When you’re chasing more drymatter out of every hectare, anything that helps the plant grow harder, faster, and cleaner is worth a closer look. Plant-Stim is one of those tools - a natural growth promoter that shifts how the crop develops above and below ground.
And now we’ve got local NZ data to show exactly what it does.
What Plant-Stim Is, in Plain Terms
Plant-Stim is a plant-extract based growth promoter built from:
- natural acids
- phenolic compounds
- secondary metabolites
- fermentation extracts
- EM
- fulvic acid
These work together to:
- increase cell division
- build bigger root and shoot mass
- boost photosynthesis
- increase mineral uptake
- improve leaf permeability
- lift Brix and improve crop quality
So on-farm, you will see stronger early vigour, faster canopy development, and crops that make better use of the nutrient program behind them.
The 2023–24 Canterbury Fodder Beet Trial
See full trial results here: https://www.catalystag.co.nz/a...
A replicated field trial in Dunsandel (Geronimo fodder beet) looked at Plant-Stim on its own and in combination with Rapid Bor.
Two applications were made:
- 8–10 leaf stage (20 Dec)
- Canopy closure (25 Jan)
Water rate was 200 L/ha, applied through a CO₂ backpack sprayer.
Key finding:
- Plant-Stim on its own significantly increased yield over the control.
- Plant-Stim + Rapid Bor delivered the highest total yield at 22,670 kg DM/ha.
With a P-value of 0.001, the differences weren’t by chance - they were consistent across six replicates.
In short: more top growth, bigger bulbs, and more drymatter.
Why It Works
1. Increased cell division = bigger factory
Plant-Stim activates secondary messengers in the plant that speed up cell division. The result is more root volume and more leaf area - the two engines of crop performance.
2. Higher photosynthetic rate
A bigger, healthier canopy traps more sunlight. The crop captures more energy every day and turns it into drymatter faster.
3. Improved nutrient uptake
The combination of natural acids and fulvic acid helps unlock nutrients in the soil and increases the plant’s ability to pull them in.
Better uptake = better return on your fertiliser spend.
4. Better water and foliar nutrient permeability
Leaf surfaces become more efficient at absorbing foliar products, and the plant moves water more effectively - a noticeable advantage in dryland systems and in rapid summer growth phases.
Application Rates
Plant-Stim runs at a straight 5 L/ha, which makes it easy to slot into existing spray rounds without changing the setup or water rate.
Suitable for:
- foliar sprays
- soil pre-emergence
- fertigation
- with N applications
- with nutrients
- with herbicides/agchem (check compatibility)
The simplicity is a bonus - you don’t need to redesign your program to use it.
Where We’re Using It in the Field
Catalyst agronomists are integrating Plant-Stim into:
- fodder beet
- kale and brassicas
- cereals
- clover and legume establishment
- vegetable and root crops
Anywhere early vigour, canopy speed, or nutrient efficiency are limiting yield.
The Takeaway
Plant-Stim is not a silver bullet, but the data shows it consistently pushes yield in the right direction. Bigger canopies. Better nutrient use. More drymatter.
The Canterbury trial backs up what we’re already seeing in paddocks across the country - it’s a small addition that makes a meaningful difference when the goal is simple: grow more feed from the land you’ve got.