Biostimulants help against drought stress

March was record dry, while April is usually the driest month of the year! Dealing with drought is a major challenge and will unfortunately become more common due to climate change.

2021 research shows that the use of Biostimulants in potato cultivation can significantly reduce crop drought stress during dry periods, provided it is applied carefully.

Effective, precision work and more tubers

• The biostimulants were effective in preventing the adverse effects of drought in the potato crop. This was measured in the greenhouse trials of both 2020 and 2021.
• The biostimulants had a positive effect against wilting, especially during drought conditions at the early crop stage.
• In a field trial where no drought had occurred at that time and sufficient nutrients were available, most biostimulants resulted in a larger number (> 50) of large tubers measured.
• When environmental factors (such as fertilization) are not optimal and biostimulants are used at the wrong time, the effects can also be negative. A use at the right time with well-founded advice is therefore a major factor in the success of these agents.

What are biostimulants?
In addition to the classic resources in agriculture and horticulture (fertilizers and pesticides), there is now a very broad and growing group of resources that do not yet have a status: biostimulants. These mainly include resources based on seaweed and algae extract, organic acids, proteins, amino acids, chitin, compost and plant growth-promoting micro-organisms. In the above-mentioned research, various biostimulants were used, including: betaine, amino acids, seaweed extract, micro-organisms and absorbent.

_{Sources:
Green Knowledge Network - Biostimulants: an overview
Green knowledge network - Dealing with drought in potato cultivation
Green Knowledge Network - Effect of biostimulants on drought stress in potatoes 2020/2021}

More information:
Groenkennisnet - Dossier: Biostimulants
Professional information for arable farmers - Groen Kennisnet
Professional information for the open-field gardener - Groen Kennisnet