This season, we tested Biotrinsic® Z15, a biological seed treatment from Indigo Ag designed to enhance root health, improve nutrient uptake, and support yield stability under stress. Our goal was simple — to see how this product would perform under real-world, on-farm conditions here at Maranatha Acres in Northwest Ohio.
We ran this trial side-by-side in a high soybean cyst nematode (SCN) pressure field, comparing HiSoy® HS25E30 soybeans treated with Biotrinsic® Z15 against an untreated check of the same variety. This field’s lighter, sandy soil and late-season drought stress made it a great testing ground to see whether Z15 could offer any measurable advantage under tougher growing conditions.
Trial Overview
This trial was planted on May 14, 2025, on a farm with sandy loam soils and high soybean cyst nematode (SCN) pressure. The field was conventionally tilled — disced in the fall to incorporate cereal rye cover crop, then the cover crop was terminated in the spring. Due to the heavy corn residue from the 2024 crop, portions of the field were lightly worked again in the spring to help dry out the surface and create a suitable seedbed for planting.
Soybeans were planted in 30-inch rows at a target seeding rate of 125,000 seeds per acre, with 8 gallons per acre of 28% nitrogen and 10/34/0 fertilizer applied 2×2.
The planter was split — 12 rows total, 6 rows per treatment planted down and back, one treated with Biotrinsic® Z15 and the other untreated.
To capture reliable data, we harvested and weighed each strip individually, with moisture and test weight recorded to determine yield accuracy.
Harvest took place on October 3, 2025, following a hot, dry finish to the season and limited late-summer rainfall — challenging conditions that helped us evaluate whether the Z15 biological provided any advantage under environmental stress.
Trial Results
| Treatment | Variety | Moisture (%) | Yield (bu/ac) | Test Weight (lbs/bu) | Gross Income ($/Acre)* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Untreated | HiSoy HS25E30 | 13.6 | 33.25 | 57.3 | $299.22 |
| + Biotrinsic® Z15 | HiSoy HS25E30 | 13.3 | 33.58 | 57.4 | $302.25 |
*Gross income calculated using a $9.00 soybean cash price. (wish we still used $10.00 as a standard)
While the Biotrinsic® Z15 treatment showed a +0.33 bu/ac increase, the margin was small, essentially within the range of natural field variability.
Even so, the trial provided valuable insight into how the product performed on our ground under stress conditions.
Weighted Average Analysis
Since this was a single-strip side-by-side trial, we didn’t calculate a multi-replicate average like our full test plots. However, comparing it against national weighted averages and broader datasets helps paint a clearer picture of Biotrinsic® Z15’s potential.
Across larger-scale, multi-location trials compiled by Evergreen FS and other cooperators, Z15 has shown consistent yield bumps of 2–3 bushels per acre on soybeans — well above the neutral-to-slight gain observed in our single-strip comparison.
| Source | Crop | Product | Avg. Response (bu/ac) | # of Trials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evergreen FS (Neil Eimer, 2025) | Soybeans | Biotrinsic® Z15 | +2.7 | 46 |
| GAPS FS (2025) | Soybeans | Biotrinsic® Z15 | +3.0 | Multiple |
| Northern Illinois Trials (2025) | Soybeans | Biotrinsic® Z15 | +3.0 | 1 |
| Maranatha Acres (2025) | Soybeans | Biotrinsic® Z15 | +0.33 | 1 |
While our local result came in below the broader average, it aligns with the trend that Z15 performs best under moderate stress and more uniform moisture conditions; our field didn’t quite deliver this year.
Observations and Takeaways
Even though the yield difference was minor, this trial reinforced several key lessons for our farm and future biological testing.
Variety Consistency Matters: The HiSoy® HS25E30 variety used in this trial was one of our top performers in the 2024 Soybean Test Plot, particularly on lighter soils. That consistency gave us confidence in using it again for a fair side-by-side comparison.
Z15’s Subtle Advantages: We noticed slightly more early-season vigor in the treated soybeans — especially in root mass growth. While that didn’t translate into large yield differences, it may point toward stronger early root development, something worth tracking in future trials.
Return on Investment: At approximately $5–6 per acre, Z15 would need to deliver at least a 2 bu/ac increase to justify the cost. While our strip didn’t hit that mark, other field data across the Midwest suggests the product can pay off under certain conditions.
Peking Performance: Not all Peking varieties are created equal — it’s a complex trait controlled by three genes and can be difficult to breed consistently. Pioneer’s long history with this trait has shown strong, stable performance, and that continues to influence our seed decisions.
Broader Product Potential
While our soybean data was limited to a single strip of treated and untreated, Biotrinsic® products have also shown promise in corn. Growers across Illinois and Missouri are reporting +5.4 bu/ac gains with Biotrinsic® X19 on corn and similar performance to Z15 in soybeans. We didn’t have a corn comparison strip this year, but it’s something we may explore in 2026 as biologicals continue to evolve and expand.
Why On-Farm Research Matters
Products like Biotrinsic® Z15 represent the next step in crop management — using biologicals to enhance soil health, microbial balance, and yield potential. But as this trial shows, real-world testing matters most.
Not every product will shine in every field or soil type, but by running these comparisons on our own ground, we can make better, data-driven decisions for our farm and help other producers do the same.
Looking Ahead
This marks our third soybean trial of the year at Maranatha Acres, and we plan to continue testing new technologies that could improve yield stability and soil resilience.
While 2025’s Z15 trial didn’t deliver a major yield bump, it helped confirm what’s working — and where the opportunities for improvement lie. We’ll keep exploring, learning, and sharing those findings along the way.