SylGro aims to Boost Plant Nutrition in 35 Different Crops
By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com
Nutrition is king when it comes to plant health.
The nutrition value that’s in a plant is becoming increasingly important, especially with demands to produce higher quality feed for farm livestock and food for people.
A new product, called SylGro seeks to enhance plant nutrition. The company which makes the product, Sylvite, says the technology works by increasing plant metabolism, improving the plant’s overall health and stress capabilities.
The company launched the SylGro product line this year, after conducting two years of trials. “In 2013 we had 3,500 acres, 35 different crops, amongst 50 different growers,” said Brent Stephenson Research Sales Representative for Sylvite.
Stephenson says the vast majority of the trials were conducted in their Ontario retail areas located in Norfolk, Middlesex and Elgin counties. Greenhouse trials were also conducted on horticulture crops in the Leamington area, and research was also done in Stayner on canola. Sylvite hopes to expand its research trials on canola into Western Canada, where the majority of the country’s canola acres are located.
“We’ve got a lot of neat results,” explained Stephenson, adding that the main findings from the research was how consistent the trial data was.
But just like any other product, if growers don’t have a balanced crop plan in place, SylGro won’t be effective.
“It takes the genetics that have been developed over the years and allows them to reach maximum potential,” explained Steve McQueen, Retail Sales Manager for Sylvite. “It also takes nutrients that we have in the soil and allows the plant to be able to utilize the nutrients much more efficiently.”
Plants that are treated with SylGro are typically healthier, assisting in defending off disease and in some cases, insect damage.
Interestingly, when applied to soybeans (during the flowing stage), it allows the plants to hold their flowers and handle stress better. “A lot of beans abort their flowers as they get to the stress zone…if we can capture another 5-10% of those flowers we can get more yield,” said McQueen.
McQueen’s pitch to growers
“When blended into an existing crop plan, it’s going to allow plants to meet their maximum potential, which will in turn drive yield and profits,” he said.