Biological Seed Treatments Match Chemicals in Winter Wheat Trials
Researchers in Romania have made significant breakthroughs in winter wheat production using biological seed treatments. The team conducted three-year field trials, which showed that these treatments can deliver effectiveness comparable to conventional chemical programmes.
The best results were achieved with products based on bacterial consortia of Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens, as well as formulations containing chitosan and brown algae extracts. These biological seed treatments proved effective in controlling root rots, with an impressive 89-92% success rate compared to standard chemical treatment.
The trial also revealed that these biological treatments can promote better crop development, resulting in winter wheat emergence 2-3 days earlier than usual. Additionally, the stronger root system supported improved overwintering and increased yields by up to 4% compared to chemical programmes.