Pierre Migner, retired agronomist, M.Sc., MBA / Trial results 2018-2023, August 2024 edition
Drought, heat, cold, salinity, water deficits and certain agricultural treatments can cause abiotic stresses that limit crop growth and yield. Oligo Prime® technology was designed to support plants’ natural defence mechanisms when they are exposed to these adverse conditions. In particular, it aims to help the plant better manage the build-up of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced during a period of stress.
Between 2018 and 2023, Agro-100 evaluated this technology in several plots in Quebec and Ontario on corn and soybean crops. The results are presented in a technical review published in August 2024.
Oligo Prime® is a biostimulant technology that combines metabolic signals, C-plex® technology, fulvic acid and chitosan to support plants’ natural defence mechanisms, nutrient uptake and response to abiotic stress.
Abiotic stress is an adverse environmental condition that prevents a plant from reaching its full genetic potential.
It can be caused by:
When a plant is under stress, it produces reactive oxygen species. At low concentrations, these molecules help transmit signals that activate defence mechanisms. When their concentration becomes too high, however, they can damage the plant’s cell membranes, proteins and genetic material.
The figure on page 6 of the document illustrates this sequence: onset of stress, ROS production, activation of defence mechanisms, then cell damage once the plant’s defence capacity is exceeded.
Oligo Prime® technology is based on the synergy of four components.
1. Metabolic signals
Metabolic signals help activate the plant’s physiological processes and defence mechanisms.
The work presented in the document indicates that the secondary metabolites included in the technology can reduce the drop in photosynthesis associated with the stress caused by certain herbicides. They also help activate defensive proteins and enzymes.
2. C-plex® technology
C-plex® is a molecule derived from fulvic acid. Its small size and cation exchange capacity are used to facilitate the complexation, uptake and mobility of certain nutrients in the plant.
The illustration on page 9 compares the size of humic acids, fulvic acids and C-plex®. The document presents C-plex® as a molecule of less than 500 daltons.
3. Fulvic acid
Fulvic acid contributes to the chelation and mobilization of mineral elements. Its smaller molecular size compared with humic acids makes it easier for it to pass through certain membrane systems.
4. Chitosan
Chitosan is a biopolymer used as a biostimulant and elicitor. It can promote the production of antioxidant enzymes and metabolites involved in the plant’s response to stress.
Together, these four components aim to improve the effectiveness of the natural mechanisms that allow the plant to maintain its physiological balance during a period of stress.
The trials were conducted in corn and soybean fields at various research sites in Quebec and Ontario, including:
In the trials presented, Oligo Prime® technology was included in the foliar biostimulant CropBooster OP. The product was added to different herbicide programs to compare yields with those obtained when the herbicides were applied without CropBooster OP.
The trials were repeated over several years and generally included four or six replicates arranged in randomized complete blocks.
Glyphosate and CropBooster OP in corn
Between 2018 and 2023, the average yield of corn treated with glyphosate and CropBooster OP was higher than that of corn treated with glyphosate without CropBooster OP.
| Treatment | Average yield |
|---|---|
| Glyphosate alone | 12,890 kg/ha |
| Glyphosate with CropBooster OP | 13,641 kg/ha |
| Average difference | +752 kg/ha |
This difference, equivalent to about 12 bushels per acre, was statistically significant. The document also indicates that a positive response was observed at all sites and in all years studied.
In the 2021 to 2023 trials with different herbicide programs, adding CropBooster OP also produced a higher average yield.
| Treatment | Average yield |
|---|---|
| Herbicides without CropBooster OP | 12,039 kg/ha |
| Herbicides with CropBooster OP | 13,698 kg/ha |
| Average difference | +658 kg/ha |
This difference is equivalent to about 10.5 bushels per acre and was statistically significant in the trials presented.
Glyphosate and CropBooster OP in soybeans
Between 2018 and 2023, adding CropBooster OP to glyphosate resulted in an average yield increase of 107 kg/ha, or about 1.6 bushels per acre.
| Treatment | Average yield |
|---|---|
| Glyphosate without CropBooster OP | 4,434 kg/ha |
| Glyphosate with CropBooster OP | 4,541 kg/ha |
| Average difference | +107 kg/ha |
However, this difference was not statistically significant.
In the 2021 to 2023 trials with different herbicide programs, the average yield with CropBooster OP was higher by 168 kg/ha, or about 2.5 bushels per acre.
| Treatment | Average yield |
|---|---|
| Herbicides without CropBooster OP | 4,181 kg/ha |
| Herbicides with CropBooster OP | 4,349 kg/ha |
| Average difference | +168 kg/ha |
The trials conducted between 2018 and 2023 show that Oligo Prime® technology, included in CropBooster OP, was associated with yield increases in several programs evaluated in corn and soybeans.
The most marked and consistent results were observed in corn. In soybeans, responses varied more depending on the year and the herbicide program.
This work supports the use of biostimulants as a complementary tool to help crops better cope with abiotic stress and protect their yield potential.
