Yale


	Yale University New Haven, Connecticut 06511

School of Forestry and

Environmental Studies

The Effect of a Vitamin-Humic-Algal Biostimulant (ROOTS®)

on Yield of Green Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.. c.v...

‘Provider’) Under Fertilizer Reduction.

Ricardo 0. Russo and Graeme P. Berlyn
Yale University, School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, New Haven, CT 06511
Additional index words: biostimulants, humic, vitamins, marine algae

INTRODUCTION

In previous experiments with beans it has been observed that

biostimulants have a.beneficial effects on yield and plant growth (Russo and

Berlyn, 1991). The possible beneficial effects are equal yield with reductions in fertilizer levels.

A wide class of materials has been found to be effective in stimulating
plant growth even when used in relatively small amounts .(Aitken et al., 1964;
Senn and Klngman, 1973; Se.nn, 1987; Klnnersley et. aL, 1989, Berlyn and Russo,
1990). The particular biostimulant, tested in this study is known as “Roots” (Lisa.
Products Corporation, 25 Science Park, New Haven, CT 06511), and is a
proprietary mixture of humic acids, marine algae extracts, thiamine, and a non-
hormonal reductant plant metabolite.

The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of this organic
biostimulant (OB) on the pod production of greenbeans when fertilizer levels are
reduced 25 and 50%.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seeds of Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Provider’ (Agway Inc., Syracuse, NY)
were sown and germinated in 2.8 liter pots, one seedling per pot, and grown in
three groups of 34 plants each. The following treatments were applied: 1)
Control, 100% fertilization 2) ROOTS® 1% plus 75% of the fertilizer applied in
the control, and c) ROOTS® 1% plus 50% of the fertilizer applied in the control.
In all cases 2 applications were made to each plant (three days after emergency,