THE DEBATE
There has been much debate on the benefits of treating seed before it is planted, with growers continuing to explore the option of farm-saved seed. Whilst the cost benefits of not treating seed can be appealing, there are some obvious pitfalls for growers to be aware of.
Why use a biostimulant seed treatment?
Young cereal seedlings from emergence to the two leaf stage are reliant on the mother seed as the total energy source, until photosynthesis from these leaves takes over. During the germination period this mother seed is under serious pressure to grow quickly to avoid any major disaster incurred by external factors such as drought, waterlogging, lack of soil contact, panning, attack by pests and diseases and shortage of macro and micronutrients.
Once emerged the pressure continues from various new sources – wind, frost, herbicide or grazing. In many situations these crops have ideal conditions to establish quickly but the problem for the grower is that they will not know this until after the event. Do they gamble with expensive seed, applied at quite low seed rates and thus have a poor plant count? Or should they sow more and then end up with too much vegetative growth at the expense of ear development? And actually probably spend more on the extra seed than on a nutrient seed additive.
For many growers there are known problems in some fields, or parts of fields where the seed bed is less than perfect. Variable sowing can help here but every plant needs the maximum help possible to ensure successful establishment. Adding low levels of key nutrients on the seed coat will ensure at least one set of factors which may impair establishment is eliminated. Doing this will help develop a stronger plant to overcome any other of the aforementioned potential risks.
The biostimulant elements help to enhance nutrient uptake, whilst also boosting tolerance to abiotic stresses. Importantly, they offer a very credible and more sustainable alternative to banned and restricted actives.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE COST OF TREATING SEED?
The reality of treating seed is that the costs are a fraction of what foliar treatments further down the line may cost. For as little as £2.25 an acre, treating your seed can help give you peace of mind and a very cost effective insurance policy. Indeed, getting the seed off to the best possible start in the ground is the foundation to having a healthy plant and crop that maximises its potential. Climate stresses are becoming more and more unpredictable, and so we believe biostimulant seed treatments provide a cost-effective solution.
BENEFITS OF OUR FIELDER BIOSTIMULANT SEED TREATMENTS
- Proven with direct results on improving yield sizes in stressed conditions, increasing profits
- Increases cell wall strength
- Root stimulator (see image below)
- Boosts seedling vigour
- Fills the gap between foliar treatments, and can even replace some
- Safe to the seed and quickly taken up for instant effects
- Easy to handle and tank mix with other products
- Flexible product – can be used on any plant that begins its life cycle as a seed
- An inexpensive insurance policy for peace of mind
OUR MANGANESE-BASED SEED TREATMENT PRODUCTS
We currently have 5 biostimulant seed treatment products in our portfolio. These products are true solutions, are safe to germinating seed and miscible with most simultaneously applied seed treatments. Available in a range of pack sizes for application through static or mobile seed treatment equipment.
Kick-Off – our leading Manganese & Phosphite seed treatment
Manganese Seed Treatment
Manganese Duo + Copper
Manganese Duo + Zinc
Manganese Trio Copper + Zinc
For more information please reach out to the team directly.