When you pare things down to the very basics, decisions in agriculture seem like a pretty clear “cause and effect” game. Have pests? Spray a crop protection product. Nutrient deficiency? Apply fertilizer. Crops need water? Irrigate.
That’s a vast oversimplification of course, but each of these decisions and solutions work in concert over the course of a season. The end goal of all these elements — the big picture we’re painting — is a healthy crop come harvest time.
We asked experts across a wide variety of agricultural solutions to offer input on how their area of specialty fits into an overall plant health program. From biostimulants, biofertilizers, biocontrol, and biodigesters to irrigation, plant nutrition, and sustainable inputs, their insights will better equip you to create a plant health program that delivers a high-quality, high yielding, and profitable crop in 2024.
Biostimulants
With Dr. Holly Little, Director, Research and Development, Acadian Plant Health™
Meister Media Worldwide: We have talked previously about biostimulants and how they can help in crop protection regimes. But the real benefits that we typically associate biostimulant products focus more broadly on helping growers maintain and produce healthy crops. Can you talk about some of the plant health benefits of biostimulants?
Holly Little: Plant health is much more than a crop just being free from pests and disease. It really involves the plant being able to grow and produce to its full genetic potential, or at least as close to it as possible.
What we've seen is that biostimulants are often used for abiotic stress tolerance to things like heat, drought, cold, salinity. But it's really just the everyday challenges of plant life — normal variability or increased challenges with climate variability that oftentimes happen quickly, before the plants have a chance to acclimate to that stress. Or maybe a more extreme stress comes on really readily. Maybe yesterday was nice and cool, but today it's going to be super hot. Or it might not be that hot, but the humidity is low, so there's more evapotranspiration, for example. Even those seemingly minor stresses can have real impacts on plant productivity by affecting photosynthesis temperatures within the plant, causing free radicals and oxidative stress within plant, and that can pretty quickly impact plant growth and yields.
So, by increasing the tolerance to and stimulating the natural defense pathways against these stresses, it creates a healthier plant, and we know that healthier, less-stressed plants are also more resistant to pests and diseases. They're kind of getting dual benefits there.
MMW: What are some of the most important tips you can share to help growers be successful in using biostimulants? What are some common mistakes to avoid?
Little: I think the biggest thing that growers need to do to be successful in using biostimulants is to know and understand the product. There are a lot of biostimulants on the market. We're seeing more coming to the market as well, which is great. That's a really good thing.
Their environment, their crop, their stresses or other challenges that they're facing with plant health to understand how that product can be used, and if they'll see similar results as to what was seen in that third party research.
However, some of the products that are out there are not what they say they are. It's hard, especially in a market that's becoming more and more crowded, to know who and what you can trust and who and what you can't. So, there's kind of a challenge of some homework there in understanding how they work, how they can be used, and looking for legitimate research to back up those products. Not just numbers on paper, but understanding what work was done. Who did the work? Were they independent? Did the trial work follow standard scientific protocols?
So, really understanding what work was done and what those numbers mean, and how that applies to the grower’s situation. Their environment, their crop, their stresses or other challenges that they're facing with plant health to understand how that product can be used, and if they'll see similar results as to what was seen in that third party research. I think other growers’ experiences with the same product, particularly if they're close by or grow the same crop, or if they grow similarly, can be really valuable. And really just understanding across the gamut — the products, the crop, the benefits they're looking for so that can all be put together.
MMW: You make a good point about understanding your specific conditions and your specific crop and your stresses. Because nothing compares directly to that research, right?
Little: Yes, and a problem with some of these products is because they can be used at any time and because they can have multiple benefits, you could apply it every day. And there might be a benefit, but it might not be the best use of your money either. So really understand that best timing so the money going into that biostimulant isn't going to waste. It's having the most effect, the most benefit for the problem that that grower is facing, that will ultimately result in the greatest ROI to the grower.
MMW: What’s coming next in biostimulant technology that growers can look forward to with regard to plant health or other benefits?
Little: I think what's coming next is going to be really exciting. It's a little bit hard to predict. But we are seeing a lot of the big chemical and fertilizer companies investing in biostimulants. And I think that's going to shift the market. I think that's going to require a better understanding of plant health and how biostimulants can impact it. And that will be throughout the industry. Those larger companies, or any company that's not familiar with biostimulants and is getting into that realm, are going to have some learning to do for biostimulants. They are very different than fertilizers or crop protection products. They are used differently. The research is different. The results you can expect are different. The expectations from growers, how you position them. … Everything is different.
