The Nickerson name has always been associated with quality seed and the latest developments in seed technology. From the early days of sowing by thousand grain weight and seed vigour this has developed further into seed film coating which is today used exclusively on Nickerson Original Arable Seed.

In association with seed film coating Nickerson have used Growth Promoting Agents to manifest the high germination and vigour of Nickerson Original.

The latest development in Growth promoting Agents has seen us move from plant hormones influencing the rate of cellular division in the growing point to a new generation of plant nutrition products. These have produced an increase in root biomass on young plants of up to 30%.

Replicated trials carried out in Yorkshire have seen a yield benefit of the new GPA of up to 5% meaning an immediate extra return to the grower on a 3.5t/acre crop at £75/tonne of £13/acre (£33/ha). This confers an added value of £190/tonne on Nickerson Original Cereal Seed.

Further investigation this year has revealed some of the reason for this yield increase. Samples taken from the same fields have revealed that the new GPA  not only increases the root mass of the establishing plants but is also conferring the attribute on plants throughout the growing season , with the same increase in root mass being found on plants in July.

Further research is currently underway into ways that growers may be able to supplement this development by using the Nickerson Direct foliar plant nutrition products, MULTIMAX and MULTIMIN. For further information contact your local Nickerson Seed Specialist.