A crop enhancer that improves chlorophyll production and maximises green leaf area is producing some impressive yield increases in cereal crops, according to Agrovista. Charlotte Cunningham reports.

Klorofill is a liquid formulation of pentanoate, an organic compound that contains a keto acid, a vital precursor in chlorophyll manufacture within plants.

“Chlorophyll is essential for photosynthesis, so maintaining efficient production is key for healthy yields and profits,” says Agrovista technical manager John Murrie.

All crops stand to benefit, he adds. “Klorofill can help high potential crops live up to their promise by optimising yield, quality and return on investment, especially during rapid spring growth, when chlorophyll production can lag demand.

“Plants can also be subject to stress during these times, which causes them to reduce chlorophyll production, compounding the problem.

“Pentanoate can reverse the suppression of the chlorophyll pathway, significantly increasing the net photosynthetic rate and gas exchange capacity in stress conditions.

“Klorofill seems to build a bigger flag leaf and convert this into yield in many cases. We’ve seen 0.4-0.5t/ha increases in wheat and barley crops on farm.”

Derived from plant material, Klorofill is supplied in a fully soluble and tank-mixable liquid formulation applied at 1 litre/ha. It can be partnered with fungicides, plant growth regulators and magnesium, a vital chlorophyll building block, and other nutrients.

On winter wheat and winter feed barley, the product should be applied at T2 for maximum benefit, and on winter malting barley at T1. On spring barley the optimum timing is GS30 and it is not recommended on malting crops after that time.

Jim Anderson at Newton of Guthrie, near Arbroath, Angus, was keen to try Klorofill after getting good results with Terrasorb, an amino acid-based biostimulant designed to aid establishment and relieve early crop stress, over the previous two years.

“When Andy Steven, our Agrovista agronomist, mentioned the benefits of Klorofill, I thought it was worth looking at, but I still wanted to see the results before I spent too much money.”

He treated 5ha of winter wheat and the same area of winter barley, both grown on medium loam soils, with 1 litre/ha at T2, during what was a pretty dry season.

The treatment achieved a 0.3-0.4t/ha uplift in the wheat and 0.6t/ha increase in the barley, according to the combine yield meter.

“In the wheat you could see to the mark where we had applied it – the flag leaf was bigger and greener and the whole crop looked healthier,” says Jim.

“The barley was different – I couldn’t see any difference in the growing crop, but when the combine went in it was obvious which area had the Klorofill. On the back of these results I’m now prepared to invest.”

Jim is treating 43ha of wheat for feed and distilling and 30ha of feed winter barley this season.

“Even if crops look set up well, after what I saw last year I’d have no qualms about using it,” he says. “We maybe won’t always get as big a return, but you never know what’s round the corner – it’s good insurance for the money.”

Klorofill benefits

  • Increases chlorophyll biosynthesis
  • Enhances photosynthetic capacity
  • Maximises green leaf area
  • Increases yield and quality
  • Reduces environmental stresses
  • Improves nutrient efficiency