WO2022101587A1

WO2022101587A1 - Method for increasing the yield in plants by biostimulation, in particular in field crops

Info

Publication number: WO2022101587A1
Application number: PCT/FR2021/052001
Authority: WO
Inventors: Patrick GELIOT; Victor MAIGNAN
Original assignee: Valorisation Des Innovations En Agrofournitures
Priority date: 2020-11-12
Filing date: 2021-11-12
Publication date: 2022-05-19
Also published as: EP4243593A1; FR3118395B1; FR3118395A1

Abstract

The invention describes a method for increasing the productivity of plants by providing a solution comprising an active agent, characterised in that the solution is a sprayable liquid solution which does not contain a mineral nitrogen agent and which is obtained by diluting the active agent, which consists of: a) a biostimulating agent and b) a foliar penetration agent, and in that the application is carried out by spraying the liquid solution, free of nitrogen fertiliser, onto the plants for a limited period after the principal BBCH growth stage 2, which corresponds to crop development, and before the principal BBCH growth stage 9, which corresponds to the beginning of senescence, during the period between said two BBCH growth stages.

Description

METHOD FOR INCREASING THE YIELD OF PLANTS BY BIOSTIMULATION,

PARTICULARLY FIELD CROPS

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to the field of plant biostimulation of field crops in order to increase the efficiency of the use of nitrogen fertilizers, and thus to improve both the yield and the quality of harvested products, in particular cereal crops, rapeseed, and more particularly bread wheat or maize by way of the mobilization of nitrogen from the roots and from the straw to the grain.

[0002] Increasing yields has been a major challenge for several decades for research programs (particularly variety selection and agronomic practices). Thus, since the end of the Second World War, enormous progress has been made in genetics, agronomy, mechanization and the use of inputs such as fertilizers and phytosanitary products. The intensification of production methods has made it possible to increase yields remarkably in France, going from about 20 quinta ux/hectare (q/ha) in 1945 to 70 q/ha during the 1990s for wheat. This period corresponds to the “green revolution” which enabled France and Europe to become self-sufficient. Yields of field crops now seem to be stabilizing even if research is still aimed at removing the ceiling.

[0003] In addition to the stagnation of soft wheat yields, the protein concentration of grains has tended to decrease since the “green revolution”. Indeed, there is a strong negative correlation between the yield and the protein content of wheat. Thus, the high yields obtained during the 20th century resulted in a decrease in the quality of the grains harvested. However, the grain protein concentration is a major qualitative criterion of soft wheat because of its strong influence on the baking characteristics of the flour. In addition, the composition of the grain in proteins, in particular in reserve proteins (molecules rich in nitrogen and sulfur) which are responsible for the rheological properties of the flour, strongly influences the quality of use of the grain.

Nitrogen fertilization plays an essential role in plant growth and crop yield. It helps to increase plant growth and agricultural production, while having an impact on the quality of harvested products. [0005] Chemical fertilizers, in particular nitrogen (N), are one of the main inputs for increasing yield, but also one of the most costly inputs in terms of economy and the environment. Many crops require high amounts of this element to maximize yield.

[0006] Nevertheless, the use of nitrogenous fertilizers by the plants can be considered relatively ineffective in view of the quantities provided. Generally, the plant absorbs only 50% of the nitrogen applied. The main cause of this low nitrogen use efficiency is linked to significant losses of ammoniacal nitrogen by volatilization and/or nitrate nitrogen by leaching during high rainfall. The consequences linked to these losses can have an impact at two levels: firstly economic since a low valuation constitutes a not insignificant financial loss for the farmer and finally environmental, with harmful impacts on the direct environment (emission nitrogen gases contributing to increase the greenhouse effect, pollution of aquifers) or indirect (energy cost of manufacturing fertilizers).

[0007] In this context, optimizing the nitrogen nutrition of field crops such as wheat is essential in order to remove the ceiling on yields and improve grain quality while reducing the impact of fertilizers on the environment. One of the possible ways is the addition of additives to nitrogen fertilizers which made it possible to provide the right form of nitrogen, at the right rate, at the right time and in the right place. Such a solution has been proposed in the patent

Applicant's EP0784040B1.

[0008] At the same time, this route is increasingly contested because nitrogen fertilization is involved in numerous environmental and health risks. The main environmental impacts of nitrogen are contamination of surface and ground water resources and greenhouse gas emissions. On human health, the effects depend on the accumulation of nitrate in plant tissues; when nitrate is reduced to nitrite in the human body, it can cause methemoglobinemia, which is dangerous for children. Nitrite can also react with several chemical compounds (amines and amides), producing N-nitrous compounds, known to be probably carcinogenic to humans.

