Amino acids are building blocks of proteins.Amino acids are made from carbon skeletons and ammonium derived from soil or fertilizer sources of ammonium and nitrate.Can direct application of small amounts of amino acids through foliar application be absorbed by plants and use it for protein synthesis or for any other purpose?
YES. SEVERAL OF OUR M.SC. STUDENTS HAVE SPRAYED AMINO ACIDS ON PLANTS AND GOT EXCELLENT RESULTS.PLEASE,SEE PUBLISHED ARTICLES ON THIS MATTER.
Why that complicated? You get the same or better effects by spraying 25kg/ha urea in 400L water!
Dr.Schnug, some companies have been marketing products containing aminoacids, humic acids, micronutrients and a few enzymes for foliar application on crops.In recent time there have been discussion on products containing humic acids and micronutrients for foliar application in researchgate.The role and extent benefit due to foliar application of aminoacids and enzymes is not known to me.
Dont worry Annangi, nothing of what they claim has been.proven in scientific substantial trials! Most, if not all is marketing hoax without a true scientific background. Unfortunately everdays world of forced selling has entered farming too!
Yes it work for sure.......extensive and recent work is available of reputed journals in this regard.
As many others have opined, I think still lot of research is required on the usefulness of foliage- applied amino acids. Simply dependence upon private companies is and will be misleading since these have vested interest. However, misguiding rather deceiving farmers is un-forgivable sin.
Foliar application of proline against salt stresses improved the growth and development of rice and resulted in increase the grain and straw yields to a significant extent.
Ref: Siddique et al. (2015). Mitigation of Salt Stress by Foliar Application of Proline in Rice. Universal Journal of Agricultural Research 3(3): 81-88. DOI: 10.13189/ujar.2015.030303
I thank all the colleagues who have participated in the discussion so far.Dr.Ahmad application of proline for salt stress is different from application several amino acids through foliar application to meet the nutritional requirement of crop-The basic question is,if you apply small amount of aminoacids, how they are absorbed?,how much percentage is taken up by crop?is it significant compared to application of at least 50 to 100 kg N application to several crops?Even for foliar application we use good amount of N as pointed out by Schnug.
In my opinion, Yes it can potentially improve / modulate the growth and physio-biochemical process in plants. The uptake of intact amino acids by plants through roots have been reported in some species. Apart from that, foliar applied water soluble amino acids can be absorbed by plants through stomata and can participate in various cellular processes including signalling.
Furthermore if the question is to what extent? The concentration of the applied amino acid seems to be a crucial factor. For instance, plant hormones usually modulate growth responses in pico or femto molar concentrations. Even at very low concentration, their effect is very substantial. Therefore, I believe the application of amino acids as foliar spray can alter crop performance by either signalling or as being N source.
The intake of nitrogen by plants is either by nitrate largely and ammonium form to a lesser extent specific to select crops, amino acid sprays benefit only micro organisms sheltered in soil or on crop foliage. As such, it is always beneficial to opt for soil application of amino acid formulations. It is contextual to debate on soil fertilization vs crop fertilization. Ideally stated, fertilizers are meant to feed soil sheltered biological life
Dear Dr.Reddy, the companies are recommending aminoacids for foliar application.Soil application of aminoacids is a difficult proposition as one has to apply more amount of costly material.
Dear Dr. A S Rao, the recommendations of the private companies unless they are scientifically validated impartially devoid of business overtones, need not be taken for granted as authentic for adoption by farmers. You are quite aware of the role of scientists who are appointed by the companies and how much freedom they enjoy to speak the truth if it goes against business interest.
Dr.Reddy and other colleagues, humic acids are present in soil or added in good amounts through manure.Same is the case with some enzymes.Aminoacids are syhthesized both by microbes and plants using soil or applied ammoniacal or nitrate N.So the question is whether we need to add them through foliar or soil application in small amounts.Even if they have some stimulation effect, can they sustain crop growth during its life cycle.
As a strong proponent and believer of organic farming, my answer is YES.
Following Publications can provide useful insights to this topic.
