Biostimulant vs fertilizer vs biofertilizer: the difference
How biostimulants, fertilizers, biofertilizers and plant growth regulators differ, with examples and how to combine them.
Side by side
| Fertilizer | Biofertilizer | Biostimulant | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | Supplies nutrients | Supplies or releases nutrients through microbes | Stimulates plant processes |
| Examples | Urea, DAP, MOP, NPK, water-soluble grades | Azotobacter, Rhizobium, PSB, KMB, mycorrhizae | Humic acid, seaweed extract, amino acids |
| Regulated in India under | FCO Schedule I and others | FCO Schedule III | FCO Schedule VI |
| Works on | The nutrient supply | The soil and root zone biology | The plant's physiology and the soil environment |
What about plant growth regulators?
Plant growth regulators (PGRs) such as gibberellic acid are hormones that directly switch plant processes on or off. In India they are regulated as pesticides, not under the FCO, and they are a different category from biostimulants.
How to combine them
- Base the fertilizer dose on a soil test
- Add biofertilisers at sowing or planting, apart from chemical fungicides
- Use biostimulants at the stages where the crop is under pressure: establishment, stress, flowering
- Check compatibility before tank-mixing
Frequently asked questions
Can biostimulants replace fertilizers?
No. Biostimulants help the crop use nutrients and cope with stress, but they do not supply nutrients in the amounts a crop removes.
Is humic acid a fertilizer or a biostimulant?
In India humic and fulvic acids are regulated as biostimulants under Schedule VI of the FCO.
Can biofertilizers and chemical fertilizers be used together?
Yes, in the same programme, but do not mix biofertilisers directly with concentrated chemical fertilizers or fungicides. Apply them separately.
What is the difference between amino acids and biostimulants?
Amino acid products are one type of biostimulant, alongside humic substances, seaweed extracts and others.
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