New Agronomic Research Highlights the Potential of ECORIC in Sustainable Maize Production
As agricultural producers across Africa face rising fertilizer costs and growing pressure to improve productivity, efficient nutrient management has become increasingly important. Farmers are looking for practical solutions that help maintain crop performance while reducing dependence on conventional mineral fertilizers.
A field trial conducted in Cameroon during the 2025 agricultural season provides encouraging evidence of the potential benefits of integrating ECORIC microbial biofertilizer into maize fertilization programmes. The study found that combining ECORIC with reduced supplementary mineral nitrogen application resulted in higher maize grain production than a conventional treatment using the full supplementary nitrogen dose without ECORIC.
The findings offer valuable insights for farmers, agronomists and agricultural enterprises interested in integrating biological technologies into maize production systems.
Research Conducted with Agricultural Institutions in Cameroon
The agronomic efficacy evaluation was carried out at the request of MIKLAND DAYS CAMEROUN, with the participation of the following institutions:
- The Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD).
- The Directorate of Regulation and Quality Control of Agricultural Inputs and Products (DRCQ).
The research was conducted in the Ebebda area of the Lékié Department, Central Region of Cameroon. The experimental location is characterised by a tropical environment with two rainy seasons, annual rainfall of approximately 1,500–2,000 mm and temperatures ranging from 23°C to 27°C. The trials were performed on maize (Zea mays), one of the most important staple and commercial crops cultivated across sub-Saharan Africa.
The primary objective was to evaluate the effect of ECORIC on maize growth and grain production under different supplementary mineral nitrogen application rates. Researchers also investigated whether ECORIC could support crop productivity when the quantity of supplementary nitrogen fertilizer was reduced.
About ECORIC Microbial Biofertilizer
ECORIC is a microbial agricultural product containing beneficial microorganisms, including Bacillus subtilis.
According to the trial documentation, the formulation is intended to support plant growth and stimulate beneficial microbial activity in the soil. Biological products based on beneficial microorganisms are increasingly being explored as complementary tools in integrated crop nutrition programmes. Their potential value lies in supporting plant development and improving the efficiency of agricultural production systems when used alongside appropriate crop management and mineral nutrition practices.
The Cameroon trial specifically evaluated ECORIC both without additional nitrogen supplied as urea and in combination with reduced supplementary nitrogen rates.
How the Maize Field Trial Was Structured
Researchers evaluated five different fertilization treatments to compare the performance of ECORIC under varying nitrogen management strategies.
All experimental treatments received the same basal application of NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer at 200 kg per hectare, allowing the study to focus on the effects of ECORIC and differences in supplementary nitrogen application.
The five treatments were:
| Treatment | Fertilization Programme |
|---|---|
| T0 – Control | Basal NPK only, without ECORIC or supplementary urea |
| T1 – Conventional nitrogen | Basal NPK + 100% supplementary nitrogen |
| T2 – ECORIC | Basal NPK + ECORIC, without supplementary urea |
| T3 – ECORIC + 75% nitrogen | Basal NPK + ECORIC + 75% of the conventional supplementary nitrogen dose |
| T4 – ECORIC + 50% nitrogen | Basal NPK + ECORIC + 50% of the conventional supplementary nitrogen dose |
ECORIC was applied at a rate of 3 litres per hectare, with a recommended application interval of 14 days.
Researchers measured plant growth and grain mass, with statistical analysis used to determine whether differences between treatments were significant.
Trial Results: Higher Maize Grain Production with Reduced Nitrogen
The results demonstrated a clear improvement in maize grain production when ECORIC was combined with reduced supplementary mineral nitrogen. The strongest result was recorded in the treatment combining ECORIC with 75% of the conventional supplementary nitrogen dose.
Average Grain Mass by Treatment
The following results represent the average grain mass obtained from five sampled maize plants in each experimental treatment.
| Treatment | Average Grain Mass |
|---|---|
| T0 – Control | 273.33 g |
| T1 – 100% supplementary nitrogen | 801.67 g |
| T2 – ECORIC without supplementary urea | 435.00 g |
| T3 – ECORIC + 75% nitrogen | 1,300.00 g |
| T4 – ECORIC + 50% nitrogen | 1,118.33 g |
These values represent measured grain mass from the experimental samples rather than field-scale yields expressed in tonnes per hectare.
ECORIC + 75% Nitrogen: 62.2% Higher Grain Mass
The treatment combining ECORIC with 75% of the conventional supplementary nitrogen dose produced an average grain mass of 1,300 g per five sampled plants.
This represented an increase of approximately 62.2% compared with the conventional full-nitrogen treatment, which produced 801.67 g.
Importantly, this result was achieved while reducing supplementary nitrogen application by 25%.
ECORIC + 50% Nitrogen: 39.5% Higher Grain Mass
The treatment combining ECORIC with just 50% of the conventional supplementary nitrogen dose produced an average grain mass of 1,118.33 g per five sampled plants.
This represented an increase of approximately 39.5% compared with the conventional full-nitrogen treatment.
The result is particularly relevant for farmers seeking opportunities to reduce supplementary nitrogen fertilizer inputs without sacrificing crop productivity.
In this experiment, halving the supplementary nitrogen dose while applying ECORIC was associated with significantly higher grain production than the treatment receiving the full supplementary nitrogen dose without ECORIC.
ECORIC Without Supplementary Urea
The ECORIC treatment without additional urea also demonstrated an improvement over the control treatment. Average grain mass increased from 273.33 g in the control group to 435.00 g in the ECORIC treatment, representing an increase of approximately 59.1%.
