Ficosterra Shop
Gibberellins: Key in Crop Development
July 9, 2024
Mitigating Phytotoxicity with the Action of Seaweed Biostimulants
September 9, 2024In September 2023, Ficosterra and the Peruvian company BeeNatural, specialized in the development and commercialization of biorational products, began several trials to measure the effectiveness of the bio-stimulants Cytium-k and Terramare in crops under maximum stress conditions.
Cytium-k is a pure extract of the marine algae Macrocystis pyrifera, from Cystium technology, certified by SHC and OMRI, with an exclusive extraction process (Cystium technology) that provides the crop with a high content of alginates and elicitors that allow the plant to increase its ability to defend itself against diseases (pests, bacteria, pathogens) or stress phenomena (extreme temperatures of cold or heat; sudden temperature changes, drought, agrochemical management, etc.).
Terramare is a liquid bio-stimulant, from MareTech technology, certified by SHC, composed of marine algae (prebiotics) and microorganisms (probiotics) that acts as a nutrient fixer and provides the crop with trace elements and alginates that help reduce abiotic stress situations.
The economic profitability achieved in the trials on pink onion has been +8% in the area treated with bio-stimulants of marine algae extracts and microorganisms.
Challenges to overcome
When crops suffer from a maximum stress water situation, they experience a series of negative effects that can affect both their development and performance.
The Peruvian company BeeNatural had been detecting a series of them in its cultivation practices:
- Wilting and loss of turgor: Plants lost water through transpiration. Under water stress conditions, they cannot replenish this loss, resulting in leaf wilting and a reduction in cell turgor. This affects the plant’s ability to maintain its structure and perform vital functions.
- Reduction in photosynthesis: The lack of water limited the opening of stomata in the leaves, reducing the absorption of carbon dioxide and, therefore, decreasing the rate of photosynthesis.
- Inhibition of growth: Water stress also affected the growth of roots and the aerial part of the plants. Roots may deepen in search of water, but the overall growth of the plant slows down or stops, negatively impacting the size and development of the plant.
- Reduction in fruit and seed production: The lack of water also affected pollination and the development of fruits and seeds, resulting in lower production and quality of the harvest. The onions had smaller calibers, some with deformities.
- Premature senescence: Plants subjected to prolonged water stress may enter a state of premature senescence, where leaves and other parts of the plant begin to age and die prematurely. This reduces the plant’s ability to photosynthesize and produce the nutrients necessary for its development.
Given this situation, BeeNatural, knowing the agronomic properties of marine algae and their synergy with microorganisms, planned a series of trials to test the bio-stimulants Cytium-k and Terramare.
Objectives pursued
The directors of BeeNatural decided to test Ficosterra’s bio-stimulants (marine algae and microorganisms) to measure a series of parameters and check their effectiveness or any type of alteration in the applied crops.
The trials were led by BeeNatural’s Head of Research and Development, Engineer Cleidy Gelvez, a professional with more than 6 years of experience in research and commercial launch of horticultural and fruit seeds.
The parameters measured were:
Plant vigor
Uniformity in plant size and number of leaves
Fruit uniformity
Bulb diameter (if applicable)
Root weight
Total yield
Description of the trials
on pink onion
BeeNatural scheduled the trials on pink onion to be conducted in parallel at various locations in the North, Center, and South of Peru:
LOCATION and DATES:
- Jequetepeque (Chiclayo, North Peru), between 19/09/2023 and 26/12/2023
- Lurín (Lima, Central Peru), between 12/09/2023 and 13/12/2023
- El Cural (Arequipa, South Peru), between 15/09/2023 and 29/12/2023
ONION VARIETIES:
- Camaneja (local, North)
- Pantera Rosa (Hybrid Israel, Center)
- Perilla (local, South)
TREATMENTS:
- T0 Control
- T1: Terramare (soil)
- T2: Cystium-k (foliar)
- T3: Terramare + Cystium-k (soil + foliar)
TREATMENT AREAS:
- Jequetepeque, Chiclayo: 82.5 m² each zone
- Lurín, Lima: 420 m² (T1, T3), 84 m² (T2)
- El Cural, Arequipa: 72 m² each zone
QUANTITY AND DOSES
Cystium-k: 5L/ha (5 applications of 1L/month/foliar)
Terramare: 3L/ha (3 applications of 1L/month/fertigation)
| Trial | Soil water volume (L*ha) | Foliar water volume (L*ha) |
| 01 | 600 | 600 |
| 02 | 1200 | 400 |
| 03 | 1100 | 400 |
Results obtained
in the pink onion trials
In these tables, we briefly summarize the results obtained in terms of plant vigor, number of leaves, size uniformity, bulb diameter, and overall yield.
BeeNatural:
official distributor of Ficosterra in Peru
This new milestone for Ficosterra has come, as we have seen, after successfully overcoming a series of trials where the combination of Terramare (soil) + Cystium-k (foliar) has significantly improved parameters such as vigor, uniformity, root weight, and overall yield of the tested crops under maximum stress conditions.
After the success of the trials, Ficosterra has just opened its distribution in Peru, precisely with the help of BeeNatural, a young and dynamic company of the Semiagro Group, a leading firm in the Peruvian vegetable market for more than 25 years.
All these benefits have been achieved with zero environmental impact.
Conclusions
- The joint action of the two bio-stimulants (Cytium-k and Terramare) significantly improved plant vigor, number of leaves, root weight, yield, and percentage of first-quality bulbs.
- The economic profitability of the area treated with these bio-stimulants of marine algae extracts and microorganisms has been +8% over the Control area.
- All these benefits have been achieved with zero environmental impact, achieving, once again, a triple win:
- The farmer wins
- The consumer wins
- The environment wins
We want to thank BeeNatural for their trust and encourage Peruvian producers to learn more about these and other ongoing trials.
Relacionado
June 19, 2024