Fulvic Acid Offers Hope for Wheat Growers Battling Glyphosate Drift

Wheat growers in major wheat-producing regions have long been concerned about herbicide drift damage caused by glyphosate, the world's most widely used herbicide. Glyphosate drift can lead to stunting, chlorosis, and necrosis of young leaves, disrupt nutrient uptake, and ultimately depress yield and grain quality.

A recent study published in Plant and Soil found that fulvic acid, a soil-derived compound with biostimulant properties, can substantially blunt glyphosate damage when sprayed onto wheat foliage at the right dose and time. The researchers grew wheat cultivar Scepter in a glasshouse and simulated glyphosate drift at 1, 3, 5, and 10 percent of the recommended weed-kill rate.

The study found that applying fulvic acid three days before glyphosate exposure generally outperformed applying it immediately before the herbicide. The presence of fulvic acid in the spray solution appeared to neutralise nearly all visible and measurable glyphosate injury to the wheat seedlings, restoring iron, manganese, and zinc concentrations to levels above those treated with glyphosate alone.