Bigger Roots

Successful crop outcomes can be expected in both quantity and quality when the benefits of a fertiliser regime that better supports root growth (and the development of greater organic root mass) are fully understood and implemented by farmers and growers.

bigger-roots-2RLF has long held the belief that the benefits of an Integrated Fertiliser Management (IFM) approach will bring substantial rewards in every practical sense. It has also long held the belief that IFM is the modern farming future and holds the key to a more sustainable farming future that the world of agriculture has been looking for.

So, in every sense, a true trifecta of reward – yield, financial and sustainability. It is good to be reminded of just how important a healthy root system can be.

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Root Systems Differences

As demonstrated in this diagram the treated plant root has larger total mass as well as finer divisions and better root turnover and regeneration to explore more soil reserves in time and space, resulting in improved yield potential for the treated crop.

So the main points again…

Bigger Roots

RLF products achieve a direct exponential effect on root development and growth. Whilst this forms only a part of the cycle of growth and development for each plant, it is a vital and important stage that is also essential in well-considered management of plant physiology, as the benefits to farmers and growers will be significant.

A ‘Wetter’ Effect in the Soil

RLF products create a soil condition that improves the uptake of the existing nutrient and chemicals. Furthermore, it creates an environment that enables mineralisation to further improve fertiliser up-take and efficiency. And, this is like endowing the soil with an additive to make the soil more effective.

Root Interception + Greater Surface Area

The extra size of the root structure means that physically the plant has access to more. This is because the plant has much greater physical contact with a greater area. Fine hairs also give the plant a huge amount more surface area. This lets the plant use less energy in achieving easy access to available nutrient and physical NPK in the soil. And, this increases plant growth.

Nutrient Depletion Zones

Mineral nutrients such as phosphorus have very limited mobility in soils. This often creates a depletion zone – where all the available nutrient has been utilised quickly from around the roots. To obtain more phosphorus, plants must bypass these depletion zones by further root activity elsewhere in the soil. The outcome of this quest for phosphorus – and other relatively immobile soil resources – should largely be determined by the surface area of a plant’s root system.

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