[0009] One of the new avenues explored consists in increasing the capacity of the plant to assimilate nitrogen by acting directly on the metabolism of the plant. State of the art

[0010] In the state of the art, US patent US4652294 discloses a process for increasing the yields and quality of annual crops growing in neutral or alkaline soil systems, which comprises the steps of:

(a) applying a stress reducing ethylenic fertilizer comprising non-mobile divalent metal cations in the soil and a foliar uptake enhancer to said annual crops during an early crop growth phase characterized by seed germination or l seedling establishment, and

(b) applying a photosynthetic translocation enhancing fertilizer to said annual crops during a third phase of crop growth characterized by reproduction or fruiting.

This solution is not satisfactory because it proposes the use of nitrogen fertilizers, by application to the soil, which reduces the proportion absorbed by the plant and increases soil pollution.

[0011] We also know the publication https://www.viavegetale.com/en/products/balsamo/

“Nitrogen booster for wheat Balsamo allows a better management of nitrogen inputs over the entire production cycle. Nitrogen application is done at the precise moment when the plant needs it most to preserve the yield potential of your crops.

Its active ingredient is unique and allows nitrogen to be better uptaken and better transformed: nitrogen works better inside the plant. »

[0012] Patent CN109601282 is also known relating to a method for drip irrigation of tomatoes as well as patent application WO2019166558 relating to new nitrification inhibitors of formula (I), which are pyrazole propargyl ether compounds. This document also relates to the use of compounds of formula (I) as nitrification inhibitors, that is to say to reduce nitrification, as well as agrochemical mixtures and compositions comprising the nitrification inhibitors of formula (I).

Solution provided by the invention

In order to improve the yield of plants, and in particular of cereal plants by improving the metabolic capacity of the plant, the invention relates according to its in the most general sense, a process for increasing the productivity of plants by supplying a solution comprising an active agent, characterized in that the said solution is a sprayable liquid solution containing no mineral nitrogenous agent, obtained by diluting the said active agent consisting of: a) a biostimulating agent b) a foliar penetration agent and in that the application is carried out by spraying said liquid solution on the plants within a limited period after the main BBCH stage 2 corresponding to vegetative development and before the main BBCH stage 9 corresponding to the start of senescence without nitrogen fertilizer during the period between these two BBCH stages.

[0013] Surprisingly, the application at a particular stage of plant development significantly increases productivity, without adding nitrogen, unlike the solutions of the prior art where the use of biostimulation agent was combined with a nitrogen supply.

[0014] Advantageously, said active agent consists of or comprises Glutacetin®.

Preferably, said liquid solution is sprayed at a rate of 0.5 to 5 kg of active agent per Hectare.

Advantageously, said active agent is prepared in the form of a premix by diluting 0.5 to 5 kilograms of dry active agent in 1 to 10 liters of water. This method of preparation facilitates use by the farmer, by allowing the pouring into a tank from a can, up to a liquid premix containing 0.5 to 5 kg of active ingredient in a tank of 50 to 200 liters.

The invention also relates to an active agent for improving the yield of plants for the implementation of the abovementioned method, characterized in that it consists of: a) a biostimulation agent b) a foliar penetration agent and in that it is recommended for application without nitrogen supply, by spraying on plants, in particular cereals, in a limited period after the main BBCH stage 2 corresponding to vegetative development and before the main BBCH stage 9 corresponding to the start of senescence and preferably at stage BBCH 2 to BBCH 7.

Advantageously, the active agent is prepared in the form of a liquid premix by diluting 0.5 to 5 kilograms of said in 1 to 10 liters of water without adding mineral nitrogen agent. Preferably, said stimulating agent consists of glutamic acid and/or a glutamic acid lactam.

[0019] Advantageously, said stimulating agent contains molybdenum.

According to a variant, said active agent also contains a protective agent, for example a phytopathogenic agent.

Detailed description of non-limiting examples of the invention

The present invention will be better understood on reading the following description, referring to non-limiting examples of implementation.

Background of the invention

The object of the invention is to propose a solution making it possible to obtain high yields for field crops by reducing or eliminating nitrogen inputs, by an effective method making it possible to activate the nitrogen metabolism, in particular of soft wheat. , rather than increasing the doses of nitrogen fertilizer.

The urea nitrogen is assimilated mainly by the roots in very small quantities. To be assimilated, soil enzymes hydrolyze urea nitrogen into ammonium, a process that can last between a day and a week, depending on the temperature and humidity of the soil.

[0024] To prevent nitrogen additions from penetrating through the leaves, the method according to the invention consists in increasing the metabolism of the plant to improve its ability to absorb and transport nitrate by supplying a foliar agent with of biostimulation.

Active ingredient

[0025] An example of an active ingredient is Glutacetin® adjuvant marketed under the BALSAMO brand.