The other really important thing I think is going to be coming forward is formulations that are meeting and aligning with crop protection standards.
I think there will be a lot of adaptation from those companies. But I think that will drive innovation as well. And I think we're going to see next generation biostimulants that are for more specific benefits: specific timings, specific use patterns for specific stresses or crop growth. That's certainly what we're working on with our new product development at Acadian Plant Health. The other really important thing I think is going to be coming forward is formulations that are meeting and aligning with crop protection standards. We will see more consistency in formulations, improved knowledge on compatibility, both tank mix as well as in-the-jug formulations, and really elevating that standard of crop biostimulants which will help them be much more integrated. And that's another key piece that Acadian Plant Health is invested in as well.
Biofertilizers
With Sean Jacobs, Technical Sales and Marketing Representative, Agro-K Corporation
Meister Media Worldwide: I think most growers are familiar with other types of biological products like biopesticides and now biostimulants. But biofertilizer products are still relatively newer tools. What exactly are biofertilizers and what are some of the plant health benefits?
Sean Jacobs: The word “bio” getting tagged on the front of products and into categories is kind of a new thing. But biostimulants, bionutrients, biopesticides aren't particularly new. They’re just somewhat new for us using them, or new in the way that we're talking about them.
The classical definition of a biofertilizer is the application of something that is living, usually microorganisms, and that those microorganisms are being applied to the soil or to the plant. And what is happening is that those microorganisms are increasing the efficiency of the nutrients, either their availability, or their uptake, or their assimilation. Or to some degree — this kind of goes into the biostimulant category — their presence, or some component of their organisms’ presence, induces the root zone to push out new roots to look for more nutrients.
As far as health benefits, with the increased performance of these products, generally you're able to apply less material, less of the active ingredient, or the nutrient that you're looking for, and because of the increase in efficiency, you don't have to use as much to get the same results as what you had to use with conventional materials.
MMW: What are some of the important tips you can share to help growers be successful in using biofertilizers? And what are some common mistakes to avoid?
Jacobs: When you're dealing with biofertilizers and bionutrients, the main idea is that you're getting improved efficiency by having microorganisms or their constituent parts present in the material — or the material itself is a simpler based kind of structure.
If you try to increase what you're doing application-wise so that you're matching the applied amounts that you were using before, you're going to be way overloading the plant, possibly putting it into a toxic situation.
When you're doing that, you're getting an increase in efficiency of the application and the uptake. So, if you look at the label, you might see on bionutrients that the percentage is much lower than what you would have with a traditional nutrient. It's not that we're not able to get as much into the bottle or into the bag. The issue really is that previously you lost a lot of what you were applying. Either it never made it into the plant, or it got tied up in the soil, or it's still there trying to be metabolized. That's one way this is a great tool. It decreases the amount of material you need to apply to reach the same goal.
As for things to be wary of, it is exactly the same point, but on the flip side. If you try to increase what you're doing application-wise so that you're matching the applied amounts that you were using before, you're going to be way overloading the plant, possibly putting it into a toxic situation.
MMW: What's coming next in biofertilizer technology that growers can look forward to with regard to plant health or other benefits?
Jacobs: As technology continues to improve, with microbiology, with chemistry, we're able to take advantage of the component of whatever microorganism or product that they use exclusively, and not having to use a holistic, “We’ve got to have all these microbes in this jug.” We can get down to, “What is really causing the effect that we're looking for?” Is it a protein? Is it maybe an enzyme? Does it really need to be a live organism? Is it just part of the organism being present, stimulating a particular aspect of the plant the way that it wants to bring in nutrients?
So, as we continue to improve our knowledge in microbiology and maybe using other microbes to make certain products, we are going to be able to more precisely target exactly what it is that we're wanting to affect. We're not having a shotgun approach where it may change a lot of things, but you still get in what you're trying to get in.
Instead, it can be a bit narrower in scope to where we want to impact this nutrient, or we want to impact this cycle, or we want to impact how the soil is working and specifically give components to the blend so that we can affect just what it is that we're looking to affect, or at least minimize effects to other systems or to other organisms that really may not be beneficial to what we're looking for.
