The power of amino acids: the key to plant growth and resistance
Amino acids are essential for all life forms on earth and play a crucial role in countless biological processes. Out of more than 500 different amino acids, about 23 are essential for the growth and health of humans, animals, and plants. Humans and animals cannot produce amino acids themselves and must obtain them through their diet, but plants can synthesize them on their own. However, the key question is: How can we optimize the plant’s energy use so that it still has enough energy left for growth?
Amino acid production requires energy
In soils rich in organic material, plants get most of the amino acids they need from decomposed organic matter. On the other hand, amino acids are less available in poor soils. In this case, plants need to produce them on their own, but especially for open field grown crops and horticultural plants, this process takes a lot of energy. This can affect other essential functions, like growth.
When plants experience stress, such as drought or cold, they focus their energy on survival, meaning the production of amino acids takes a back seat. This weakens the plant and makes it more vulnerable to diseases, slowing down growth even more.
Faster recovery after spraying, weed control and pruning
In cultivation, there are various situations in which the plant experiences extra stress, such as after spraying (for example, for crop protection), weed control, and pruning. These processes cause physical and physiological damage to the plant, leading to disruption of normal metabolic processes. During recovery, the plant requires an increased production of proteins and enzymes to repair damaged cells, which consumes a lot of energy.
Free amino acids and peptides: A crucial solution
To support plants, free amino acids and peptides can make a big difference. These substances help the plant manage its energy more efficiently and to keep growing, even during stressful periods.
- Free amino acids are directly absorbed by the plant and can immediately be used for vital processes like building proteins and boosting defense mechanisms. This allows the plant to quickly react to stressful conditions without wasting energy on producing its own amino acids, so other important functions can continue.
- Peptides are chains of amino acids that the plant needs to break down into individual amino acids. This means that peptides take a bit longer to become available to the plant. However, this gradual process makes peptides a long-term source of amino acids, contributing to steady growth and improved resistance to stress factors.
Den Ouden GrowSolutions: The best support for plants
The foundation for healthy, strong plants lies in resilient cultivation practices. A healthy soil, rich in organic matter and diverse micro-organisms, is the key to growth. At Den Ouden GrowSolutions, we offer products that contain both free amino acids and peptides: FertAmino 7-2-2, FertAmino 5-2-4, FertAmino 3-2-7, FertAmino 7-2-3+, FertAmino 5-1-5+, FertAmino 3-1-9+, PlantBoost A, PlantBoost P, and PlantBoost+. These products play a vital role in plant recovery after stress, and promoting healthy growth.
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