Types Of Biostimulants And Their Effects

Biostimulants are mainly divided into these categories, including humic acid, complex organic substances, beneficial chemical elements, inorganic salts, seaweed extracts, chitin and chitosan derivatives, anti-transpiration agents, and free amino acids.
1. Humic acid
Humic acids are a class of natural organic polymers that are decomposed and synthesized by animal and plant residues under the action of microorganisms and geochemistry, and are widely found in soils, lakes, rivers and oceans. Including humic acid, fulvic acid and humin, etc. The main function is to promote seed germination, root development, fertilizer absorption and assimilation, improve fertilizer utilization efficiency, etc., to improve crop periroots ecology, especially to improve crop drought resistance, cold resistance, promote root growth has a significant effect.
2. Inorganic salts
These ionic compounds are made up of negatively charged anions and positively charged cations. These include phosphite, phosphonate, bicarbonate, silicate, sulfate, and nitrate. The main effects are that phosphorus can directly act on plant metabolism, plant defense response and stomatal function. Silicon also has an effect on many aspects of plants, which can increase the resistance of plants to fungi, correct plant nutritional imbalances, reduce metal toxicity, and enhance tolerance to abiotic stresses.
3. Seaweed extract
Seaweed is an important source of nutrients for organic matter and fertilizers. They also contain a variety of inorganic and organic active compounds, including uncommon and complex polysaccharides that aid in plant growth such as kelp, fucoidans, alginate, and plant hormones. The main role is to participate in various generational pathways of plants, such as nitrogen metabolism and antioxidant capacity. They can enhance plant tolerance to abiotic stresses such as salinity, drought, and extreme temperatures.
4. Chitin and chitosan derivatives
It mainly includes chitin, chitosan and chito-oligosaccharide, which is an animal-based polymer cellulose extracted from crab and shrimp shells by genetic engineering. Among them, chito-oligosaccharide has a lower molecular weight, good water solubility, and is easier to be absorbed by plants. The main role is to change the soil flora, promote the growth of beneficial microorganisms, and also induce plant disease resistance, immunity to a variety of fungi, bacteria and viruses. Regulates plant growth and improves crop quality.
5. Amino acids
Amino acids are a general term for a class of organic compounds that contain amino and carboxyl groups. The basic unit of biological function macromolecular protein is the basic substance of protein required for animal and plant nutrition. The main role is to improve the activity of certain enzyme systems in plants, and to regulate certain plant growth regulators and biochemical processes in plants. They can induce the defense response of plants and improve the ability of plants to tolerate various abiotic stresses.