Trial to see if biostimulant can boost grain protein

Crop nutrient specialists UPL report good interest in wheat growers keen to trial an alternative method for increasing grain protein.

The company has given away 20ha of its biostimulant Ary-Amin to 50 farmers this spring – a popular try-before-you-buy offer with growers keen to take advantage of milling wheat premiums of more than £50/tonne offered for harvest 2024.

Low soil mineral nitrogen (SMN) levels following the excess winter rainfall have exacerbated the annual challenge of achieving 13% grain protein, says UPL head of marketing Gemma Nokes.

Milling premiums

“This season, whether a grower achieves their milling contract specifications could alter their crop’s profitability by over £500/ha. It could be the difference between a good performance in a challenging year or an average one.

“Farmers are increasingly questioning the sustainability and profitability of reaching 13% protein using additional nitrogen applications alone. This is where products like Ary-Amin can help offer an alternative solution.”

Ary-Amin is a mixture of vegetable amino acids – the building blocks of protein – alongside 6% nitrogen, magnesium and 23% organic carbon. It is sold as a natural growth stimulant for boosting green area index and chlorophyll formation.

Compatible with all of the major T3 fungicide options, the biostimulant is produced for cereal crops and oilseed rape – and is is specifically formulated for use from stem elongation to grain fill.

“By providing the crop with ready-built amino acids, the plant can better use its resources, improve energy usage, build protein more quickly, and overcome stress.” It also helps increase carbohydrate synthesis and improves nitrogen use efficiency.

Growers in the trial receive grain protein analysis to measure the impact of the biostimulant on protein levels.