Haifa Group Study Shows Enhanced Resilience in Perennial Plants.
Haifa Group has released findings from a recent study that highlights how their specialized products can strengthen cultivated perennial plants. These enhancements help the plants withstand challenging environmental conditions and stressors.
Study Overview
The study involved Elsanta strawberry cuttings and tested three specific HaifaStim products:
HaifaStim VIM: Enhances root activity.
HaifaStim KIR: A micronutrient fertilizer that includes Silica and Chitin.
HaifaStim Booster: A unique mix of free amino acids and peptides combined with meso and microelements designed to alleviate abiotic stress.
Treatment Methodology
The trial began in July 2022 when the cuttings were planted. One week later, they received their first treatment with HaifaStim VIM at a rate of 3 liters per hectare. Weekly applications of HaifaStim KIR and HaifaStim Booster, each at a rate of 3 kilograms per hectare, continued until one week before harvest.
During this period, both 50% and 100% of the other treatments were omitted to compare results with a control group. Researchers monitored plant mortality and production throughout the 2023-2024 growth cycle.
Key Findings
The results showed that plants treated with HaifaStim developed better root systems and exhibited enhanced growth. By autumn 2023, the treated plants displayed healthier, white roots. While not all treated plants experienced the same level of improvement, the overall positive impact was clear.
However, by the 2024 growth cycle, these visual differences diminished, as the last treatment occurred at the end of 2022.
The study confirmed that applying Haifa biostimulants leads to healthier, more resilient plants while significantly reducing the need for other inputs. Other trials also showed a marked decrease in the mortality rate when following the HaifaStim protocol, consistent across both the autumn and subsequent growth cycles. Additionally, there were no differences in production and sorting, reinforcing the reliability of Haifa biostimulants.
Industry Commitment
Inge Daneels, Managing Director of Haifa NWE, stated, “We are committed to pioneering sustainable agricultural solutions. Our recent study marks a breakthrough in crop nutrition, showing that our innovative biostimulants can effectively reduce or even eliminate the need for traditional treatments in perennial crops. This advancement promotes healthier plant growth and highlights our commitment to environmental stewardship. By utilizing HaifaStim VIM, KIR, and Booster, we provide growers with a reliable, eco-friendly alternative that boosts crop resilience and sustainability.”