After its introduction in the marketplace a year ago, Optimize Promoter Technology for soybeans continues to show great results in offering soybean growers higher-yielding, more profitable crops.  Optimize patented technology developed by Nitragin, Inc., is a natural bacterial compound that accelerates and enhances early season soybean vigor. 

Over four years of field test data show that soybeans treated with Optimize return a profitable yield increase and are more likely to reach their maximum protein content.  The field test data shows an average of 5.1 bushels more per acre in both new and rotated ground compared to untreated seed, that’s an average revenue increase of $35.49 per acre.

“Optimize has multiple modes of action,” says Pat Reed, North American Soybean Market Manager.  “It actively functions as a growth promoter to improve early-season vigor, stand, enhanced root system, earlier canopy closure and improved yield.”  Reed says that field trial results demonstrate that Optimize is an ideal complement to seed treatments, with its high level of compatibility and viability for 30 days on seed.

“Treating soybean seeds with Optimize is a more cost effective way to ensure sufficient nitrogen and reduce the need for nitrogen fertilizer,” says Reed.   “When soybean fields with Optimize are rotated to corn, Optimize maximizes the nitrogen credits normally taken with soybeans, making it an economical tool for crop rotations”, Reed added.

Reed said that Nitragin is currently conducting even more studies and will have that data available soon to soybean growers.  “We are committed to helping soybean growers increase their return on investment by offering products that improve quality and yield”.

Nitragin, Inc. is an affiliate of Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany.  Merck is a global pharmaceutical and chemical company with sales of €7.3 billion in 2003.  The company employs more than 28,000 employees in 56 countries.