1- https://treephys.oxfordjournals.org/content/27/3/413.full.pdf
2- https://aob.oxfordjournals.org/content/96/7/1275.full.pdf
3- http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038071704003141
4- http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023%2FA%3A1022867103109
5- http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1890/0012-9658(2000)081%5B1155:UOONIT%5D2.0.CO;2/abstract
6- http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1034/j.1399-3054.2001.1110401.x/abstract?systemMessage=Wiley+Online+Library+will+be+unavailable+on+Saturday+27th+February+from+09%3A00-14%3A00+GMT+%2F+04%3A00-09%3A00+EST+%2F+17%3A00-22%3A00+SGT+for+essential+maintenance.++Apologies+for+the+inconvenience.
7- http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v392/n6679/full/392914a0.html
8- http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1461-0248.2001.00260.x/abstract
Foliar application of Amino acid rapid and improve plant's vegetative growth, reduces flower shedding and thus increases yield. it increases number of fruits per plant in chillies and number of bolls in cotton. It is proved in our Sindh province of Pakistan, which has similar climate to most parts of India and Austerlia as well as many other countries.
Plants will benefit nutritionally from foliar application. However, timing and concentration of application need to be considered for effective nutrient use.
Notwithstanding the efficiency of foliar nutrition, is it not a fact that root is the medium or channel naturally meant for absorption of water and nutrients from the soil while foliage is a receptor of solar energy for photosynthesis?
Actually root is not only meant for absorption of water or nutrients rather anchorage, gravity perception, mechanical strength and other ecological indices also come into play. Towards second part that foliage is the receptor of solar energy, the uptake/release of gases from stomata, Transpiration pull in order to uplift water column through xylem, evaporative cooling to dissipate excessive heat and regulation of turgor are some notable process.
The fact that Plant development is largely post embryonic and the developmental plasticity ensures plant survival. In my opinion, it does not matter whether nutrient requirement is fulfilled from soil or leaf. Do consider reading this.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123849052000042
Not necessarily. However for for high value crops (exotic fruits & veggies), applying during post flowering, fruiting and maturity stages would add some value from quality prospective.
As amino acids are in simple form, all will not be available to the plant system because it is highly influenced by environmental factors. As we know, N is highly mobile and improving N use efficiency is difficult in tropical countries & Volatile nature of N is one of the major impediments. Hence, the foliar application of small amount of amino acids can not enhance protein synthesis in field conditions.
Amino acids are highly effective as chelators which allow the solubilization and the transfer of relatively insoluble materials into plants. It would appear that for Zinc mobilization amino acid chelates are more effective than urea in this regard from work on Wheat. In other cases it appears literature suggests a interaction with biochemical pathways as in the work on chamomile where low rates of foliar amino acids increase the production of oil fractions of phenolic components of medicinal interest. Finally in a cursory review it appears that foliar application of amino acids in sunflower could provide significant suppression of root rot nematodes which would have to be some time of influence on the biochemical defensive pathways of the plants. I was skeptic when I first encountered this question but I would have to think this largely understudied area probably deserves much more dedicated confirmatory research and development with potential for greater commercialization. What would favor its potential commercialization is the relatively low concentration for physiological reactions and the improving technology to apply these in foliar solutions and in other mechanisms such as drip line applications. Certainly in high value crops the ability to stimulate secondary metabolites of high value are particularly compelling.
Dr.Hepperly and other colleagues, as we know the aminoacids are building blocks of proteins .They also independently serve some purposes in some plants. Do we have to supply a full complement of aminoacids for protein synthesis.?Or even different sets of aminoacids for synthesis of different proteins .Do we apply different aminoacids to serve different functions in plants. Also different plants needs diverse aminoacids to serve diverse functions?I appropriate colleagues for inputs provided so far to enhance our understanding of the subject.
Thank you Fahad for a comprehensive answer. I have no intention to negate the role of foliage in serving as a nutrient and/or water absorbing medium. However, it is supplementary to the root system. Whereas, the human expectations rank higher on the performance of foliage, based on greed and exploitive nature, particularly of production and business men involved in foliar spray formulations. Scientists have a role and responsibility to save crops as well as farmers from exploitation.
