b'INSIDERSBIOSTIMULANTIts No MythBiostimulants Work!HOLLY LITTLEResearch and Development ManagerAcadian Plant HealthMany of the challenges that growers aregrowing practices unique to that area.increase for corn, 11.7% for cotton and facing today have boosted the amountWith their expertise, were able to design9.6% for soy.of attention given to biostimulants. Inmeaningful research that quantifies theIn 2022, we conducted the second some cases, if the cost of fertilizer is toobenefits of our seaweed extract biostimu- year of EnVoy field trials in the U.S. and expensive, or pesticides just not available,lants, as well as the return on investmentCanada and expect to have results and growers need to use other tools that areto the growers. conclusions from these trials shortly.available. This has opened many eyes toDuring 2021 we conducted a seriesYield is important, but we also need biostimulants. of field trials with EnVoy, a new high-con- to collect data that explains where that Combining that with real field trialcentrationformulationcontainingimprovement in yield came from. Thats data results has been useful in spurringAscophyllum nodosum, in the Unitedone of the unique features of biostimu-acceptance of these products. AcadianStates. There was a total of 16 trials (fivelants, as mode of action is never simple. Plant Health has invested significantin corn, five in soybean and six in cotton)We look at timing, when its applied and resources in field trials over many years.set up in different geographical locationswhat the result is. We look for regrowth Field trials on biostimulants can bewhere the tested crops are commonlyresponse and chlorophyll response.challenging. There are simply so manygrown, and in locations where abioticBy doing extensive field trials across variables that are unknown, at least atstress (heat and drought) is common. a wide range of environmental condi-the beginning. We tested different methods of appli- tions and soil typecrops, we are further But we know that now more thancation as well as different rates and tim- bolstering the credibility and the under-ever, every investment a grower makesings. The results were encouraging, withstanding of biostimulants and how they needs to have an economic return. So, wean increase in root biomass and yieldhave a very unique benefit that growers have a team of regional technical man- for all three crops. With regards to yieldcan capitalize on.agers who understand the crops and theincrease, on average we observed a 5.2% CORN, SORGHUM AND OILSEEDSDoes Maize Use a Lot of Water?VINCENT LUXILate Corn Market ManagerLideaYouve probably heard it before, maize ismeet agri-environmental challenges. permits now to generate hydro profiles very water-intensive! But is it really true? Firstly, through continuous geneticto qualify the behaviour of each variety in As a so-called C4 plant, maize showsimprovement, Lideas breeding programmeexcess, balance or deficit of water. With a better metabolism and water use effi- is developing ever more water-efficientthe latter, the CACTUS label was created, ciency in warmer and dryer conditionsvarieties. Thanks to this widely spreadwhich groups varieties maintaining a than C3 plants. The reason is that, duringEuropean programme with focus onlevel of performance in a limited water photosynthesis, four instead of threeEastern markets, the outcome are hybridssupply.carbon atoms create a new compound.adapted to different climates, particularlyFinally, every day Lidea supports Therefore, compared to other crops, ithot and dry. This is the case with our origi- farmers in improving their yield perfor-takes 238l of water for fodder and 454lnal and exclusive selection programme, themance. For example, it provides decision for grain maize to produce one kg. ThisTropical Dent. These genetics performtools for the accurate sowing date and rec-water consumption is noticeably lowerwell under normal conditions and allowommendations linked to the location and versus 590l for wheat, 900l for soya, orfarmers to benefit from varieties with greattype of soil. This way, farmers optimise 1600l for rice (source: CNRS).stability, especially in the heat and droughttheir maize cycle and secure the flower-Allthismakesmaizearealaffected summer of 2022.ing period before the water stress period. eco-champion! Furthermore, Lideas research teamsThrough intensive research, in-depth Beyond this global observation,mapped the different climates and cre- studies of different climates, and common Lidea is moving forward on differentated scenarios to identify the best per- sense, Lidea helps farmers optimise water fronts to improve water efficiency andforming hybrids in each of them. Itresources for corn production.32IEUROPEAN SEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COM'