Overcome stress in maize crops with Calibra Carbo

By Dr Simon Pope
23 Jan 2023
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With weather patterns becoming increasingly unsettled and guaranteed April showers a thing of the past, abiotic stress is a growing problem for successful maize establishment.

The UPL product Calibra Carbo, is designed to help the plant overcome these stresses. It combines 18 vegetable amino acids along with GA142, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

GA142 is a naturally sourced active ingredient produced from Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed by way of a unique cell bursting and filtration process.

The benefits

When applied early in the growth of plants it increases production of phosphatase and reductase enzymes which in turn leads to increased availability of nutrients and increased root and shoot development as shown in the photo

GA142 trial run by Dr Steve Rossall at the University of Nottingham. Shown is an untreated maize plant and a plant treated with GA142 (Rooter).

The effects of crop stress

A crop under stress often pauses or slows its growth and development as it has to deploy its amino acid resources to enable it to tolerate the stress that it is under. Applying amino acids can help your young maize plants through the difficult early stages of development, by reducing the impact of abiotic stresses.

How Calibra Carbo works

Calibra Carbo works by combining the protein building properties of amino acids, with the increased nutrient and water movement properties of GA142. The combined actives work together to accelerate the transfer of the amino acids through the plant, reducing stress and boosting photosynthesis.

Greater tolerance to stress can lead to higher yields, as shown by this 2020 study run by the MGA at Lackham. (This was a dryer than average spring, April and May in particular)

Application guide

Applying Calibra carbo is an insurance for any crop you think might struggle. When the spring is set to be dry, or the seedbed is not as favourable. Calibra Carbo works best applied before stress symptoms are visible.

Calibra carbo is tank mix compatible with a wide range of products (linked below). See the Tank Mix Recommendations for more information.