Biostimulant are a new growing category of agricultural product. They are derived from naturally occuring substances and organisms that can stimulate plant growth via improved nutrient and water use efficiency. Moreover, some biostimulant provide protection from abiotic stress.
Hence today, we summarize you different types of biostimulants and explain it’s benefits.
Humic and Fulvic Acids
Natural components of soil organic matter. These are essential for soil fertility and promote root nutrition through varying mechanisms e.g. the increased uptake of macro and micro nutrients.
Protein hydrolysates and other N-containing compounds
Amino-acids and peptides mixtures obtained from agro industrial by-products. Direct effects on plants include modulation of N uptake and assimilation, by the regulation of enzymes involved in N assimilation and of their structural genes and by acting on the signaling pathway of N acquisition in roots.
Seaweed Extracts and Botanicals
Seaweed has been used for a long time as a source of organic matter. Extracts of brown seaweeds are widely used on horticultural crops largely for their plant growth-promoting effects and to promote crop tolerance to abiotic stresses such as salinty, extreme temperatures, nutrient deficiency and drought.
Other constituents contributing to the plant growth promotion include micro-and macronutrients, sterols, N-containing compounds like betaines, and plant hormones such as auxins.
Chitosan and other biopolymers
Chitosan is a deacetylated form of the biopolymer chitin and has been used to stimulate plant growth, and abiotic stress tolerance, and to induce pathogen resistance.
Beneficial Fungi and Bacteria
These products can be single strains or mixtures of micro-organisms. Fungi interact with plant roots in different ways, from mutualistic symbioses (i.e.when both organisms live in direct contact with each other and establish mutually beneficial relationships) to parasitism.
Inorganic Compounds
The five main beneficial elements are AI, Co, Na, Se and Si, present in soils and in plant as different inorganic salts and as insoluble forms like amorphous silica (SiO2.nH2O) in grass species.
