meliloti and its effectiveness was tested in comparison to untreated seeds.
 
Application:   coated or directly inoculated before sowing
Start:            spring 2016 for 2 years
 
Results after one year:
  • nadicom’s rhizobia mix is effective for all three varieties
  • significant difference to untreated plants especially after 2nd or 3rd cut (regarding root mass, dry mass)  
 
Bacillus subtilis (field trials 2016 – 2018)
 
The effectiveness of Bacillus subtillis has been tested on untreated lucerne as natural plant protection.
 
Application:   sprayed onto plants
Start:             spring 2016 for 2 years
 
Results after one year:
  • Tripling of dry mass compared to untreated plants
 
rhizo power® mix (field trials 2017 – 2019)
 
The effectiveness of a specific rhizo power® mix (Bacillus subtilis, Azotobacter and rhizobia) on processing tomatoes is being tested.