Logo image
Biostimulants do not mitigate the effects of pasture dieback in the Australian wet subtropics
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Biostimulants do not mitigate the effects of pasture dieback in the Australian wet subtropics

Eric N. Mark, Abraham J. Gibson, Suzanne P. Boschma and Terry J. Rose
Sustainability, Vol.17(7), pp.1-11
28/03/2025
pdf
Biostimulants do not mitigate the effects1.79 MBDownloadView
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0 Open Access
url
Biostimulants do not mitigate the effectsView
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0 Open

Related links

Metrics

23 File views/ downloads
25 Record Views

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#13 Climate Action

Source: InCites

Abstract

Environmental Sciences Environmental Sciences & Ecology Environmental Studies Green & Sustainable Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Science & Technology Science & Technology - Other Topics
Pasture dieback is a disorder that causes the deterioration and death of susceptible tropical grass pastures in Eastern Australia. Previous reports from the Australian dry subtropics have suggested that biostimulants may be effective in mitigating the effects of pasture dieback. In this study, in two experiments (1 and 2), biostimulant products were applied to dieback-affected pastures, and pasture growth biomass and nutritional attributes (neutral detergent fiber and crude protein) were assessed 30 days after application compared to a control (water application only) treatment. In a third experiment (exp 3), biostimulant products were applied to a pasture prior to dieback incursion, and plant symptoms were assessed 16 days after application. In experiments 1 and 2, after 30 days, there was no significant difference in biomass production or nutritional attributes between any biostimulant treatments and the control, with mean biomass yields of 471 ± 61 kg ha−1 at site 1 and 1371 ± 78 kg ha−1 at site 2. In experiment 3, plant dieback symptoms progressed evenly across all plots, with no significant effect between treatments 16 days after treatment application. There was no evidence that the tested biostimulants were effective in preventing the spread of dieback or improving pasture recovery from dieback.

Details

Logo image