What is Kic-Starter?
Kic-Starter is a water soluble 7:3:1 nutrient solution with chelated cation micro elements and auxins which can be used as a root stimulant or growth stimulant.
When to use Kic-Starter?
Kic-Starter is formulated to stimulate growth during the first crucial weeks after transplanting seedlings or establishing trees. It also stimulates roots of old established crops where production goes down.
Why Kic-Starter?
It has promising results and it gives your crop a healthy head start.
Key effects are
- Cell enlargement and stem growth
- Root initiation
- Apical dominance
What are Auxins?
Auxins are one of the 5 major classes of plant hormones. In general, plant hormones control every aspect of plant growth and development.
Plant hormones are produced in very small concentrations, but even a minute amount can have a profound effect. Reactions to plant hormones always depend on their relative concentrations compared to other hormones present.
It is the hormonal balance that controls the growth and development of each plant.
Auxin was the first plant hormone detected. The most prominent auxin is IAA (Indol3-acetic acid). IAA is synthesised from tryptophan or indole primarily in leaf primordia, young leaves and in developing seeds.
Auxin is the key plant hormone as it not only initiates different effects but also controls the action of all other plant hormones like cytokines and gibberellin.
Balance of auxin and cytokines
In the 1950’s a series of experiments showed how the ratio between auxin and cytokines works. If auxin is added to a plant then the cells grow very large but they don’t divide. If cytokines are added – and auxin is present – then the plant cells divide. Therefore, the ratio of auxin to cytokines determines how the cells will differentiate. In young plants, a surplus of auxin will initiate root growth. A higher concentration of cytokines will support the development of shoots and shoot buds. If the concentrations of both are equal then the plant cells will grow but will remain undifferentiated. The exogenous application of auxin will promote root growth and initiate the synthesis of cytokines in the root meristem. These freshly produced cytokines will signal the plant to grow more shoots, leading to a naturally balanced bigger and stronger plant.
The auxin-like activity and phosphate dominated extract stimulates prolific adventitious root formation when Kic-starter is applied to almost any plant. This drastic increase in root tips leads to an increased level of cytokines in treated plants, as this group of hormones is mainly produced in root tips. The increased root volume and number of root tips also increase moisture and nutrient uptake from the soil. The improved nutrient status together with the higher level of cytokines in the plant secure better top growth that causes the increase in yield and quality of crops. The improved root system also makes the plant more resistant to stresses such as drought, waterlogging, soil nutrient deficiency and salinity, nematode infestations and soil borne diseases.
Kic-starter applied to plants in nurseries not only shortens the period in the nursery prior to plant-out, but also produces plants with a stronger root system, showing enhanced transplant shock resistance. Kic-starter’s efficiency as a cost effective agricultural fertiliser has been proven in numerous programmes under differing climatic conditions and on a wide variety of crops. Kic-starter has a broad application base, is easy to apply and is compatible with most crop protection chemicals and foliar feeds. Its consistency in result and cost efficiency has led to its position in the market.
How to use Kic-Starter
It can be applied as soil drench or in the planting hole of seedlings or trees and also through a drip irrigation system a few days after transplanting. It is compatible with most fungicides and pesticides except those who contain large amounts of copper or sulphur and alkaline materials. See the leaflet for the dosage of different applications and more information.
(Written by Pieter Vorster, Fertagchem Technical Manager)
