July 2024 - 50

PLANT HEALTH
Biostimulants are used both
in specialty crops and in
field crops. They are used in
field production as well as
in greenhouses and in high
tunnels, in soil-based and
soilless media. Photo by
Dean Peterson.
Expect the results to
be subtle. Assessing a
product's performance
is challenging, and plan
to make multiple points
of evaluation.
" Be able to evaluate
what matters to you, "
Kleinhenz said. " You
may need to look at root
mass, plant size, the
amount of flowering and,
of course, yield. "
For specialty crop growers, the benefit may be
better quality.
It's also important to know what's being evaluated.
Incidence of disease - the number of plants affected -
is different from the severity of disease. Growers using
a microbe-containing biostimulant need to know the
host-plant relationship and how that microbe affects
that particular crop.
What's the grower's expected consistency of
performance? Is it break-even performance two out
of three years with stellar performance the third? Is
it adequate performance nearly every year?
The companies selling the biostimulants should be
able to provide accurate data on their products that's
based on solid evidence. Data based on performance
Efficacy data
determined by an
independent third party
are difficult to come
by, and with regulation,
that may change.
- Matt Kleinhenz
50
JULY 2024 GPNMAG.COM
FEBRUARY 2024 GPNMAG.COM
averages have limited value because there are so many
biostimulants used in many different situations.
" Efficacy data determined by an independent third
party are difficult to come by, and with regulation, that
may change, " Kleinhenz said.
As with commercial fertilizers, growers need to
determine the four R's of the best application procedure:
What is the right product, at the right rate, at the right
time, in the right place?
The concept of applying biostimulants as insurance
against poor crop performance is a theme that often
surfaces. Growers believe the products won't hurt
anything and might provide some benefit, but do
growers need to calculate the cost versus benefit of
the biostimulant?
There are near endless questions, and a side-by-side
comparison by the grower is most likely to give the
best answers.
" Evaluation is essential, " Kleinhenz said. " Use trusted,
reliable approaches. "
Use a control, or untreated area, use it consistently
and move it around the production area. Good record
keeping is essential and should keep track if anything
else changed in the field besides biostimulant use.
Eventually, there must be an actual calculation of
value, but the return on investment is an individual
calculation by the grower.
" Ultimately, growers have to know they can make a
profit, " Kleinhenz said. " Work with someone, Extension
or whomever, who can help analyze the results you're
seeing. "

http://www.GPNMAG.COM http://www.GPNMAG.COM

July 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July 2024

Table of Contents
Editor's Report | Summertime decisions
Lighting Research | Supplemental lighting strategies
Technology | Transforming with automation
CAST 2024 | Remarkable releases for 2025
CEA | The importance of canopy ventilation
Climate Control | Enhancing greenhouse management
Special Advertising Section | Grower's Guide: Professional Growing Media and Biologicals
Variety Information | New take on smooth hydrangeas
Big Grower | Hydroponic farming
Product Showcase
Plant Health | Setting ground rules
Forty Under 40 Perspectives | Turning a lifelong education into a business
Culture Report | Grama grass
Technically Speaking | Why crops don't flower (on time)
Product Marketplace
Industry News/Events
Classifieds/Ad Index
July 2024 - 1
July 2024 - 2
July 2024 - Table of Contents
July 2024 - Editor's Report | Summertime decisions
July 2024 - 5
July 2024 - Lighting Research | Supplemental lighting strategies
July 2024 - 7
July 2024 - 8
July 2024 - 9
July 2024 - 10
July 2024 - 11
July 2024 - Technology | Transforming with automation
July 2024 - 13
July 2024 - 14
July 2024 - 15
July 2024 - CAST 2024 | Remarkable releases for 2025
July 2024 - 17
July 2024 - 18
July 2024 - 19
July 2024 - 20
July 2024 - 21
July 2024 - 22
July 2024 - 23
July 2024 - 24
July 2024 - 25
July 2024 - 26
July 2024 - 27
July 2024 - CEA | The importance of canopy ventilation
July 2024 - 29
July 2024 - 30
July 2024 - 31
July 2024 - 32
July 2024 - 33
July 2024 - Climate Control | Enhancing greenhouse management
July 2024 - Special Advertising Section | Grower's Guide: Professional Growing Media and Biologicals
July 2024 - A2
July 2024 - A3
July 2024 - A4
July 2024 - A5
July 2024 - A6
July 2024 - A7
July 2024 - A8
July 2024 - A9
July 2024 - A10
July 2024 - A11
July 2024 - A12
July 2024 - A13
July 2024 - A14
July 2024 - A15
July 2024 - A16
July 2024 - Variety Information | New take on smooth hydrangeas
July 2024 - 36
July 2024 - 37
July 2024 - 38
July 2024 - 39
July 2024 - 40
July 2024 - Big Grower | Hydroponic farming
July 2024 - 42
July 2024 - 43
July 2024 - 44
July 2024 - 45
July 2024 - 46
July 2024 - Product Showcase
July 2024 - Plant Health | Setting ground rules
July 2024 - 49
July 2024 - 50
July 2024 - 51
July 2024 - Forty Under 40 Perspectives | Turning a lifelong education into a business
July 2024 - 53
July 2024 - Culture Report | Grama grass
July 2024 - 55
July 2024 - 56
July 2024 - 57
July 2024 - Technically Speaking | Why crops don't flower (on time)
July 2024 - 59
July 2024 - Product Marketplace
July 2024 - 61
July 2024 - 62
July 2024 - 63
July 2024 - 64
July 2024 - Industry News/Events
July 2024 - Classifieds/Ad Index
July 2024 - 67
July 2024 - 68
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/new-varieties-digital-guide-2025
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/september-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/july-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/may-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/march-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/january-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/2024-guide-to-cannabis-production
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/november-december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/october-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/new-varieties-digital-guide-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/september-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/july-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-july-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/may-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/2023-guide-to-hemp-production
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/march-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-january-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/january-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/2023-guide-to-cannabis-production
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/november-december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/gpn-new-varieties-digital-guide-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/september-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-july-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/july-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/may-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-april-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/april-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/march-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/cannabisguide-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/hempguide-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/newvarieties-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/december-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-november-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/november-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/october-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-september-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/september-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/august-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-july-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/july-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/june-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/may-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/april-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-march-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/march-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/february-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/cannabisguide-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/hempguide-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/newvarieties-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-january-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/january-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/december-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-november-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/november-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/october-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-september-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/september-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/august-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-july-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/july-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/june-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/may-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/april-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/californiaspringtrials-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-march-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/march-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/february-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/cannabisguide-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/hempguide-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-january-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/january-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/december-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-november-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/november-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/october-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-september-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/september-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/august-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-july-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/july-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/june-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/may-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/april-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/californiaspringtrials-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-march-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/march-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/february-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/undercontrol-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/big-grower-january-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/GPN/january-2019
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com