How do plant biostimulants work?
Stefano Di Pietro • 15 febbraio 2021
Biostimulating substances are natural products used for centuries in crops with the aim of nourishing and fortifying plants in a safe and natural way. In recent decades, the revival of interest in these substances has given way to studies and research that today allow us to understand more precisely what happens to plants and what they need to stay healthy.
Biostimulants act exactly like our food and vitamin supplements, providing a greater supply of useful elements to grow vigorously, cope with stress and disease. A correct use of these substances and compliance with the dosage indicated by the experts is a simple and effective solution to protect crops and gardens of all sizes.
What are the main biostimulants?
For centuries, algae have been the most used product to protect and strengthen crops: depending on the methods and times of harvesting, it is possible to promote growth, germination speed, fruit set and resistance to environmental stress and phytobacteria. The positive effects of biostimulants based on green, red or brown seaweed of the type Ascophyllum Nodosum, Laminaria digitata, Ecklonia Maxima and Fucus, have been studied and documented in recent decades to allow the production of substances suitable for all crops.
Over the years, companies have also been born that deal with processing algae to produce biostimulants and guarantee the availability of these useful substances, natural and without any contraindications, for farms and gardening enthusiasts.
How biostimulants are produced
The main method for extracting biostimulating substances from seaweed is cold in high pressure water, a preferred system since it prevents the occurrence of other unnecessary or unwanted chemical reactions. In other cases, the algae are collected, dried and left to ferment to encourage the creation of useful compounds: the type of alga, the level of drying and fermentation then determine the characteristics of the product and its actual properties.
When carefully processed, the algae extracts are rich in laminarine, alginates and fucoidans, extremely useful polysaccharides and energy sources that greatly improve tolerances to environmental stresses. It has been shown that these substances are particularly useful in helping plants to overcome periods of drought, extreme temperatures and excessive salinity of the water.

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