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• What is winter stress for plants?
• Plant resistance in horticulture
• Plant resistance above ground
• Plant resistance under ground
• How to increase plant resistance in colder periods?

Plants can experience stress due to various factors, such as diseases, pests, temperature and a lack of light. This has negative consequences for the plants’ fungi. In winter, plants mainly suffer from stress caused by ‘non-living’ factors such as wind, a lack of light, radiation or drought. Continuously monitoring the environment of the plants and providing a complete nutrition for the plants, enables to prevent the abiotic stress of plants.

The crop can become stronger and heal faster by using plant resistance products. These agents can be divided into plant resistance products above-ground and underground.

Plant resistance can be strengthened underground and above-ground. For above-ground plant resistance, this can be done by using plant strengthening foliar fertilizers and by activating the plant immune system. In addition, the plant vitality should be increased with plant strengthening agents. Good plant health improves resistance to pests and diseases.

Plant-strengthening fertilizers can be used to improve the underground plant resistance. For example, use organic or mineral fertilizers. Additionally, increase the underground plant resistance by stimulating soil life and using absorption and soil improvers. For example, use compost worms to maintain the level of soil life.

The focus of many growers is on preventing plants from becoming sick and less on curing the plant. From curative to preventive. Especially in the winter months, growers see the importance of preventive control. It is possible to increase plant resistance in cold periods by making use of:

• The natural defense mechanism of plants;
• Products that improve plant resistance;
• Biological crop protection;
• Adapted feeding regime for winter.

Each option is explained below.

Plants are able to protect and strengthen themselves through their natural defense mechanism. When the plant experiences stress, it produces substances that protect itself from various dangers. This is beneficial for the plant resistance. It is possible to improve the plant’s defense mechanism. You can support plants in stressful situations by using products that strengthen the natural defense mechanism without using chemicals.

Resistance through the substrate is becoming an increasingly important element of controlling above-ground pets and diseases. Organic additives in the form of compost, influence the soil life. Plant resistance can also be enhanced by plant-strengthening foliar fertilizers. These fertilizers support growth, the processes in the plant and the absorption and conversion of minerals and trace elements. By applying these products, the needs of the plants are always sufficiently covered.

Plants can be protected underground and above-ground, and plant resistance can be increased by biological crop protection. Biological crop protection is the control of harmful organisms in the crop by using natural enemies, biological crop protection agents and crop protection of natural origin. By using biological crop protection in the winter, you keep diseases and plagues in crop under control, resulting in a healthier crop.

Applying an adapted feeding regime a few months before winter may cost a little more, but limits the loss. An adapted feeding regime means that you enrich the fertilizer schedule with different plant resistance products or fertilizers, including for example Compete Plus, Algan, calcium, magnesium or silicon products. These elements harden the plant.  

Preventively, you can increase the dry matter content before a cold period. This should always be done quickly and cheaply. The dry matter content of the plant can always be seen by means of a dry matter measurement, so that you can always monitor it easily.

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Which additives for chemical crop protection are there?
Additives increase the effectiveness of chemical crop protection. They are processed into the formulation of crop protection products or are available as a product that can be added to the spray solution later.

Tips for working safely with crop protection agents
In order to be able to safely work with crop protection agents, you should know what you are doing and be informed about the possible risks.

How to prevent resistance to crop protection products
Diseases, bacteria and weeds can become insensitive to crop protection products. They can neutralize the effect of certain products, and thus these products have no (or less) effect. In that case, we speak of resistance.