2019 ASHS Annual Conference

Biostimulants are the most rapidly growing segment of the Agricultural Chemicals industry, nevertheless, considerable uncertainty exists with regard to application rates, timings, crop responses, and mode of action. Skepticism among consumers and regulators as to the role of these products in modern agriculture further hampers adoption. To address this issue there is a need to develop university managed, rapid screening protocols that are independent, statistically robust, and low cost. The UC Davis Biostimulant Field Screening Trial is an investigation of physiological parameters related to biomass accumulation and energy balance of Lycopersicon esculentum Mil in order to characterize whole-plant response of biostimulant treated plants to multiple-stressor conditions in commercial fields. This trial utilized the latest in sensing technologies and ground-truth devices to characterize Lycopersicon esculentum Mil phenology and to identify critical periods of biostimulant activity.