TERRAVIT DroughtGuard – Fortifying crops against droughts

In the face of unpredictable weather patterns, TERRAVIT DroughtGuard can improve the soil’s water dynamics with its blend of insect frass, calcium, silicon, and bentonite. Enhancing the water-holding capacity and improving plant resilience, it enables the soil to conserve moisture efficiently and empower crops to endure drought and salinity stress.

Calcium

Calcium (Ca) plays a significant role in enhancing the drought tolerance and stress tolerance of plants. Calcium helps your plants hold onto water, so they don’t dry out quickly during dry spells. It keeps the water inside their cells, making them better at using water efficiently. Calcium also helps plants tolerate high soil salinity by reducing the negative effects of salt. It competes with harmful sodium ions for uptake by plant roots, preventing excessive sodium accumulation in plant tissues. Additionally, calcium enhances root growth and water uptake, maintaining better water balance in plants even in dry and salty conditions.

Silicon

Silicon (Si) is added in the form of a volcanic rock dust called diabase. Diabase contains plant-available silicon, which is beneficial for soil health and drought tolerance. When diabase weathers, it releases soluble silicon that plants can absorb. The effects of silicon include strengthened plant cell walls, making plants more resistant to drought and salinity stress, pests and diseases. Silicon also helps plants use water more efficiently and lose less water through their leaves during drought. It does this by controlling tiny openings called “stomata” on the leaves. Additionally, silicon promotes root growth, resulting in deeper and more extensive root systems, allowing better access to water and nutrients during drought.

Bentonite

Bentonite is a type of clay mineral formed from the weathering of volcanic ash and is characterized by its high water absorption and swelling properties. When added to the soil, it improves the soil’s water holding capacity by acting as a water reservoir that slowly releases moisture to plant roots. It also creates micro-pores in the soil, trapping and holding water, reducing runoff, and preventing rapid drainage in sandy or porous soils. Bentonite reduces the need for frequent irrigation, leading to water savings and more sustainable water management practices.

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