SAEDNEWS: Plants, like all living things, build proteins from amino acids. These amino acids boost growth by optimizing energy use during photosynthesis—making amino acid fertilizers a key tool in modern farming.
Amino acid fertilizers contain a set of usable amino acids and carboxylic acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and when applied to plants, they play a vital role in protein synthesis. In fact, every plant requires 20 types of usable amino acids during its growth and development to support protein formation. Amino acids, which are organic molecules, link together to form long chains known as polypeptides. These polypeptides are essential for the formation of various proteins in all living organisms and plants.
During the early stages of plant synthesis and protein breakdown, amino acids serve as an important part of the initial configuration. Since producing amino acids in plants requires optimal environmental conditions and a high energy expenditure, agricultural specialists use amino acid fertilizers to prevent deficiencies. Essentially, amino acids act as energizers and mediators to initiate biological activity in plants and enhance their growth. The primary goals of using amino acid fertilizers are to increase productivity, improve plant resilience against biotic and abiotic stresses, and enhance the quality of agricultural products.
As mentioned, amino acids are crucial for protein synthesis in plants and play a significant role from germination to growth and development. Therefore, amino acid fertilizers provide numerous benefits to plant growth and yield, including:
Enhancing photosynthesis, increasing greenness, germination, and fruiting.
Boosting plant resistance against adverse conditions and stresses such as extreme temperatures, soil salinity, drought, and pests.
Improving product quality by increasing sugar and protein content, enhancing flavor and color, and promoting uniform size and weight of fruits and plants.
Increasing nutrient absorption and facilitating nutrient transport within the plant.
Preventing blockage of leaf stomata and enhancing rapid absorption and growth.
Promoting nitrogen and potassium fertilizer efficiency, allowing better plant access to essential nutrients.
Stimulating pollination and fruit set by activating growth hormones involved in flowering and fruiting.
Amino acids are essential organic compounds for plant growth, with over 100 types discovered in nature. Of these, only 20 amino acids are usable by plants. Amino acids are classified into essential (cannot be synthesized by plants) and non-essential (can be synthesized by plants). However, natural amino acids must undergo processing to become usable as fertilizers through:
Acid hydrolysis
Controlled acid hydrolysis
Enzymatic hydrolysis
Common amino acids in fertilizers include: glycine, lysine, tryptophan, leucine, isoleucine, histidine, cysteine, arginine, methionine, threonine, serine, tyrosine, glutamic acid, alanine, phenylalanine, valine, aspartic acid, and proline.
Key functions of individual amino acids:
Glycine: Assists in chlorophyll decomposition and pyrrole group formation.
Lysine: Regulates stomatal opening and chlorophyll synthesis.
Tryptophan: Precursor for auxin production.
Leucine & Isoleucine: Improve resistance to salinity and support pollen germination.
Histidine & Arginine: Enhance nutrient absorption and stress tolerance.
Cysteine & Glutamic Acid: Chelate heavy metals and aid chlorophyll synthesis.
Methionine & Threonine: Stimulate pollination and ethylene production, improving flowering and fruiting.
Alanine & Serine: Support chlorophyll decomposition, pollen transfer, and stress resistance.
Phenylalanine: Supports pollination and fertilization.
Valine & Proline: Improve resistance to harsh environmental conditions.
Aspartic Acid: Aids seed germination and amino acid metabolism.
Tyrosine: Supports stress tolerance and pollen transfer.
Amino acid fertilizers are used during the growth stages of field and orchard crops. Application methods vary depending on plant species, growth stage, and fertilizer form (liquid or powder).
Powder fertilizers can be applied directly to the soil by hand.
Liquid fertilizers can be applied through irrigation systems or foliar spraying.
Applying fertilizer to the soil improves its structure and enhances root access to nutrients. Foliar application allows rapid absorption through leaf stomata, promoting faster growth and development.
Recommended dosage:
Vegetables: 3–5 liters per hectare
Greenhouse crops: 4–5 liters per hectare
Citrus orchards: 5–7 liters per hectare
Pistachio orchards: 7–9 liters per hectare
Olive and grape: 8–9 liters per hectare
Application timing varies according to plant growth stages:
Leafy vegetables: Early growth stages to enhance leaf development; can continue until the week before harvest.
Flowering crops: After transplanting and before flowering, then after fruit set and before harvest.
Fruiting crops: Methionine-rich fertilizers are most effective near harvest due to ethylene precursor activity, aiding color development and fruit ripening.
The most effective absorption occurs through leaf stomata. Avoid application during cloudy, windy, or rainy conditions. Fertilizer absorption generally completes within 8 hours. The best application times are before sunrise or after sunset, when stomata are open, ensuring maximum nutrient penetration.
Amino acid fertilizers, while not essential for plant growth, significantly enhance the development, stress resistance, and productivity of most plants. Of the numerous amino acids, only 20 are readily absorbed by plants. Using liquid amino acid fertilizers during leaf growth ensures maximum absorption, especially under stable weather conditions. Amino acid fertilizers like valine, proline, and methionine improve plant resilience, promote pollination, and support germination. Proper use can lead to healthier, more productive crops and higher-quality harvests.
