Silicon can assist with reducing the incidence and severity of powdery mildew in crops such as cucumbers and roses.
also found that naturally occurring cytokinins in seaweed could provide a growth stimulator effect. The level of naturally occurring cytokinins and the growth effects are, of course, largely dependant on the species and source of seaweed and obtaining a stable extract for use in hydroponics. However, extracts of certain species of seaweed have been shown to improve root and shoot growth and improve stress resistance in some crops by increasing the natural production of antioxidants in the plant. Compost and vermicast-based extracts might also have the added advantage of boosting beneficial microbe levels in the root zone and provide a wide range of beneficial elements. Natural mineral, clay or earth extract products have been available for boosting the menu of elements for hydroponic plants for many years. These are a good way of safely incorporating rarer elements into nutrient solutions, although they should be considered a slow release form of supplement. MY References P Tlustos et al. “The role of titanium in biomass production and its influence on essential contents in field grown crops.” Plant and Soil Enviro, no. 1 (2005): 50, 19-25. EAH Pilon-Smits et al. “Physiological functions of beneficial elements.” Current Opinion in Plant Biology (2009): 12:267-274. E Diatloff et al. “Rare earth elements and plant growth II. Responses of corn and mungbean to low concentrations of lanthanum in dilute, continuously flowing nutrient solutions.” Journal of Plant Nutrition (1995): 18(10) 1977-1989. C M Steveni et al. “Effect of seaweed concentrate on hydroponically grown spring barley.” Journal of Applied Psychology no. 4 (1992): 173-180.
Maximum Yield | September/October 2012
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