MMW: What’s a point you’d like to leave with growers that doesn’t get discussed often enough?
Jacobs: I would say that just because the label says “bio,” or just because they're living organisms, it doesn't always mean that it is better.
When you look at amino acids, especially if you're using them to chelate something, or if they're just in the mix, if you're applying them foliarly, if they're really large, they may not even get into the plant. Especially if they are a chelating element. And you have a huge range of size when it comes to proteins — amino acids that go from very tiny to very large.
Be aware that the traditional phrase of bugs in a jug came from the beginnings of this industry with bionutrients and biostimulants.
Things like that come into play. Not everything is created equally, so look for products that have scientific research and data behind them, showing that there's actually an improvement in whatever it is that's being targeted. With Agro-K, that's one of our main goals. Our tagline is science-driven nutrition, so we're validating that this actually does what we say it does.
Be aware that the traditional phrase of bugs in a jug came from the beginnings of this industry with bionutrients and biostimulants. There are still going to be some of those products out there that might literally be just bugs in a jug, and they may or may not do anything. So, just be careful.
Sustainable Inputs
With Jim Shone, Area Business Manager – Plant Nutrition, Borregaard
Meister Media Worldwide: Why should growers be thinking more about the sustainable elements that go into the products that they're using, whether it's crop protection or, particularly, with regard to plant health.
Jim Shone: Growers have always been the best managers of their own environments and their own fields. They've always been concerned about sustainability. And of course, self-regulation is better than government regulation.
For example, one of the areas that is very popular right now is all about nutrient use efficiency, getting the most out of your products that you can with the proper amount of the inputs at the right time.
And one area that the science has shown an awful lot of advancement is understanding how humic acids and fulvic acids contribute to nutrient efficiency.
MMW: Let's talk a little bit about that. I know Borregaard has engaged in some research into the benefits to humics and fulvics. Can you talk a little bit about some of the work you have done there?
Shone: Sure. In a recent webinar that Meister Media helped us present, Daniel Gomez, our Technical Manager, presented the modes of action of humic acids and fulvic acids. He focused on what they do in physical soil properties and water holding capacity, and specifically targeting how those products contribute to nutrient use efficiency. One of the areas discussed was about what it does specifically for nitrogen.
In trials, humic acid consistently increases yield about 8% in corn when comparing it to a control area. Published trials show humic acid in combination with N applications reduced the ammonia volatilization and also lowered the nitrogen leaching and nitrous oxide volatilization.
MMW: What other findings should we know about with this plant health research into humic and fulvic acids?
Shone: We should talk about the activity on soil microbes. We understand — and there have been plenty of papers published about — how humic acid and fulvic acid products will contribute to increasing the populations of beneficial soil microbes. A lot of that has to do with the carbon supply, the sequestering of nutrients in the root zone, and the interaction with the plant, allowing the plant to take up those nutrients in a very efficient and synergistic fashion.
I think we can see an expansion of good science coming on to give the growers more education and telling them specifically how to use [these products], and working under the right place, right time, right product philosophy.
MMW: So, what's coming next? What should growers be looking for in terms of new technology with sustainable inputs and products like biostimulants?
Shone: Well, I think what's coming next is just an expansion of what's been happening over the last 5 years or so in the Biostimulant market. You're seeing more and more of the larger companies — the major chemical companies and major fertilizer companies — that are accepting these technologies into their products and integrating those products into general nutritional plans. I think we can see an expansion of good science coming on to give the growers more education and telling them specifically how to use [these products], and working under the right place, right time, right product philosophy.
MMW: What haven't we talked about with regard to plant health that we should be thinking about from the grower or general industry perspective?
Shone: There's a lot to talk about with plant health. It's changing every day, if you take a look at the advancements that we've had in precision, agriculture, genetics, biostimulant activity, fertilizer placement, everything that has to do with the 4Rs — you know the Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place.
Obviously, we've got a big topic there, as far as plant health goes. I think we'll have an opportunity to talk about this subject for a long time.
Biodigesters
With Trey Soud, Senior Vice President, US Agriculture, DPH Biologicals
Meister Media Worldwide: What are biodigesters and how do they work? Are these similar to other crop residue products like biodegraders or biodecomposers?
