Seed Treatment

Seed treatments play a critical role in agriculture. Seeds are the foundation of most crops, and ensuring their successful germination and robust early crop growth is essential to ensure crops achieve their full yield potential. Seed treatments applied to seeds before sowing can equip seeds with the tools they need to:

• resists pests and diseases,
• reduce competition from weeds, and
• improve early crop growth.

What do Seed Treatments Do?

Seed treatments offer a range of benefits in plant cultivation. When applied to seeds before sowing, seed treatments can protect and nurture the seeds during the initial phase of the crop’s growth. Seed treatments can provide one or more benefits to crops, including:

1. Protection from pests: Seed treatments may contain insecticides and fungicides that help protect seeds and newly germinated seedlings from insect attacks and soil-borne diseases. These reduce the risk of losses due to damage caused early in a plant’s growth cycle.
2. Disease control: Seed treatments containing antifungal agents fight soil-borne pathogens, such as fungi and bacteria, that can infect seeds and cause disease. These antifungal agents can help prevent the emergence of phytosanitary problems and improve the overall health of plants.
3. Stimulating early growth: Seed treatments may contain substances that promote root growth and early seedling development. These treatments may include nutrients, growth regulators, or biostimulants that encourage the formation of strong roots, better nutrient absorption, and healthy plant establishment.
4. Weed management: Some seed treatments include herbicides or weed growth inhibitors to help control the initial growth of weeds near crops, preventing competition for nutrients, sunlight, and water.
5. Biological biofertilizers: Seed treatments are an efficient way to introduce beneficial microorganisms to crops. Dosing seeds with carefully selected microorganisms improves tolerance to abiotic stress, boosts plant growth by regulating phytohormone production, improves nitrogen (N) fixing, solubilizes phosphorus (P), and mobilizes copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) while delivering other beneficial functions.

Seed treatments for Soybeans and Beans

Soybeans and beans account for a significant portion of global crop production, with soybeans being one of the most widely grown crops worldwide. ICL has created BIOZ Topaz seed treatment to improve soybean and bean crops. BIOZ Topaz brings multiple benefits to improve the initial growth of crops and provide benefits that endure as the crops mature. Right from seed germination, BIOZ Topaz improves nitrogen absorption efficiency. Crops develop deeper root systems that improve drought tolerance and nutrient uptake efficiency. Topaz also favors the establishment of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, thanks to its ideal pH, improving biological nitrogen fixation in legumes. The combination of these features is designed to increase productivity and crop yield.

Seed Treatment for Grass Crops

Cereal crops such as wheat, maize, barley, and rice are all classified as grass crops and are staple foods for a large portion of the world’s population, being crucial for both human and animal consumption. ICL has developed BIOZ Sunstone as a seed treatment for grass crops to enhance the seed’s early development and overall performance. Sunstone enhances seed vigor, improves nutrient uptake, and helps seeds and young plants withstand biotic and abiotic stresses, including pest attacks and unfavorable environmental conditions. The net result is healthier and more robust early growth, which supports higher yields and better-quality crops.

Seed Treatments for Agricultural Productivity

Seed treatment products play a key role in protecting seeds, controlling pests and diseases, promoting early plant growth, and managing weeds. Choosing the right seed treatment for your crop contributes to healthy establishment, reduces risks, and increases crop productivity.