I thank all the colleagues who have given comments /views so far.
I endorse rather re-emphasize the fascinating views of DR. Kunuthur Srinivasa Reddy and Paul Reed Hepperly.
Dr.Ghafoor and other colleagues,We had good discussion on the question raised.Based on the information gathered ,we have two types of benefits from aminoacid foliar application-one nutritional especially of N and two- the other benefits like nutrient mobilization,enhancement of certain metabolic pathways,disease suppression etc as elaborated by Dr.Hepperly. Regarding nutritional role of aminoacids ,I raised several related questions in my reply dated 22 February.The other benefits mentioned by Dr.Hepperly are interesting and they need further discussion and future research.
Really a good discussion on question. Benefits like nutrient mobilization, enhancement of certain metabolic pathways,disease suppression etc has been elaborated. if I am correct there are several commercial products in the market which are based on amino acids.
Dr.Malhotra,yes there are commercial products in the market that is why I raised the question.
Dr T.damodharam,yes it is good , foliage application based on dose and mobility facility on leaf surface of plants. with out experimental results on each crop we cant generalize the 21 amino acids to the nutritional benefits
Dr.Damodharam, good information.Can you provide more information on your work with reference / published work.
Inputs such as amino acids and humic materials have potential to act as growth regulator compounds. They can initiate biochemical responses at low concentrations much like hormones function. Because of the low concentrations need to stimulate significant responses they can engender responses without inordinate input. The low input can reduce the cost engendered and reduce the product footprint energetically and environmentally.
Thank all of you for scientifically answers and comments about foliar applied amino acids. Next year we will start an experiment with foliar applied of amino acids at organic winter wheat.
The application of amino acids in crops has been a common practice in recent years, although most of the time they are associated with products based on algae extracts or on fermented animal or vegetable wastes. However, little is known about the isolated effect of amino acids on the development of crops.
First products of photosynthesis are carbohydrates which then are converted to proteins (enzyme components), which in turn are made up from aminoacids. This path it is not passive and requires energy. Therefore supplying aminoacids exogenously could help plant to save energy which could be channeled to build up other yield components.
Direct foliar application of Amino acids has been tried on growing crops and the results have been published. Many researchers found that foliar application of amino acids mitigate the negative effects of salinity on crops such as tomato.
I have already used amino acid application for different crops and all gave positive results. It can improve plant growth and quality but of course can not totally substitute main fertilizer elements.
Please read the following articles.
Article Effect of Different Amino Acid Sources and Application Rates...
Article Growth, Yield and Blossom-End Rot Incidence in Bell Pepper a...
Article Alleviation of Salinity Effects on Tomato Plants by Applicat...
https://www.agriculturejournals.cz/publicFiles/112_2018-PSE.pdf
Not sure if you read this article before, but it described some research outcome to show that amino acid as foliar fertilizer helps to improve plant growth. I believe that the explanation given by Hugo Soplin and Paul Reed Hepperly are amazing.
When it comes to amino acids they can be very effective chelating agents which allow substances such as iron which are normally insoluble in many media and soil and allow them to be absorbed in aerial application because the chelation makes them soluble and the chelation complex aids in plant absorption.
While the solubility is increased by the amino acid chelation the absorption of chelated substances are highly efficient and the microelement is needed as very small quantity anyway.
The second mechanism is the way amino acid mineral complex can stimulate the defensive biochemical cascades in plants. This is the systemic acquired resistance mechanism which helps in regard to responding to both abiotic stress such as salinity, heat, drought or cold but also to pest and pathogen challenges.
The effect of the amino acid maybe related to messaging effect rather than nutritional effect but could be a multiple mechanis, application.
The exogenous application of amino acids has been reported to have positive impacts on the growth and development of many crops. Generally, amino acids have certain roles in the physiology of plants which in turn results in better growth and development. They enhance the activity of enzymes, nutrient uptake, and reduce the deleterious effects of abiotic stresses.
Foliar nutrition is a necessity only when quick absorption of nutrients is essential to meet an emergency situation. Normally, root is the most natural plant part to serve as a medium for nutrient and water absorption.
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