However, the statistical grouping reported in the study did not establish a significant difference between these two treatments at the 5% significance level. This distinction is important when interpreting the findings. Although ECORIC without supplementary urea showed a positive numerical response, the strongest statistically supported improvements were observed when ECORIC was combined with mineral nitrogen.
Improved Vegetative Growth and Plant Development
In addition to grain production, researchers measured plant height to evaluate differences in vegetative development.
The following average plant heights were recorded:
| Treatment | Average Plant Height |
|---|---|
| Control | 151.67 cm |
| 100% supplementary nitrogen | 220.00 cm |
| ECORIC without supplementary urea | 185.00 cm |
| ECORIC + 75% nitrogen | 225.00 cm |
| ECORIC + 50% nitrogen | 205.00 cm |
The highest average plant height, 225 cm, was recorded in the ECORIC + 75% nitrogen treatment.
This was slightly higher than the conventional nitrogen treatment at 220 cm, although the difference between those two treatments was not statistically significant. The findings indicate that ECORIC, when integrated with appropriate nitrogen nutrition, can support strong vegetative growth alongside improved grain production.
Statistical Analysis Supports the Main Findings
The trial results were evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Fisher's least significant difference (LSD) comparisons at a 5% significance level. The analysis identified significant treatment effects on both grain mass and plant height. The two ECORIC treatments combined with reduced supplementary nitrogen doses recorded statistically higher grain mass than the conventional full-nitrogen treatment.
There was no statistically significant difference in grain mass between the ECORIC + 75% nitrogen and ECORIC + 50% nitrogen treatments.
This is an important finding for fertilizer management because both reduced-nitrogen programmes performed well under the experimental conditions.
What These Results Mean for Farmers in Kenya and Across Africa
Maize is an essential crop for food security, livestock feed and agricultural incomes throughout East Africa. For farmers in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and other regional markets, fertilizer expenditure represents an important component of maize production costs. The Cameroon results suggest several potential opportunities for integrating ECORIC into maize fertilization programmes.
1. Reducing Supplementary Nitrogen Fertilizer Requirements
The trial demonstrated that supplementary nitrogen application could be reduced by 25–50% while achieving higher grain mass in the ECORIC-treated plots than in the conventional full-nitrogen treatment.
These reductions refer specifically to supplementary nitrogen supplied through urea. The basal NPK fertilizer application remained unchanged.
2. Supporting Crop Productivity
The treatments combining ECORIC with reduced nitrogen rates produced the highest grain mass values in the experiment. This suggests that integrated biological and mineral fertilization may be a promising approach to maintaining or improving crop productivity.
3. Improving Fertilizer Management Efficiency
Using biological products as part of a balanced fertilization programme may help agricultural producers optimize the use of mineral inputs. However, the most suitable fertilizer rates depend on local soil fertility, crop requirements, climatic conditions and existing farm management practices.
4. Creating Opportunities for More Cost-Effective Maize Production
Reducing supplementary fertilizer consumption can potentially lower input expenditure. Whether this translates into a net financial benefit depends on local fertilizer prices, ECORIC application costs, labour requirements and actual harvested yields. A farm-level economic assessment is therefore recommended before implementing a reduced-nitrogen programme on a commercial scale.
Why Local Field Trials Remain Important
Although the Cameroon study produced promising results, agronomic responses may differ between locations. Soil fertility, rainfall distribution, maize variety, management practices and the availability of mineral nutrients all influence crop performance. For this reason, results from one location should not automatically be interpreted as a guarantee of identical performance across other regions. Farmers interested in ECORIC should consider conducting comparative field trials under their own growing conditions.
A practical evaluation can compare the farm's conventional fertilizer programme against alternative programmes combining ECORIC with different supplementary nitrogen rates. Grain yield, plant development, fertilizer consumption and overall production costs should be monitored throughout the growing season. This approach enables growers to identify the most appropriate combination of biological and mineral inputs for their particular production system.
Recommended ECORIC Application from the Cameroon Trial
Based on the results of the study, the research report recommended ECORIC for maize production at the following application rate:
ECORIC dosage: 3 litres per hectare
Application interval: Every 14 days
The recommended programme should be considered in conjunction with local agronomic conditions and the applicable product instructions. Fertilizer reduction strategies should be evaluated carefully to ensure that crop nutritional requirements continue to be met.
Conclusion: A Promising Step Towards More Efficient Maize Fertilization
The 2025 Cameroon field trial provides encouraging evidence for the integration of ECORIC microbial biofertilizer into maize nutrition programmes. The most important result was the improvement in grain production achieved when ECORIC was combined with reduced supplementary nitrogen fertilizer rates.
Compared with the conventional full supplementary nitrogen treatment:
- ECORIC + 75% nitrogen increased average grain mass by approximately 62.2%.
- ECORIC + 50% nitrogen increased average grain mass by approximately 39.5%.
Both results were statistically significant under the experimental conditions. These findings indicate that ECORIC may offer a valuable opportunity for farmers seeking to improve maize productivity while optimizing supplementary mineral nitrogen use. Further trials across different soils, climatic conditions and production systems will help establish the consistency of these results and determine their commercial applicability.
Discover ECORIC Biological Solutions in Kenya
Complex Food Agro Limited supplies ECORIC biological agricultural products in Kenya and works with agricultural producers interested in evaluating innovative crop management solutions. We welcome enquiries from maize growers, commercial farms, agricultural cooperatives and agronomists interested in exploring the potential of ECORIC within their existing fertilization programmes.
Our team can discuss product information and opportunities for demonstration trials under local growing conditions.