Trey Soud: Biodigesters are the term DPH Bio uses to refer to the product, because essentially what they're doing is digesting tough, fibrous matter, usually related to cornstalks. Within the industry there are some various terminologies, but they're all part of the same class, whether it's “biodigester,” “biodecomposer,” or “biodegrader.”
There's more trash left in the field, and we are breaking down that trash and turning it into a benefit to the grower.
Essentially, the microbes found in most biodigesters are breaking down and accelerating decomposition of plant matter that's already there. Corn stalks are the main crop that we're applying it to, but it takes a process that is occurring naturally within the environment that would normally take place over years and accelerates that to where growers have the use of the nutrients from the stalks by releasing them into the soil. It also provides growers with the benefit of improved plantability because it's easier to get through the fields — especially as growers are planting higher yielding hybrids each year. There's more trash left in the field, and we are breaking down that trash and turning it into a benefit to the grower.
MMW: When is the best time to use these products?
Soud: This is an area where we're learning. Our original positioning was pretty strong toward a fall application soon after harvest. You can still get some heat and some moisture on it in the fall, and those are two key considerations to improve the product's ability to do what it's supposed to do.
But more recently, through field development, we've noticed really strong benefits out of spring-applied use. Naturally, you would think that the longer you can get the product out there and get it to work, the better. It's going to improve the plantability and nutrient breakdown for the following year. And that's mostly true, but we've seen really strong benefits out of spring applied as well. When farmers just don’t have the time to get their application made before winter weather hits, spring applied is still a great option.
MMW: What would you say are the benefits of biodigester products in improving plant health?
Soud: There are three parts to that. The first is related to the nutrient piece that I've already alluded to a couple of times. As you’re accelerating the decomposition of a prior crop, it is releasing nutrients down into the soil to be of use for the future crop that you're about to plant.
But the important part about nutrients, especially as you're planting into corn, is those nutrients are released as biodigesters are working on the residues. As the product is breaking them down, you're getting continued release throughout the season and at really important growth points within the crop cycle. And it's not solely related to nitrogen. There's N, P, and K. We have data through the University of Illinois where, depending on your fertilizer practices, we have seen between $50 and $70 an acre a year worth of nutrients that are tied up in that prior year’s crop that are now becoming available to the new crop.
The second piece is related to increasing soil organic matter. The plant health benefits of that are tied to two advantages. One is the drought tolerance side, improving the plant’s ability to withstand some lack of moisture. The other piece is improved soil tilth which helps with compaction.
DPH Bio is committed to delivering science-based products that yield results, like Residuce.
The third benefit is related to disease control. As you're accelerating the decomposition of the prior crop’s corn stalks, you're also decreasing the amount of disease pressure that may be in that field. Especially in an environment where farmers are growing these racehorse high-yielding hybrids that have stalk lodging issues tied to Fusarium that overwinters in crop residue, biodigesters can make a big difference.
We are investing a lot of resources in field development as we're learning about these products and our team is really experienced in the agriculture space. They know the issues that farmers are facing and the impact that plant health has on growers. Biodigesters are a great technology, especially in high-yield scenarios, delivering season-long benefits and improved farmer profitability.
Biocontrol
With David Long, Seed Treatment Technical Manager, Albaugh
Meister Media Worldwide: When we talk about some of the newer tools involved in plant health, most growers probably think first about tools like biostimulants or biofertilizers. Why should they also be thinking about biocontrol?
David Long: It's a good question. Obviously, biostimulants and biofertilizers have their place. But, if I had to think of what the most important piece to plant health is, it is probably biocontrol.
At Albaugh we have a BIOST lineup that has some biocontrol products. And we've utilized these products with our customers as part of a plant health message because they have activity against pests that causes problems for the growers here in the US.
Biocontrol products by definition are biologically derived, sometimes living, sometimes not. But they offer protection against a pathogen to your crop, be it a bacterium, a fungal pathogen, insects, or even nematodes. EPA recognizes biocontrol products just like they do traditional chemistry, in that they have registered uses by crop or by pests.
MMW: So where does seed treatment fit into plant health?
Long: Seed treatments are very important in the role of plant health. Growers make selections for seed either for quality or yield or both. I always say that if the plant doesn't come out of the ground, it's all for naught, and seed treatment is really your first line of defense.