More generally, the sprayable solution is a solution comprising two active agents: a biostimulating agent a leaf penetration agent

The penetrating agent in the aerial part of the plants can be a wetting agent, surfactant also called "surfactant", or penetrant, with or without a component with a phytoeffector role such as: mineral acids and their derivatives, polymers soluble such as alkylarylpolyglycol ethers, alkylphenols, carbomethylcellulose, polyamides, ethylene derivatives regardless of their degree of oxidation or ethoxylation and polymerization, glycol derivatives. They may also be derivatives of soaps and saponins, derivatives of seaweed, derivatives of soya, derivatives of pine or other plants, or even mineral or organic oils, methylated or not, polyethylated or not, paraffinic or not, terpenes, ketones such as methyl ethyl ketone, amines such as alkarylamines, amides, thiols, alcohols such as isopropanol, or even organic acids (humic acid, propionic acid, pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, butiric acid , citric acid, propionic acid, acetic acid, etc.) and their derivatives (sulfonated, esterified, salts, whatever their degree of hydration, etc.), or other usual substances in the field of formulation phytosanitary including the anionic, cationic and non-ionic, hydrophobic or hydrophilic forms of these substances or their derivatives. These penetrating agents ensure a better distribution on the foliage and/or promote the crossing of the stomatal or extra stomatal cuticular barrier, for example: by a partial solubilization of the latter, and/or by a moistening of the cuticular medium thus improving its fluidity, and/or by a reduction in the hydrophobic character of the cuticle, and/or by a modification of the polarities of certain components of this barrier and/or of the spray mixture.

As a penetrating agent, those chosen from the group comprising: algae derivatives, terpenes, alkylarylpolyglycol ethers, methylated or polymethylated oils, citric acids, pyrrolidone carboxylic acids, propionic acids and their derivatives, or a mixture thereof.

[0029] The biostimulation agent consists of a nutrient, an inorganic or organic chemical complex, a micro-organism, influencing the activity of nitrate reductase enzymes and/or influencing the biochemical nitrogen assimilation chain. . [0030] By way of non-limiting examples of such metabolizing agents, mention may be made of: mineral elements, such as calcium, sulfur, potassium, etc., trace elements, such as molybdenum, magnesium, copper, manganese, iron, zinc, boron, chlorine, silicon, sodium, cobalt, iodine, selenium, etc..., mineral acids, such as sulfuric, nitric, etc..., organic acids, such as lactic, acetic, ketone, citric, malic, glycolic, tartaric, aspartic, glutamic, etc..., amino acids, such as tryptophan, lysine, methionine, l alanine, valine, leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, glutamine, proline, glycine, serine, prolamin, etc., functional derivatives of the above acids, enzymes, such as nitrate reductase, aspartate kinase, glutamine synthetase, etc... microorganisms, such as bacteria, complex organic molecules such as casein , betaines, phytohormones, etc.

Among these metabolizing agents, those selected from the group comprising: calcium, magnesium, molybdenum, betaines, acetic, citric, glycolic, glutamic, aspartic acids, proline, and their derivatives, or a mixture of these.

According to a very particular and preferred embodiment of the invention, the metabolizing agent and the penetrating agent are a single and unique agent associated with the protective agent in the composition of the invention. By way of example of such a formulation, mention may be made of a cream of seaweed or other plants, acids such as pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, citric acid, acetic acid, amino acids, metabolites natural or synthetic, etc.

The solution may comprise various formulating agents, additives or vehicles generally used in the field of fertilizers or phytosanitary specialties, such as glycol and its derivatives, inert supports, diluents, solvents, binders, complexing agents, preservatives , anti-evaporants, anti-foaming agents, colorants, acid or alkaline buffers, weighting agents, stabilizing agents, protective agents such as agar, gelatin, gum, mucilage, pectin materials, various starches, glucose, lactose, sucrose, maltose, humic acids and derivatives, silica, colloidal amines, algins and alginates, polyethylene glycol including the molecules known by the English term "safener". The invention envisages all molecules intended to contribute to detoxification by the plant of active materials, in particular of the herbicide type.

Experimental apparatus

[0034] In 2018-2019, trials were conducted on different varieties of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L, cv. Libravo and Sacremento) sown at two different sites in Normandy, France (49.512660, 0.409829; Seine-Maritime, and 49.26491, -0.87763; Calvados, respectively). Plot size was 24 m ² (12 mx 2 m) and three replicates (plots) were used per treatment at each site. The plots were randomized into three main blocks. Systematic applications of phytopharmaceutical treatments have been carried out. The meteorological conditions (average temperature and total precipitation) were 11.9 to 12.4°C and 599 to 612 mm. Previous crops (flax in Seine-Maritime, beet in Calvados) and soil properties were very different at each site (deep silt and clay silt, respectively).

