Article taken from Agronomist & Arable Farmer, July 2017.
Agrovista is carrying out trials to evaluate the value of two plant growth promoters, SmartGrass and Terra-Sorb, in improving grass growth and dry matter output.
Dramatic visual and quantifiable differences are already being found, despite the products only having been applied in April, in challenging spring conditions.
SmartGrass is a patented formulation of gibberellic acid, supplied as soluble granules for application through a conventional sprayer. It stimulates cell expansion, resulting in stem and leaf elongation.
Terra-Sorb Foliar Plus contains an amino acid-based biostimulant extracted from vegetable protein plus trace elements to help boost nutrient uptake, photosynthetic activity and root and shoot growth, increasing vigour and plant development in spring.
At Nantwich, Cheshire, the products were applied on April 9, three days after a zero-grazed, 10-year grass ley with clover was cut. Visual and growth differences were soon apparent, with the treated areas looking more vigorous.
Within 10 days, a 2 litre/ha dose of Terra-Sorb had increased the height of the sward by 31%, compared with 3% for the untreated control. This resulted in a 31% increase in dry matter, compared with 18% for control, (see table, below).
""The additional dry matter by produced from Terra-Sorb, over untreated, in this 10-day period would produce an additional 767.5kg of meat/ha, or 74 litres of milk/ha, realising a significant margin over input cost," says Agrovista technical manager Antony Wade.
SmartGrass at 20g/ha produced a similar result.
In a further trial at Turnberry, Scotland, on a productive 10-year old ley grown under standard fertiliser practice, SmartGrass increased dry matter by 20% and Terra-Sorb by 25% respectively.
Both treatments were applied on April 18 with measurements taken on May 9.
DM increased by 1.2% in the control.
In Richmond, North Yorkshire, SmartGrass was applied at 15g/ha to the treated area of permanent pasture taken for hay with standard fertiliser practice on April 3.
Resulting improved vigour translated into a 55% increase in fresh weight three weeks after application.
Although it is now too late to apply SmartGrass this season, as the cut-off date is the end of April, Terra-Sorb Foliar Plus can be used any time, says Mr Wade.