When you use proven biocontrol products, EPA-registered products for a particular pest, it gives you a chance to get out of the ground with a healthy start. Plant health, especially with seed treatments, is really about early season protection. We all think that if you can have an early, strong, vigorous start, without some of the challenges of pests, you have a better chance to reach your yield or quality goals as a grower.
MMW: Should we be thinking more holistically about plant health and how these technologies, including biocontrol and even traditional chemical products fit together in a plant health program?
Long: It's an interesting question. If I look at corn, I would have to say 60% of the treated acres of corn probably have a biocontrol product in them today. They may be intermingled with other traditional chemistries, like fungicides, insecticides and nematicides, but they are being used.
Why are they being used? It’s not because they're biological and it makes us feel good. It's because they work. I've been doing biocontrol professionally and through the university system for over 35 years. I've watched these products go from, “I don't know if they work very well,” or “They have a limited activity,” to today, where they're very competitive with the traditional chemistries.
MMW: You don’t have to look at biologicals as replacements for your traditional chemistries. By design they work well together. They can provide rotational opportunities.
Long: You're absolutely correct. We have biological products with Albaugh that go along with traditional chemistries for nematode and insect protection. They are used right in concert with other insecticides..
There’s an opportunity to use biological products with traditional chemistries, and maybe you can reduce your impact of those chemistries, and perhaps you can use less when you use one of our seed treatment products. And that's a nice message. Obviously, some people believe there is a positive message in being able to reduce your chemical products out there.
I think that sometimes people look at biological control products as being less of a product. Those times are over.
Plant Nutrition
With Wesley Haun, Senior Agronomist, Tiger-Sul Products
Meister Media Worldwide: What tips do you have for improving plant health and fertilization use that growers aren’t thinking about as much as they could be?
Wesley Haun: Soil and plant health are derivatives of soil functionality. Soil is a heterogenous, dynamic, and complex living ecosystem. Soil fertility is a critical component to the viability of that soil system. In actuality, it contributes approximately 55-65% of the total plant growth and crop yield as well.
Each crop has specific nutrient requirements. Knowledge of those nutrient demands and the growth stage of greater uptake can lead to more informed management decisions.
There are multiple management practices that can be employed to enhance or maintain the plant nutrient levels in the soil at optimum levels. I want to touch on three of those.
The first one is Soil sampling. This is the very basic starting point. Each composite soil sample should only encompass 2 to 3 acres. These results provide plant available nutrient levels. Assessments can be made concerning amounts of additional nutrient applications to meet specific crop requirements.
The second is to understand the nutrient requirements for the crop you’re working with. Each crop has specific nutrient requirements. Knowledge of those nutrient demands and the growth stage of greater uptake can lead to more informed management decisions.
Number three is to maximize the use of available technology. When collecting samples, there is software available that will georeference each sampling site. Results from soil analyses can be mapped to better evaluate areas of the field that need greater nutrient applications. Nutrient prescriptions can be created to meet specific crop requirements. Harvesting equipment now has software on board that will collect georeferenced yield data. Then you can use software to create maps. Soil analyses maps, crop yield maps, and soil survey maps can be jointly utilized to evaluate crop nutrient levels and corresponding yields in multiple areas of the field. And with these, we can look at different areas of the field for potential yield-limiting factors. Attention can be given to those weak areas and actually create management zones within the field so that in the future you can give greater attention to those specific areas.
There’s one plant nutrient that tends to be identified as deficient in these field maps, and that is sulfur. But often times sulfur is yield limiting due to hidden hunger.
Hidden hunger is where a plant has enough sulfur in the plant that it does not display deficiency symptoms. But upon further analysis, there is not enough sulfur for that plant to optimize its growth and yield potential. So, with that, Tiger-Sul’s sulfur products provide a means with which to eliminate those crops’ sulfur and micronutrient deficiencies. Therefore, thoughtful nutrient management planning is critical to maximizing plant health and preventing crop yield-limiting factors.
With GPS and the precision we have with that, growers can be more precise in placing fertilizer in planting. You can position your planting relative to where you place the fertilizer. That technology, combined with the mapping aspects and the yields, means the capabilities we have today are just enormous.
