Biostimulants provide boost against blight

Applications of silicon biostimulants can increase potato yields by almost 20% – and help the plant’s defence against  blight, claims a manufacturer.

Orion Future Technologies says the yield of a Melody potato crop increased by 18% by adding two biostimulants – Sirius and Pluton – at a concentration of 500ml/ha to the standard tank mix across eight applications.

A separate trial sought to understand the impact of using biostimulants to strengthen potato plants to better withstand late blight. This trial used Sirius, a silicon-based biostimulant; with Trident, a micronutrient product.

Common stresses

Trident is a copper and zinc formulation said to stimulate plant health and protect against common stresses. In the trial, a concentration of 3 litres/ha of Trident was combined with a 500ml/ha concentration of Sirius every week for 12 weeks.

The outcome of the additional micronutrient and silicon boost meant only 18% of the crop was affected by blight compared to 20% with the standard tank mix, says Orion agronomist Kate Williams.

The control sample crop succumbed entirely, with 100% of the crop affected by blight, showing the devastating threat blight poses to potato crops.

“Silicon helps to strengthen a plant’s natural defences and also helps it to take up more nutrients,” says Ms Williams.

“This is why using a silicon biostimulant in addition to copper and zinc has helped the treated sample to stand up to blight.”

Rising costs

The two trials demonstrate how a plant-first approach can be beneficial to improving both yield and resilience, adds Ms Williams.

Rising input costs, environmental instability and pressure to deliver high quality potatoes mean biological and sustainable products are increasingly seen as an opportunity to help growers remain profitable.

“Bringing new products that focus on strengthening plants natural defences to complement existing strategies has provided encouraging results.”

To increase yield is always a goal, but to do so with the added benefit of helping crops manage environmental and disease stresses is an important breakthrough.”