Getting the most out of your fertilisation strategy can have a major impact on crop performance. But did you know that biostimulants can take your results even further? In this blog, we’ll explore how biostimulants support healthier crops and help farmers transition toward more sustainable farming practices.
What are biostimulants and how do they work?
Biostimulants are substances or microorganisms that enhance plant growth and vitality. Common ingredients include amino acids, humic and fulvic acids, seaweed extracts, beneficial microbes, and silicon-based compounds. Are they fertilisers? No, not technically. Unlike traditional fertilisers, biostimulants don’t supply nutrients directly. Instead, they help plants make better use of the nutrients already present in the soil.
Here’s how they support plant performance:
- Improved root development: biostimulants stimulate root growth, making it easier for plants to absorb water and nutrients.
- Increased nutrient availability: some biostimulants unlock nutrients in the soil, making them more accessible to the plant.
- Stress resistance: they help plants adapt better to environmental stress factors such as heat, cold, and drought.
- Microbial stimulation: they stimulate beneficial soil organisms, improving soil structure and long-term fertility.
Why include biostimulants in your fertilisation plan?
Traditional fertilisers provide essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Biostimulants ensure that these nutrients are absorbed and utilised more efficiently. This results in:
- Reduced nutrient leaching: crops use fertilisers more effectively, leading to less loss to the environment.
- Healthier plants and improved growth: thanks to better nutrient uptake and increased stress tolerance.
- Higher yields: more biomass, stronger plants, and increased productivity.
- Less stress-related damage: plants perform better under extreme weather or growing conditions.
- More sustainable farming: reduced reliance on chemicals, healthier soils, and lower environmental impact.
By incorporating biostimulants into your sustainable fertilisation plan, you’re not only benefiting the crop and the planet, but also your bottom line.
Which biostimulant should you go for?
There are different types of biostimulants, such as microbial variants that enhance soil life, and amino acid-based options that stimulate plant growth. So, which one is right for you?
At Agro-Solutions, we offer a targeted range of high-quality biostimulants:
- Siliforce (silicon compounds): reinforces plant cell walls, improves drought resistance, and improves the uptake of specific nutrients like calcium and magnesium.
- AMX (amino acids): encourages leaf and root development, and improves adhesion of other products such as crop protection products and liquid fertilisers.
- Micromix (microbial biostimulants): enhances soil structure, fertility, and quality, leading to quicker nutrient absorption from the soil.
The right choice depends on your crop’s needs, soil conditions and the specific challenges within your cultivation. Soil testing and crop analysis can provide key insights. And our team is always here to help with tailored advice.
Practical support from Agro-Solutions
We work closely with farmers and distributors to help them achieve better, healthier crop outcomes. Here’s how we support you:
- Technical training and clear guidelines on biostimulant use
- Results from our own research and field trials
- Demonstration plots to show real-world impact on growth and yield
How to apply biostimulants
Biostimulants can be applied in different ways, depending on your fertilisation strategy. Each of our products comes with specific application instructions. For example, here’s how to use Siliforce effectively:
Siliforce: foliar spray application
- Dosage: 250–400 ml per hectare
- Start at the first leaf stage, repeat every 10–15 days
- Apply 6–8 times during the growing season
Siliforce: Drip fertigation
- Dosage: 400–500 ml per hectare
- Start from the beginning of the crop cycle, repeat weekly
- Apply 6–8 times during the growing season
It’s important that both timing and dosage align with our recommendations!
Common mistakes to avoid
To get the most from biostimulants, it’s important to use them correctly. Otherwise you risk reducing the effectiveness. Here are some common pitfalls to watch out for:
- Under- or overdosing: under-application results in little to no effect; over-application may disrupt soil balance and cause unwanted reactions.
- Poor timing: applying products outside the recommended window reduces effectiveness.
- Expecting biostimulants to replace fertilisers: biostimulants support nutrient uptake, but don’t replace essential inputs.
- Lack of integration with existing fertilisation plans: when combining biostimulants with conventional fertilisers, you must understand how these products interact. Some biostimulants perform better with organic rather than mineral fertilisers.
- Overfertilisation: excess nutrients can block absorption and counteract biostimulant benefits.
- Degraded or acidified soils: biostimulants won’t perform optimally in poor soil conditions.
The bottom line
Biostimulants are a smart investment for growers looking to improve efficiency, plant health and yields, while moving toward more sustainable practices. With the right product and the right approach, you’ll see measurable benefits both above and below ground.
Interested in boosting your crop performance and increasing your yield with biostimulants? Visit our webshop or get in touch for practical advice tailored to your needs.