On each site, all the plots were fertilized with 30 kg of S ha ¹ at the tillering stage (BBCH 29). Nitrogen fertilization aimed to reproduce agricultural practices and was calculated according to the method (known as the "Bilan Method") described by the French committee COMIFER. This method measures the amount of mineral N in the soil in February to estimate the total soil N supply. With the estimation of the total needs of the plants, the method makes it possible to apply a dose of nitrogen close to the demand of the crop (152 and 210 kgN ha ¹ in Calvados and Seine-Maritime, respectively). 46% granulated urea was used in these experiments to fertilize wheat. The first fertilization was applied at tillering (BBCH 21, 61 and 100 kgN ha ^-1 , respectively), the second at bolting (BBCH 31, 31 and 50 kgN ha ^-1 , respectively) and the rest at the flag leaf stage ( BBCH 39.60 kgN ha ¹ at both sites). For the latest nitrogen application, the new nitrogen requirement indicators ("bq" coefficient) to cultivate each variety of wheat with a double objective of optimal yield and grain protein content in line with market requirements were followed. For the biostimulant treatment, the Glutacetin® formulation was sprayed on the same day as the last application of N (BBCH 39) to maximize N uptake in plants. 5 L ha ^-1 of Glutacetin® were mixed with water for spraying. The number of ears per square meter was counted on each plot of the two sites then the grains were collected using a harvester.

[0036] After harvesting the winter wheat, the number of grains per ear was measured, the yield was then calculated with a standard humidity (15%) and the nitrogen use efficiency (EUA) according to Moll et al. (1982) using the following equation: EUA (kg kg ^-1 ) = Grain yield (kg ha ^-1 ) / Nitrogen supply (kg ha ^-1 ).

Results

The application of Glutacetin® alone in foliar form at a dose of 5 L ha ¹ made it possible to increase the yield by 9 quintals ha ¹ in Seine-Maritime and by 3.4 quintals ha ¹ in Calvados. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) reveals a significant effect of Glutacetin® on yield (p < 0.05) with an average improvement of 6.2 quintals ha ^-1 . This is mainly due to an effect of the biostimulant on the number of grains per ear which is higher than the control in the two experimental situations. On average, Glutacetin® increases this parameter by 11.4%, which is slightly significant compared to the control (p < 0.06).

[0038] [Table 1]

Finally, the improvement in yield made it possible to increase the EUA by 4.2 and 2.2 kg kg ^-1 in Seine-Maritime and in Calvados, respectively, i.e. an average improvement significantly greater than the control (p < 0.05) 4.6% even though the site effect is very important for this parameter (p < 0.01). [0040] Glutacetin® therefore makes it possible to significantly increase the yield and the EUA when it is applied alone in foliar form at the last leaf spread stage at a rate of 5 L ha ⁻¹ .

Claims

1. Method for increasing the productivity of plants by supplying a solution comprising an active agent, characterized in that said solution is a sprayable liquid solution containing no mineral nitrogenous agent, obtained by diluting said active agent consisting of: a) a biostimulant b) a foliar penetration agent and in that the application is carried out by spraying said liquid solution on the plants within a limited period after the main BBCH stage 2 corresponding to vegetative development and before the BBCH stage main 9 corresponding to the beginning of senescence without nitrogen fertilizer during the period between these two BBCH stages.

2. Method for increasing plant productivity according to claim 1, characterized in that said active agent is Glutacetin®.

3. Method for increasing the productivity of plants according to claim 1 characterized in that said liquid solution is sprayed at a rate of 0.5 to 5 kg of active agent per Hectare.

4. Method for increasing the productivity of plants according to claim 1 characterized in that said active agent is prepared in the form of a premix by diluting 0.5 to 5 kilograms of dry active agent in 1 to 10 liters of water .

5. Active agent for improving the yield of plants for the implementation of the method which is the subject of claim 1, characterized in that it consists of: a) a biostimulation agent b) a foliar penetration agent and in that It is recommended for application without nitrogen supply, by spraying on plants, in particular cereals, in a limited period after the main BBCH stage 2 corresponding to vegetative development and before the main BBCH stage 9 corresponding to the start of senescence. Active agent for improving the yield of plants according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it is prepared in liquid form by diluting 0.5 to 5 kilograms of the said in 1 to 10 liters of water without adding mineral nitrogenous agent. Active agent for improving the yield of plants according to Claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the said stimulating agent consists of glutamic acid and/or of a lactam of glutamic acid. Active plant yield improver according to claim 5 or 6 characterized in that said stimulating agent contains molybdenum. Active plant yield improver according to claim 4 characterized in that said active agent further contains a protective agent.