Prepare for difficult conditions with Bridgeway
After what can only be described as a stress-fuelled start to the spring cropping season, and uncertainty over the weather in the coming weeks, growers are urged to prepare for difficult conditions with Bridgeway.
With air and soil temperatures up and down like a yoyo and the drying of soils across the country, crop performance could already be under pressure. Throw in the spring drilling delays and uncertainty of what the weather will do over the next few weeks, and the inclusion of Bridgeway in the crop protection programme will help growers to reduce stress and protect potential.
Proven to help minimise stress and improve marketable yield and quality in a range of crops over the last 3 years, Bridgeway is one biostimulant you can have confidence in.
Prepare for difficult conditions
Key challenges on farm right now where Bridgeway will help:
Poor crop establishment in dry soils
Drought stress caused by a lack of rain is now a major concern for spring crop establishment in many parts of the country. Poor access to nutrition as a result of dry soils is also evident in some crops. Physiological processes in plants are impaired by drought stress, including photosynthesis, enzyme activity, cell membrane stability, pollen viability and ultimately yield and quality.
Applying 1.0-2.0 L/ha of Bridgeway will help to stimulate root growth and increase the ability of the crop to access nutrition and moisture from depth. This will help to improve crop establishment and aid growth in challenging growing conditions.
Click here for specific crop recommendations and use advice.
Spring frosts can stress the crop
Frosts can cause severe damage to crops. Recovery of the crop depends partly on the variety and also on the growth stage. In the case of potatoes, whilst affected crops can normally resprought, growth will be set back weeks and will likely impact final yield and lifting date.
Applications of Bridgeway ahead of frost will help to increase Brix levels, lowering the freezing point in plants and making the crop more tolerant to frost.
Post frost, 1.0 L/ha Bridgeway will help to speed up crop recovery by stimulating new growth, and provide an energy boost by increasing the rate of photosynthesis.
In 2020, Bridgeway helped this frosted potato crop (left) recover.
Click here for specific crop recommendations and use advice.
Liquid fertiliser scorch impacts photosynthesis
Liquid fertiliser can cause crop scorch, particularly when followed by harsh winds and overnight frosts, evident in some cereal crops at the moment. The reduction in green leaf area can reduce photosynthesis and impact potential.
1.0 L/ha Bridgeway can be applied ahead of liquid fertiliser applications to minimise the risk of scorch. It can also be applied to affected crops to help the crop recover, by reducing crop stress, increasing chlorophyll concentrations and by increasing the rate of photosynthesis.
Click here for specific crop recommendations and use advice.
Stressed crops increase the disease threat
Stressed barley crops are at greater risk of Ramularia. Ramularia is often present in plants but is asymptomatic until it enters its necrotic stage, which is triggered by environmental stress. Managing the crop to reduce stress is therefore an important strategy that can be adopted by growers. The most important trigger is the stress of flowering which causes a significant change in the barley plant’s metabolism. The plant begins to mobilise assimilates to the developing grain and essentially gives up on its own natural defences, shifting resources to the ear. Other environmental stresses such as waterlogging, high light intensity and drought can all increase the disease, bringing on more severe symptoms.
Early applications of 1.0 – 2.0 L/ha Bridgeway will help to minimise stress in the crop and elicit host defence mechanisms within the plants to help fend off the disease. This will help to preserve green leaf area and protect yield potential.
Why Bridgeway?
- Proven to help in the above situations on farm.
- Proven to reduce stress and increase marketable yield and quality in a range of crops over the last 3 years – check out some of our results here: Bridgeway in cereals; Bridgeway in sugar beet; Bridgeway in potatoes.
- Tried and trusted by agronomists and farmers – view our case studies in a range of crops here.
- Approved for use in organic systems by Organic Farmers & Growers. Vegan, vegetarian, GM free and suitable for all end markets.
- Highest increases in root and shoot growth of all biostimulants tested when compared to Calibra Carbo, Terrasorb, AminoA Flo in Cereals and OSR. See the results here.
- Highest quality ingredients, perfect combination of amino acids and peptides – the optimised blend of amino acids and peptides in Bridgeway, of food grade quality, is the reason why Bridgeway is one of the top-performing biostimulants in its class.
Bridgeway recommendations by crop
For specific dose and timing recommendations in key crops, please download our latest bulletin here.
For any technical assistance required, please get in touch with our technical manager below.
