Abiotic Stress Mitigation: A Case Study from 21 Trials Using a Natural Organic Matter Based Biostimulant across Multiple Geographies

Crop productivity and yields can be greatly diminished by abiotic stress events including drought, extreme temperatures, excess moisture, and saline irrigation water. Multiple stressors occurring simultaneously can further exacerbate the strain on plants. Various types of biostimulants have been sho...

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Main Authors: Rachel L. Sleighter, Terry Hanson, David Holden, Kristen M. Richards
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-02-01
Series:Agronomy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/3/728
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author Rachel L. Sleighter
Terry Hanson
David Holden
Kristen M. Richards
author_facet Rachel L. Sleighter
Terry Hanson
David Holden
Kristen M. Richards
author_sort Rachel L. Sleighter
collection DOAJ
description Crop productivity and yields can be greatly diminished by abiotic stress events including drought, extreme temperatures, excess moisture, and saline irrigation water. Multiple stressors occurring simultaneously can further exacerbate the strain on plants. Various types of biostimulants have been shown to mitigate abiotic stress and here, the results of 21 trials on corn, wheat, soybean, and various high-value crops are discussed in the context of the abiotic stress that either occurred naturally or was experimentally induced. Treatments in these trials included stressed and non-stressed plants, as well as either an untreated control or grower standard fertilizer applications alone and in combination with a natural organic matter (NOM)-based biostimulant. While stressed plants suffered compared with non-stressed plants, the stressed plants receiving the NOM-based biostimulant were healthier and larger, as indicated by whole, root, and shoot weights and yields at harvest. Plant response was stronger when stress existed, but the biostimulant also led to healthier plants when no stress occurred. Positive results occurred for 20 of the 21 trials, indicating that biostimulants can effectively mitigate abiotic stress events regardless of the plant species tested or the growing conditions encountered, by increasing sap Brix, enzymatic activity, and nutrient use efficiency.
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spelling doaj.art-767547a82f924eb5a6815014cde638cd2023-11-17T09:05:21ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952023-02-0113372810.3390/agronomy13030728Abiotic Stress Mitigation: A Case Study from 21 Trials Using a Natural Organic Matter Based Biostimulant across Multiple GeographiesRachel L. Sleighter0Terry Hanson1David Holden2Kristen M. Richards3R&D Laboratory, FBSciences, Inc., 349 Southport Circle, Suite 102, Virginia Beach, VA 23452, USAR&D Laboratory, FBSciences, Inc., 349 Southport Circle, Suite 102, Virginia Beach, VA 23452, USAHolden Research & Consulting, P.O. Box 1437, Camarillo, CA 93011, USAR&D Laboratory, FBSciences, Inc., 349 Southport Circle, Suite 102, Virginia Beach, VA 23452, USACrop productivity and yields can be greatly diminished by abiotic stress events including drought, extreme temperatures, excess moisture, and saline irrigation water. Multiple stressors occurring simultaneously can further exacerbate the strain on plants. Various types of biostimulants have been shown to mitigate abiotic stress and here, the results of 21 trials on corn, wheat, soybean, and various high-value crops are discussed in the context of the abiotic stress that either occurred naturally or was experimentally induced. Treatments in these trials included stressed and non-stressed plants, as well as either an untreated control or grower standard fertilizer applications alone and in combination with a natural organic matter (NOM)-based biostimulant. While stressed plants suffered compared with non-stressed plants, the stressed plants receiving the NOM-based biostimulant were healthier and larger, as indicated by whole, root, and shoot weights and yields at harvest. Plant response was stronger when stress existed, but the biostimulant also led to healthier plants when no stress occurred. Positive results occurred for 20 of the 21 trials, indicating that biostimulants can effectively mitigate abiotic stress events regardless of the plant species tested or the growing conditions encountered, by increasing sap Brix, enzymatic activity, and nutrient use efficiency.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/3/728abiotic stressnatural organic matterbiostimulantssalt stressdrought stresscold stress
spellingShingle Rachel L. Sleighter
Terry Hanson
David Holden
Kristen M. Richards
Abiotic Stress Mitigation: A Case Study from 21 Trials Using a Natural Organic Matter Based Biostimulant across Multiple Geographies
Agronomy
abiotic stress
natural organic matter
biostimulants
salt stress
drought stress
cold stress
title Abiotic Stress Mitigation: A Case Study from 21 Trials Using a Natural Organic Matter Based Biostimulant across Multiple Geographies
title_full Abiotic Stress Mitigation: A Case Study from 21 Trials Using a Natural Organic Matter Based Biostimulant across Multiple Geographies
title_fullStr Abiotic Stress Mitigation: A Case Study from 21 Trials Using a Natural Organic Matter Based Biostimulant across Multiple Geographies
title_full_unstemmed Abiotic Stress Mitigation: A Case Study from 21 Trials Using a Natural Organic Matter Based Biostimulant across Multiple Geographies
title_short Abiotic Stress Mitigation: A Case Study from 21 Trials Using a Natural Organic Matter Based Biostimulant across Multiple Geographies
title_sort abiotic stress mitigation a case study from 21 trials using a natural organic matter based biostimulant across multiple geographies
topic abiotic stress
natural organic matter
biostimulants
salt stress
drought stress
cold stress
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/3/728
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