Irrigation Technology
With Kathleen Glass, Vice President of Marketing, AquaSpy
Meister Media Worldwide: There are such good tools now to gather and interpret data and put it to work. How is digital modeling playing a role in irrigation water and plant health?
Kathleen Glass: It's an interesting evolution, as growers have more access to technology above ground, below ground, and on the plant. A number of years ago it was a matter of walking out to the field, and asking yourself, “Is the soil wet or dry? Do I irrigate or not?”
Now with more 24-7 real-time data, like sensors below the soil, growers are realizing that it's not just making decisions from seeing a plant is looking wilted or stressed. We can now “see” within the soil how deep the moisture level is. We can look at that layer by layer and see the interaction between what the crop is consuming and what's available. That plays a big role in better irrigation decisions that save water and improve soil and crop health.
A lot of almond growers now are also using other data sources as well, such as pressure bombs and satellites. They're measuring the status on the leaf, or looking at data from satellites, adding the evapotranspiration aspect into the model as well.
In California we have drought, and we have a lot of challenges with salinity as well. That is an additional aspect of the irrigation story. What is the salinity of the soil? Do we need to push it down? How is that impacting salt-sensitive crops like fruits and nuts? You can pour all the water you want on your crop, but if those salt levels are too high, that's going to inhibit the crops’ ability to uptake water, which is going to impact plant health and crop quality.
Irrigation is now a lot more informed with additional data on soil temperature, salinity, and moisture levels layer by layer. Now you have a digital model for irrigation decisions.
That's the exciting time we're now in with the potential and deep insights from that modeling, with all the different kinds of data we can pull together.
MMW: You've done studies where you've worked with growers on actual field data and then compared that to your digital modeling and gotten some correlations. What have you learned from that?
Glass: Growers like to maintain their privacy, especially in the commodity crop areas, so there's a lot less sharing of yield data. We came up with a way that our grower customers could share an anonymous 1 to 5 score on their yield. By taking the yield data from thousands of fields that growers have given us, we are able to correlate and show the positive or negative impacts of the salinity levels or irrigation timing, depth, or frequency throughout the season. So far, we've analyzed corn, soybean, wheat, and potatoes.
For example, we did a study with about a thousand fields of corn. And it was really interesting what we had learned. We were able to parse it out by region, because that's one of the things we always hear is, “My corn is different.” Well, we learned that, yes, they're right, especially in the high plains.
The studies showed that the data that the Texas growers were getting from the sensors was giving them the right information. If they followed the guidance and saw where the moisture line was layer by layer, they would be informed to irrigate when they needed to.
The technology we have is soil agnostic. But we compared Nebraska and Texas, and then everybody else. For Nebraska and everyone else except Texas, it was a lot alike, so the correlations were very similar. But in the Texas high plains, their soil is a little bit different. They're growing a little bit different corn, too, because it is grown for feed, so it had different needs.
Meister Media Worldwide: So, you run your models and get expectations on what you're going to see. Then you correlate that with the field data that you get the ratings. Do you use that information to go back and refine your models?
Glass: That's a great question. Yes, We're always constantly evolving our data and tuning the algorithms. The more feedback we can get, the better the models will become. We always appreciate that opportunity because things do evolve. We were just talking about how temperatures and salinity and the environment are changing and so we want to make sure we're keeping up with that.
Vegetable growers need to know about changes right away.
MMW: This research seems really helpful for row crops. What about specialty crops?
Glass: We've had a long history in row crops, so we used that information and those grower relationships when we started our yield data. But about 2 years ago, we started to hear more requests from the specialty crop world. The vegetable growers out West and in the Southeast said, you know we would like to have this kind of data, too. So we made a shorter, wireless version of the original probe that the corn and soybeans needed.
Vegetable growers need to know about changes right away. You're going to notice something's going on with your corn 2 or 3 days out. It's not going to become completely dire really fast with corn. But with a lettuce crop it really is an hour-by-hour thing — or maybe you’re concerned about a frost alert with apples. If we are having a hot spell, what does my lettuce need right now?
This is an exciting time with all these technologies and all these smart minds coming together. The Global Ag Tech Alliance is one of my passions, bringing the vendors and the growers and everybody together, because we will solve this together. We'll all do better to improve the crop and soil health that we that we need so much.
