Plant Nutrition of Greenhouse Crops
Application of Biostimulants in Greenhouse Production
The term “biostimulant” covers a broad range of substances that are used to promote plant nutrition but are not considered either fertilizers or pesticides because they (usually) do not contain nutrients or eradicate pests. Instead, biostimulants are intended to modify the physiological process of plants in order to better receive or process nutrients, or to prevent stress that would result in nutrient depletion.
Benefits of Biostimulants
The European Biostimulants Industry Council lists the benefits of biostimulants as:
Biostimulant Categories
Biostimulants have especially caught the attention of organic farmers and those interested in sustainable food production as a substitute for more conventional synthetic fertilizers, but many greenhouse managers are starting to utilize biostimulants for their beneficial properties. From using salicylic acid to increase quality and essential oils in herbs, to applying biostimulants early in production so that horticulture crops can better withstand postharvest stress, biostimulants are a wide range of products with a wide range of applications. The biostimulant issue of Scientia Horticulturae divided biostimulants into seven categories. Other researchers combine or separate these categories, but since these are the best-defined, the seven categories are discussed as follows:
Time of Application
Biostimulants are most effective when applied early, allowing plants to become healthier during production and more able to overcome stress. Growers are unlikely to see a benefit if biostimulants are incorporated right before the plants experience stress. This is especially true for microbial inoculants. Both bacteria and fungi must have time to colonize the plant, resulting in a plant-microbe interaction that promotes growth and enhances stress tolerance.
Click on the following topics for more information on plant nutrition of greenhouse crops.
