Reducing drought stress with amino acids
Within the agricultural and horticultural sectors, the term “biostimulants” is being heard more and more frequently. For some, their application has already become standard practice, while for others they remain largely unfamiliar. In recent years, many new products have entered the market that contribute to healthy and vigorous crops.
Biostimulants based on amino acids are a good example of this. However, the growing diversity of biostimulants on the market is making it increasingly difficult for growers and advisors to distinguish between products and their claims. Time, therefore, for some clarification using amino acids as a biostimulant example.
What are amino acids?
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. In addition to carbon (C), oxygen (O), hydrogen (H), and nitrogen (N), some amino acids also contain sulfur (S). Proteins play a key role in almost all biological processes. Certain proteins accelerate crucial steps within metabolism, while others function as signaling molecules or are involved in transporting nutrients and organic molecules from one cell to another. In nature, there are 20 different amino acids, and the specific sequence of amino acids within a protein determines how that protein functions. A short chain of amino acids (part of a protein) is called a peptide.
The value of amino acids in agriculture and horticulture
Because proteins are responsible for numerous processes within plant cells, a large portion of the sugars and nitrogen produced by the plant is used for protein synthesis.
This process requires a significant amount of energy. When a crop experiences stress — for example due to drought, cold conditions, or even herbicide or fungicide applications — the plant responds through a stress reaction. Such a stress response requires the production of many new proteins, and therefore also a large supply of amino acids and energy.
Research has shown that when crops are supplied with amino acids through foliar application during stress conditions, the plant can directly use these amino acids for protein synthesis. As a result, the crop needs to spend less energy on the stress response itself, helping to prevent growth reduction and yield losses.
Amino acids also offer additional benefits. They can act as chelators, improving nutrient uptake. Amino acids also enhance the spreading properties of spray solutions. At higher dosages, amino acids can even function as a natural nitrogen fertilization source.
Origin and effectiveness of amino acid products
There are major differences between amino acid products. The main distinction lies in the origin of the amino acids: animal-based or plant-based. Animal-derived amino acids are produced from slaughterhouse or fish waste, while plant-based amino acids are commonly sourced from soybean shoots, corn steep liquor, or other plant materials. Synthetic amino acids also exist, but they generally have a very limited composition.
To produce an amino acid product, proteins from the raw material must first be broken down into free amino acids. Only free amino acids can be rapidly and easily absorbed by the crop to support stress responses. This breakdown process is called hydrolysis. Plant proteins generally yield a higher concentration of free amino acids compared to animal proteins.
If the goal is to support crops during stress conditions, it is therefore advisable to choose a product of plant origin. For promoting nutrient binding, both plant- and animal-based products can be suitable. To determine the type of amino acid product you are dealing with, you can request the exact composition of (free) amino acids and the amino acid-to-peptide ratio from the supplier. This provides insight into the composition, quality, and origin of the product.
Optima Leaf-Amino
Soiltech offers Optima Leaf-Amino within its product range. This biostimulant, based on plant-derived sources, contains an exceptionally high concentration of free amino acids (more than 17.5%).
An application of 1.5 L/ha during herbicide, fungicide, or insecticide spraying reduces growth inhibition and promotes good leaf coverage.
Under abiotic stress conditions such as cold, drought, heat, or excessive rainfall, a weekly application of 1.5 L/ha of Optima Leaf-Amino supports the crop and helps reduce potential yield losses.
More information? Click here: Optima Leaf-Amino.
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