Many growers have become comfortable with adding seaweeds or kelps into their crop programs, given their ability have a “hormone-like” effect on a plant. Plants produce hormones naturally to regulate certain functions. Seaweeds and kelps are especially good at...
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If You’re Not Using Biostimulants, You Should!
Agricultural growing practices have been evolving towards organic, sustainable or environmentally friendly systems. Part of that process is growers being open to the application of a new line of tools that complement the plant’s natural operating system. Plant...
Excess Phosphorus: When You Have Too Much of a Good Thing
Phosphorus is crucial for plant growth. It helps plants acquire, transfer and store the energy that helps them flourish. But, as is so often the case in plant biology, you can have too much of this good thing. Phosphorus buildup is caused by excessive use of inorganic...
What Drought? Now Too Much Water Can Be A Problem
With the much needed rainfall that we received this season still ongoing, it’s important to note that extra water can have a detrimental effect on soil fertility. In poor soils where nutrients have little organic matter to cling to, or even in good soils that have...
The Many Beneficial Effects of Flavonoids
As we head into bloom for many of our perennials, it’s important to do all that we can to ensure pollen tube germination and hormone transport. Let’s look at flavonoids. In plants, flavonoids are secondary metabolites that act as pigments but also play important roles...
Micronutrients vs. Plant Disease and Pest Pressure
Mineral nutrients are essential for the growth and development of plants and microorganisms, and they are important factors in plant-disease interactions. Nutritional disorders are basically physiological disorders in the plants that affect productivity as well as the...
Bacillus: The Germ of an Idea for Better Crop Yields
There is a lot of talk about the benefits of Bacillus, a kind of bacteria, in agriculture. It already can be a bit overwhelming, but I would imagine the talk will only increase. The plural, Bacilli, is the name of the class of bacteria defined as typically rod shaped,...
Counter-Balancing Excess Nitrogen Use
We know that over fertilization of crops, especially perennial crops, can have both crop and environment consequences. Growers justify overfertilizing as the cost is small compared to a decrease in yields. As a result, more nitrogen is excessively applied than what a...
A Hand-in-Hand Approach
When nature is in balance, plants grow well, reproduce and remain healthy, naturally resisting pests and disease. The beneficial organisms in our soil break down organic matter and soil minerals, providing nutrients and building soil structure. However, with our...
Yes SIR: Boosting Plants’ Natural Defenses
Systemic Induced Response or SIR is an important way to take advantage of Mother Nature. When a plant is under attack, it releases reactive oxygen species – hydrogen peroxide and superoxide. In addition, the cells surrounding the site of infection are signaled to...