Biostimulants

Contact: Arthy Surendran and Rob Lillywhite

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The influence of biostimulants on spring barley growth and yield.
Biostimulants are claimed to provide additional growth benefits beyond plant nutrients although many researchers and growers regard them as ‘snake oil’ since any benefits are difficult to quantify. However, the market for them is large despite the evidence being small. Of the 200 or so on the market, maybe a handful are effective but unlike fertilisers their efficacy varies with soil type and environmental conditions.

This replicated trial has been established to test a range of biostimulants including commercial products from producers, big and small, and some recently brewed frass teas (frass is a by- product of insect rearing and contains plant nutrients plus chitin). Data on plant height and vigour has been collected at regular intervals and the final harvest will take place in a few days where hopefully crop yield will provide some answers.