A new study published in the latest issue of the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture suggests that applying beneficial microorganisms at transplanting can promote rapid transplant establishment (starter effect) for achieving early and high yields.

Scientists treated a number of vegetable crops, including lettuce, pepper, tomato and courgette, with the microorganisms Glomus intraradices BEG72 and Trichoderma atroviride MUCL 45632. Under greenhouse conditions dry weight was significantly increased when plants were supplied with both beneficial microorganisms in comparison with the control. The increase in root and shoot weight was associated with an increased level of nutrient uptake (including P, Mg, Fe, Zn and B). Under open field conditions, lettuce shoot and root dry weights also increased following biostimulant microorganism application in field conditions, while the total yield of courgettes also increased. The authors say that the application of a biostimulant tablet containing both organisms can promote transplant establishment and vegetable crop productivity in a sustainable way.

The post Inoculating young plants can improve yields appeared first on Hort News.