A possible explanation for prolonged influence of the initial biostimulant

treatments is the putative autocatalytic effect. If a seedling, due to the treatment
with “Roots” in the first year is imbued with greater root volume, increased
efficiency of water and nutrient uptake, and greater chlorophyll content it continues
to accelerate through succesive flushes of growth. In other words there is a feedback
system that promotes uptake, transport and photosynthesis. Increased
photosynthesis in turn permits the harvest of more soil resources. This promotes
increased leaf area and initiates another cycle of accelerated growth. An interesting
question is how long will this autocatalytic cycling continue.

Table 1. Growth of loblolly pine seedlings three years after transplanting.

Treated three times with “Roots”.

 

“Roots” treated N=82; Control A NJ=41; Control B NX=74; * means with different letter in the same row are statistically different at the 95% level. Values within parentheses are standard errors of the means