Sound Agriculture has launched INFLECT, a seed-applied biological designed for corn acres receiving high levels of ammonium-based fertility, including anhydrous ammonia and manure applications. The product delivered an average 6.0 bushels per acre yield increase and a 92 per cent win rate across 12 trial locations in Illinois, Kansas and Missouri in 2025, according to the company.
The launch targets a specific challenge associated with intensive ammonium fertility. While anhydrous ammonia and manure remain important nitrogen sources for corn production, the conditions they create can place stress on soil microbial communities. Anhydrous ammonia can acidify soil within the application band and suppress sensitive microorganisms, while manure-derived nitrogen can remain tied up in organic forms and become available only after periods of peak crop demand.
Sound Agriculture says these conditions can affect root development, microbial diversity and crop resilience, creating an opportunity for biological products that support nutrient availability and plant establishment. INFLECT combines two bacterial strains, Bacillus simplex and Bacillus subtilis, with the endophytic fungal strain Clonostachys nivea. The microorganisms were selected for their ability to tolerate the high-salt and high-stress conditions associated with ammonium-heavy fertility programmes.
The biological is designed to help crops make better use of nitrogen already applied to the field while supporting early plant vigour, stand uniformity and performance under stress. “High ammonium creates a harsh environment for soil biology — it reduces microbial diversity, which leads to inconsistent root development and lower yields,” said Jeff Divan, Vice President of Agronomy at Sound Agriculture. “In trials comparing different nitrogen sources, INFLECT consistently improved root area and fresh shoot weight in plants grown under ammonium-heavy fertility.”
Economics become part of the product proposition
For the 2027 growing season, INFLECT will be priced at USD 12 per acre, with early-order pricing available to growers placing orders by October 15, 2026. Based on the company's reported 6.0 bu/acre average yield improvement and a corn price of $ 5.32 per bushel as of September 10, 2026, Sound Agriculture estimates a return of approximately $ 32 per acre, representing a 2.7-to-1 return on the product investment.
The company is also offering a cash-back performance guarantee under which eligible growers who do not see a return can claim back up to the full cost of INFLECT, subject to the programme's terms. INFLECT expands Sound Agriculture's biological portfolio alongside SOURCE, a signalling chemistry designed to improve nitrogen and phosphorus efficiency, and BLUEPRINT, an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi solution focused on nutrient and water uptake.
The three-product portfolio reflects the company's strategy of combining biological and bio-inspired technologies with conventional nutrient-management practices rather than treating soil health and crop productivity as separate objectives. “INFLECT is a natural extension of what we set out to build with SOURCE and BLUEPRINT: solutions that are designed to help growers achieve better yields while protecting their soil health and their bottom line,” said Paul Beck, CEO of Sound Agriculture. “INFLECT restores soil biology on some of the toughest acres, and we’re proud to bring that soil health solution within reach for more growers.”
With its focus on fields exposed to intensive ammonium fertility, INFLECT gives Sound Agriculture a more targeted biological proposition for corn growers seeking to improve nitrogen utilisation and crop performance while maintaining established fertility practices.
