Phytostimulants considered as anti-stress formula for soybeans and corn

During the last crop season in different Argentinean regions, a large number of tests on soybean and corn conducted by recognized plant pathologists found that phytostimulants (providing phosphite, amino acids, and micronutrients) applied during the vegetative stage or early reproductive stage were key to encouraging the crop to achieve higher yields.

Different experts and advisors have been evaluating multiple properties of phosphite phytostimulants. It is known that these products help to increase the natural defenses of crops, and new data collected suggest they are a key source of energy in stressful situations at the early nutrition stage.

Advisors who evaluated the technology in the southeast region believe the products Top Zinc and Ultra Mn showed an anti-stress effect in soybeans. Stress (either water or soils degraded by high temperatures) generates a reaction in plants and consequently reduces growth. Assays in plots with Top Zinc used as a seed treatment and foliar applications of Ultra Mn in the early stages showed an increase in yield of 400kg. In this region, trials had average yields of 4,393kg/ha.

In the southwest region, researchers had the task of analyzing the effect of different management technologies on crop yield, including the use of phytostimulants. Different doses were tested. All treatments showed at least 300kg/ha more than the control. Only the highest dose (300cc/ha) showed a significant difference over the control 476kg/ha.

In the centre of the humid Pampa region, the effectiveness of Ultra soy fertilizer was evaluated. The application of this product saw positive responses to the three selected strategies, with statistical differences that separated the control, and it did not generate phytotoxicity. An analysis of the Duncan test showed that the application achieved better results at two phenological stages of the crop (V3 and R1), resulting in a 9% increase (approximately 300kg/ha more than the control) in yield, while the full-dose applications in the vegetative or reproductive stages produced 150kg/ha.

Phytostimulants were also tested in RR corn. Top Zinc and Ultra Mn were applied to the crop, sown on September 27. At flowering, the corn went through a stage of water stress and high temperatures. The application of Ultra plus glyphosate produced 6,937kg of corn, while the control produced 6,095kg, and Top Zinc produced 1,300kg/ha more than the control.