Crop potential begins with good establishment, and biostimulants can be used right at the very start using a seed treatment.
Crop potential begins with good establishment, and biostimulants can be used right at the very start using a seed treatment.
“Auxin is what makes shoot tips grow upwards, and root tips down. The only source of this for a germinating seed is from the seed itself, which can be negatively influenced by climatic conditions at ripening, resulting in lower establishment vigour.
“UPL’s SUNAGREEN-ST optimises the pathways in which the auxin hormone is created, giving the crop the tools it needs from the moment it’s planted.”
SUNAGREEN-ST contains anthranilic acid, an amino acid used to synthesise the auxin hormone, and salicilic acid which contributes to auxin maintenance by restricting the breakdown of the hormone in the plant.
Stephen and David Eales of Upper Chancton Farm in West Sussex evaluated the benefits of SUNAGREEN-ST on a field scale in spring barley two years ago. Stephen said: “The speed and consistency of emergence in the crop was remarkable. The barley was planted mid-March and was up and away in 10 days.”
Following the results in year one, Stephen and David were keen to utilise the benefits of the treatment over a larger area. David added “Establishment is critical, as once you have a plant, you have something to work with. We farm a range of soil types, but whether it is chalk or sandier soils, getting the plants established and looking for nutrients makes the crop more resilient.
“SUNAGREENST gives us even crops, making management decisions such as herbicide timings more straight forward.”
Once established, yield potential is then driven by good rooting and tillering - something that biostimulants can again help to influence.
VITALROOT contains natural seaweed extract, GA142, which is extracted from Ascophyllum nodosum. GA142 is essentially a concentrate of complex sugars that increases the production of enzymes in the plant, enabling increased water translocation and accelerated root growth so improving nutrient access.
In independent trials, VITALROOT consistently improved root and shoot biomass by 30 - 40% over untreated plants; outperforming popular phosphite products. It also increased tiller numbers by up to 30% due to the increased enzyme activity and water movement in the plant.
Rob added “Improved rooting provides an insurance policy against potential drought later in the season and can help a crop’s ability to overcome stress. This all contributes to yield potential. In six replicated spring barley trials, UPL recorded an average yield response of 7% (0.4t/ha) when VITALROOT was applied at the start of tillering.
“Using SUNAGREEN-ST and VITALROOT in a programme can give spring barley the biomass it requires to maximise yield potential.”
