Кейс: Практический опыт по пшенице

How a family farm increased spring wheat yield by 27.7% in an unfavorable year

Yield +27.7% in a dry year

Farm profile

Name
A.V. Shvebel family farm
Size (ha)
36 ha (trial plot)
Location
Russia, Omsk Region, Odessky District
Focus
Grain crops (spring wheat, Pamyati Azieva variety)

Situation

The farm faced a number of problems limiting the profitability of wheat production:

  • Heavy dependence on chemicals — the standard program included the expensive seed treatment Tiamax SC and the biological product Elena.
  • No mineral fertilizers — yield potential was limited because no fertilizers were applied.
  • Unfavorable weather — summer 2020 was dry: the average monthly temperature was +2.0°C above normal, and total precipitation for the period was only 61 mm (well below normal).
  • Low yield — in the control it was only 11 c/ha, well below the achievable potential.

Objective

The farm had three key objectives:

  • Increase spring wheat yield without applying mineral fertilizers.
  • Reduce production costs by replacing expensive chemical products.
  • Make plants resilient to weather stress (drought, heat).

What we did

  • A field trial was set up on chernozem (autumn plowing to 15 cm). Sowing was done on May 18, 2020 with an SES-2.1 direct seeder (MTZ 1221), seeding depth 7–8 cm, seeding rate 150 kg/ha.
  • Control (baseline):
    • Seed treatment: Tiamax SC (0.7 l/t) + biological product Elena (1 l/t)
    • In-season at tillering: Elena (2 l/ha)
  • Trial (complete replacement of the program):
    • Pre-sowing seed treatment: Vermix 2 l/t
    • Foliar treatment at tillering: Vermix 2 l/ha (spray volume 300 l/ha)
    • Foliar treatment at heading: Vermix 1.5 l/ha + Biocraft-Universal 0.2 l/ha (volume 300 l/ha)
  • Harvesting was done on August 10, 2020 with a Vector 410 combine.

Results

  • Yield, c/ha

    Before
    11
    After
    14
    Change
    +3 c/ha (+27.7%)

  • Product costs (per ha), RUB

    Before
    668.16
    After
    1,299
    Change
    +630.84 RUB/ha (+94.4%)

Costs in the trial are higher due to the larger volume of products, but this is offset by the higher yield.

Additional effect:

  • Unit cost of gross output reduced by 27.7% — thanks to higher yield with a moderate increase in costs.
  • No mineral fertilizers — the produce is environmentally clean.
  • Greater resistance to drought and high temperatures (actual daytime temperature +22°C vs. the 19.7°C norm, precipitation deficit).
  • Grain moisture in the trial and control — 12–12.5% (standard).

Economics

954.84 RUB
Additional investment per ha
1,299 – 344.16
3,600 RUB
Additional revenue per ha
3 c × 12,000 RUB/t
2,645.16 RUB
Net profit per ha
3,600 – 954.84
95,225.76 RUB
Net profit from the entire plot (36 ha)
2,645.16 × 36
≈ 177%
ROI
((3,600 – 954.84) / 954.84) × 100%

Selling price of class 3 wheat – 12,000 RUB/t (as of 2020). Cost of Vermix – 300 RUB/l, biological product Elena – 150 RUB/l.

Evidence

  • Production report signed by the head of the family farm A.V. Shvebel and the director of Fiterra LLC M.A. Bukreev.
  • Comparative field trial on 36 ha with a control (baseline) and a trial plot.
  • Data on yield (14 c/ha vs. 11 c/ha), moisture and costs.
  • Weather conditions were recorded (temperature, precipitation), confirming the stress background.
  • Economic calculation with prices and application rates.
The technology applied on the trial field increased spring wheat yield by 27.7% under drought and heat, eliminated expensive chemical seed treatments, and delivered a net profit of over 95 thousand rubles from 36 ha with a 177% return on investment.

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