Why does seed treatment promote root and shoot growth?
When planning crop rotations, it is worthwhile that growers consider applying a seed treatment to the seed before drilling to maximise rooting and enhance germination once the seed is planted. Prosper ST is a seed treatment that contains potassium phosphite combined with a range of nutrients in a readily compatible formulation.
The phosphite biostimulant in Prosper ST increases the level of the cytokinin cis-Zeatin which promotes both primary and lateral root growth. Phosphite also increases the activity of the Nitrate Reductase enzyme, resulting in increased nitrogen assimilation and shoot growth.
What evidence is there that Prosper ST seed treatment promotes root and shoot growth?
The promotion of root and shoot growth following seed treatment with Prosper ST was demonstrated in a glasshouse study at the University of Nottingham.
39 days after sowing, Prosper ST was shown to significantly increase root weight by 40% compared to the untreated control. Shoot weight was also increased by 27%.
However, root and shoot weight were further increased when Prosper Plus was applied in combination with Prosper ST. Prosper Plus is a high strength foliar phosphite biostimulant. The combination of both products resulted in a 57% increase in root weight and a 40% increase in shoot weight.
A germination study at the University of Nottingham investigated how Prosper ST impacted the rate of germination of winter wheat and oilseed rape.
For both crops, the results showed that at any given day after treatment, seeds treated with Prosper ST had a higher percentage of germination, compared to the untreated control experiment.
The study was conducted at 7oC to slow down the speed of germination to ensure the differences between the treatments were visible.
How has Prosper ST performed in field trials?
Prosper ST has also been trialled in the field. When assessed at BBCH11, an increase from 225 plants per m2 (untreated control) to 328 plants per m2 was observed when winter wheat seed was treated with Prosper ST at 2L/T, a 46% increase.
This translated into a 0.6t/ha yield increase over the control.
An independent replicated plot trial conducted by Eurofins in the UK on spring barley (variety KWS Irina) studied the effect of applying Prosper ST with Beret Gold seed treatment and in sequence with biostimulants Prosper Plus and Talisman. Prosper Plus was applied at BBCH13 and Talisman at BBCH25-30. The results showed that applying Prosper ST with Beret Gold increased yield by 0.43t/ha over Beret Gold alone. Beret Gold sequenced with Prosper Plus and Talisman further increased yield. However, it was the final treatment of all 4 products together that yielded highest at 8.68t/ha, a 15% yield increase above Beret Gold applied alone.
Summary
- Prosper ST is a seed treatment containing potassium phosphite combined with a range of nutrients
- A 40% and 27% increase in root and shoot weight, respectively, has been observed when wheat seed has been treated with Prosper ST
- Prosper ST also increases the rate of germination of winter wheat and oilseed rape seeds
- Field trials have demonstrated 46% increase in plants per m2 when winter wheat seed was treated with Prosper ST at 2L/T, delivering a 0.6t/ha yield increase over the untreated control
- To further increase crop yield, sequence Prosper ST with foliar biostimulants, for example GroPlan P and Program
