Orion FT is stating that biostimulants could help struggling crops after one of the wettest winters on record.
“Prolonged soil saturation impacts rooting and can cause roots to die off. However, using a silicon biostimulant to strengthen the root can improve the plant’s ability to obtain nutrients and recover from the lack of oxygen caused when soils are saturated,” explained agronomist Mike Stoker.
“Providing a winter wheat plant, that has been growing in waterlogged soils, with supplementary silicon, changes its tolerance to stress and improves leaf and tiller growth, which will set the plant up to photosynthesise more effectively in spring and summer.”
He explained that crops that have sat in wet soils throughout winter and spring will have ‘lazy’ roots, before adding that a spring or summer drought is still probable based on the weather patterns of previous years.
“Weather extremes are becoming more common and it would not be extraordinary for cereal crops to soon be experiencing drought, as many did in June last year. Lazy roots fail to reach deep enough in these conditions to find sufficient moisture and so the plant suffers both having been starved of oxygen in saturated soils and of water in periods of drought. This will have a significant impact on yield if not addressed,” he said.
Once absorbed, silicon is deposited within and between the cells of the plant and it also encourages crops to absorb beneficial elements such as nitrogen, calcium, and zinc.
“Silicon can be applied at every crop growth stage using a variety of application methods. This season it is likely to be best utilised as a foliar spray but it can also be applied direct to soil, as a seed treatment or via fertigation. For those struggling to deal with weather extremes, biostimulants offer a cost-effective and sustainable option to getting back on track by strengthening plants’ natural defences.”
For more information go to www.orionft.com