The need to grow more food while minimising the impact on the environment is driving a push towards more sustainable farming. What does this mean for the way you farm? It means focusing on nutrient use efficiency and improving your crops’ resilience to environmental stresses so you can maximise yield.
Biostimulants make it possible to support plants’ natural processes in sub-optimal conditions, directly strengthen key crop development stages and increase your crop’s ability to resist stress. Biostimulants give the farmer the opportunity to reduce those factors that negatively affect yield and profitability, by working proactively with nature.
What is abiotic stress and how does it impact on plant health?
Abiotic stress refers to environmental factors which can have a negative impact on the growth, health, and productivity of plants. This includes temperature extremes which causes heat stress or cold stress in crops, excess rainfall, and drought. All of these cause yield loss and can have a serious impact on crop health and quality. You may have also heard about biotic stress; these are issues caused by living organisms like pests and diseases.
Types of abiotic stress in crops that can affect your farm
Here are some of the different types of abiotic stress which can impact your crops:
Abiotic stress management solutions
Abiotic stress can be a major limiting factor in crop production. However, biostimulants can help you manage crop stress before it starts, improving resilience so you can maintain productivity even when the conditions aren’t optimal.
What are biostimulants for abiotic stress made of?
Biostimulants are categorised as microbial or non-microbial and contain substances and/or microorganisms that support natural plant processes and protect against abiotic stress. They are made from materials such as:
Seaweed extracts: Rich in minerals, hormones, amino acids, and bioactives which plants need for healthy growth and resilience.
Humic substances: Humic and Fulvic acids are extracted from decayed animal or plant material. They improve soil health and structure, and nutrient availability.
Free amino acids: These are the building blocks of proteins that can improve crop stress resilience and promote healthy growth and repair.
Plant growth promoting bacteria and non-pathogenic fungi: These organisms improve nutrient uptake and support root growth.
Chelated minerals: Natural organic molecules are used to bind together essential minerals and micronutrients. This process ensures that the nutrients are more efficiently absorbed into the plant’s cells.
What do biostimulants for abiotic stress help with?
- Improving nutrient use efficiency and nutrient uptake. Nutrient loss is a common problem when crops are under stress conditions.
- Better tolerance to environmental stress. Biostimulants can help plants maintain their normal processes even in sub-optimal conditions.
Improved yield and quality. By optimising nutrient use and promoting healthy root growth, biostimulants can reduce the impact of abiotic stress on your crops.
