Heat stress in crops

Temperatures of up to 40 °C are currently posing major challenges for many crops. High evaporation rates and restricted water uptake quickly lead to heat stress.

A typical response to heat stress in maize is the curling of the maize leaves, as can be clearly seen on the right-hand side of the image in affected maize stands. The plants reduce their metabolic activity and become increasingly stressed.

Maize crops treated with boncrop are more vigorous. The leaves remain open for significantly longer. Practical experience shows that the early application of boncrop biostimulants helps to support the plants’ development and improve their tolerance to stressful conditions. The plants remain more stable and recover more quickly after periods of stress.

The optimal time to apply the treatment to strengthen the plants is before such periods of stress. Even though application may not currently be appropriate for all crops, many farmers report positive effects in comparable weather conditions. Incorporating it into crop management at an early stage therefore pays off, particularly in years with extreme weather conditions.