Biostimulants are allies of the producer and increase productivity

Have you ever heard of biostimulants? They have shown themselves to be another ally of the producer. We can define them as compounds that aim to strengthen the natural self-defense mechanism of plants, thus making them more productive and more resistant to pests and diseases. These compounds can even increase plants' tolerance to water or thermal stress (droughts, high temperatures, for example). Applied to crops, the biostimulant has a beneficial effect on the plant growth and development process, improving the ability to absorb and use water and nutrients through photosynthesis.

But how can we better define this new tool? More specifically as a combination of natural or synthetic substances composed of hormones or precursors of plant hormones, which, when applied correctly to the plantation, act directly on the plant's physiology, increasing its development. In general, these products may contain other compounds in their formula, such as amino acids, nutrients, vitamins, seaweed concentrate and ascorbic acid.

In Brazil, the use of these products in large crops is recent, 5 to 8 years old, however, in horticulture and fruit growing, for example, the application is already more widespread. As producers become aware of the numerous benefits of biostimulants, adherence to them also increases. We highlight that its use is extremely important, especially in regions that suffer from abiotic interference, such as drought or high heat. In these cases, the product directly interferes with the plant's antioxidant capacity, reducing the toxicity of free radicals and providing more energy so that it can develop its root system and leaf structure correctly.

In recent years, several companies have launched biostimulants on the market and contributed significantly to a very optimistic projection. According to the North American consultancy MarketsandMarkets, the global biostimulants market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 10,43% from US$ 2 billion in 2017 to reaching 3,29 billion in 2022. Therefore, there is still a lot to be explored in this area .                                                                                                                                                     
Application

The product is applied to the leaves, at a specific time that depends on the growth time of each crop. Rotam do Brasil is one of these companies that adhered to this technology and recently launched the Yoduo biostimulant. Easy to use, safe for crops, can be combined with most agrochemicals and used in various crops. Furthermore, it was applied to different phenological stages of soybeans during more than 5 years of research carried out at the company's Experimental Farm, in Artur Nogueira- SP, 2016/17 harvest.

In terms of results, one of the best, expressed 8,61 bags per hectare more than the control in soybean cultivation. To understand the gain that Yoduo can provide to the farmer, let's analyze as an example a property that plants soybeans on 500 hectares. Considering the Cepea average of R$ 80,00 per bag of grain, if the producer uses Rotam's technology, he could have an increase of 4 thousand bags in his area. This would result in an extra income of up to R$320 during the harvest. It is exactly these numbers that have attracted Brazilian producers to learn about this new solution.