More than half a century has passed since the phosphite form of phosphorus was first used in agricultural production, but today many people still have a mixed attitude toward using it. In Western scientific literature a great many publications are devoted to the use and effectiveness of phosphites in crop production, directly confirming a number of positive properties that promote plant growth and development and raise their resistance to biotic and abiotic factors.
The figure shows the main directions of influence of the phosphite form of phosphorus on plants. Plant physiological reactions to phosphite are related to its influence on internal hormonal and chemical changes and on the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and so on. This promotes optimal development of leaf surface area and chlorophyll content, and greater accumulation in the crop of the sugars, proteins and other substances for which we grow particular crops.
ECOORGANIC, a domestic producer of special fertilizers, has been on the market with phosphite products since 2016. Besides the most popular phosphite fertilizer ECOLINE Phosphite (K), phosphites combined with biologically active substances, amino acids and phytohormones, were developed and registered (ECOLINE Phosphite (K-Amino), GROS Rootgrowth). All phosphite compositions produced by ECOORGANIC have proved themselves well when used on field, orchard and vegetable crops.
For seed treatment the most effective composition is GROS Rootgrowth. The well-chosen composition (nitrogen – 3.0%, phosphorus in the form of phosphite – 5.0%, potassium – 3.0%, free L-α amino acids – 3.0%, phytohormones: auxins – 20 ppm, cytokinins – 2 ppm) and forms of active ingredients strengthen the growth energy of the seedling and young plant (amino acids and phosphorus in the form of phosphite), and the ratio of auxins to cytokinins intensifies cell division in meristem tissues. Pre-sowing seed treatment with the fertilizer GROS Rootgrowth at the same time as dressing gives even, uniform seedlings and faster plant development compared with the control. In practice, when for various reasons crops are sown later than the optimal dates, this may be an essential condition for preserving the yield potential of crops (both winter and spring).
With foliar application, phosphites, penetrating into the plant, circulate, which lets these compounds control the development of powdery mildew pathogens. That is why products based on phosphites are effective on wheat crops not only at the resumption of spring vegetation but also at later stages of plant growth and development.
The action of phosphites on pathogens in the plant can take place in two ways:
Direct action - phosphites form pores in the membranes of pathogen cells, causing leakage of cell sap and, accordingly, weakening the pathogen.
Indirect action - phosphites introduce transcriptional changes in the synthesis of proteins that form cell walls, which leads to the death of the pathogen.
It has now been established that, by controlling fungal development, phosphites promote regrowth of a larger number of root hairs and improve plant rooting.
During the plant growing season, phosphites raise the intensity of flower formation and increase the number of grains in the ear and, accordingly, yield. Applying phosphite fertilizers combined with L-α-amino acids provides an anti-stress effect.
Exclusively phosphite forms of phosphorus in the highest concentrations, compositions with microelements and biologically active substances, excellent compatibility in tank mixes with crop protection products and boosting their effectiveness thanks to buffering properties and, at the same time, an affordable price – these are the features that set ECOORGANIC products apart on the Ukrainian market.