
WHAT ARE BIOSTIMULANTS?
DEFINITION OF BIOSTIMULANTS
The European Biostimulants Industry Council (EBIC) has its definition of plant biostimulants:
Plant biostimulants means [sic] a material which contains substance(s) and/or microorganisms whose function, when applied to plants or the rhizosphere, is to stimulate natural processes to enhance/benefit nutrient uptake, nutrient efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress, and crop quality, independent of its nutrient content.
In essence, we can compare biostimulants to fertilizers. These materials would contain substances that promote plant growth by enhancing the rhizosphere. The rhizosphere is around a plant’s roots, where microorganisms interact with soil nutrients and root secretions. Thus, biostimulants are kinds of materials that help plants grow through biostimulation.
WHAT IS BIOSTIMULATION?
MAIN USE OF BIOSTIMULATION
POTENTIAL OF BIOSTIMULATION
BIOSTIMULANTS IN AGRICULTURE
The EBIC differentiates biostimulants from traditional fertilizers and pesticides in two ways:
- Existing Nutrients: Biostimulants affect plants regardless of the presence of nutrients in the biostimulant product. Even without the extra nutritional content that traditional fertilizers supply plants with, biostimulants may help plants grow by boosting the activity of the existing nutrients in the soil.
- Plant Vigor: Biostimulants only affect a plant’s vigour or hardiness. These products have no direct effect on the plant’s susceptibility to diseases and pests. Pesticides are chemicals that you would add to plants to protect them against pests and diseases. Biostimulants only strengthen a plant by enhancing the existing microbes with which it already works.
BIOSTIMULANTS AND CROP RESPONSES
WATER STRESS
SALT STRESS
TEMPERATURE STRESS
CATEGORIES OF BIOSTIMULANTS
HUMIC AND FULVIC ACIDS
PROTEIN HYDROLYSATES AND OTHER N-CONTAINING COMPOUNDS
SEAWEED EXTRACTS AND BOTANICALS
CHITOSAN AND OTHER BIOPOLYMERS
INORGANIC COMPOUNDS
BENEFICIAL FUNGI
BENEFICIAL BACTERIA
BENEFITS OF BIOSTIMULANTS
FAQS
WHAT ARE BIOSTIMULANTS?
ARE BIOSTIMULANTS AND FERTILIZERS THE SAME?
HOW DO BIOSTIMULANTS WORK?
CAN BIOSTIMULANTS IMPROVE PLANT GROWTH?
CAN BIOSTIMULANTS CAUSE YIELD INCREASES IN PLANTS?
ARE BIOSTIMULANTS NATURAL PRODUCTS?
CONCLUSION: WHAT ARE BIOSTIMULANTS?