The most common plant growth regulator is “brassinolide,” but there’s also a plant growth hormone called “naphthalene acetic acid,” which also has promising effects and benefits, and even offers more benefits than brassinolide.
What are the basics of naphthalene acetic acid?
Naphthalene acetic acid is a broad-spectrum, low-toxic plant growth regulator and also belongs to the auxin family. In addition to its auxin properties, it also has specific benefits. For example, it can promote root establishment, seed rooting, rooting of cuttings, and fibrous root growth in other crops. It also promotes fruit enlargement in the later stages of crop growth, including both above-ground fruits and vegetables and underground fruits.
It also promotes flowering and prevents flower and fruit drop, similar to the functions of other auxins. When used in the later stages of growth, naphthaleneacetic acid can enhance plant resistance, such as resistance to cold, drought, and acidic and alkaline soils. The key question here is how to use it. The key lies in the method of use and dosage. Before discussing its use, let’s first discuss some precautions when using naphthalene acetic acid.
What precautions should be taken when using naphthalene acetic acid?
There are two main considerations for using naphthalene acetic acid: for plants and for humans. First, it’s important to note its effectiveness on plants. Naphthalene acetic acid itself is water-soluble. When diluting the concentration, it’s important to first add alcohol to make the naphthalene acetic acid viscous, then add an appropriate amount of water to dilute it. This will allow for better dissolution, but that’s not all. You also need to add an appropriate amount of sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda, and stir thoroughly until it’s fully dissolved before use. This procedure applies whether you’re irrigating the roots or spraying. Otherwise, it won’t dissolve and won’t be effective.
When using naphthalene acetic acid, it’s important to pay attention to “concentration” and “timing.”
These two considerations should be fairly easy to understand. High concentrations trigger the drug, while low concentrations have no effect. Timing, on the other hand, means spraying at the right time to achieve the desired effect. For example, flower preservation must be applied before flower buds differentiate. Spraying at the right concentration and time achieves the best results. Today, we’ll share the effects of using different concentrations of naphthalene acetic acid on several crops at different times.
① Root Growth Promotion
Take rice transplanting as an example. Planting rice is commonly known as transplanting rice seedlings. To promote root growth with naphthalene acetic acid, soak the roots in a diluted naphthalene acetic acid solution 5-10 hours before transplanting. A 10-20 mg/L naphthalene acetic acid solution is sufficient. Simply put, 10-20 mg is diluted with 1 liter of water. (This is easy to understand.)
Another application is cuttings, which can also be soaked in naphthalene acetic acid to achieve rapid rooting. For example, roses and grapes generally require a 100-200 mg/L naphthalene acetic acid solution for at least four hours.
② Flowering Promotion
Let’s take the common cucumber crop as an example. When should naphthalene acetic acid be used? What concentration should be used? These are the most critical factors. A 10 mg/L naphthalene acetic acid solution is generally recommended, ideally when the cucumber seedlings have three leaves before transplanting. Spraying once or twice can increase the number of female flowers, thereby increasing cucumber yield. Alternatively, spraying once or twice with a 5-20 mg/L naphthalene acetic acid solution during the growing season can also increase the number of female flowers.
③ Increase Fruit Set
Take greenhouse tomatoes as an example. The greenhouse environment is characterized by high humidity and temperature. Failure to properly control these conditions can lead to frequent flower and fruit drop. Using a naphthalene acetic acid solution, typically at a concentration of 20 mg/L, can address this problem. Instead of spraying, the solution is applied to the flowers, increasing the fruit set rate. It can also induce seedless tomatoes, creating a new selling point.
Naphthalene acetic acid is a good plant growth regulator, but careful attention must be paid to its concentration and timing. Otherwise, it will not be as effective as intended and may even cause phytotoxicity, resulting in reduced yields. It can be used on a variety of crops, including grains such as wheat, rice, corn, and soybeans, as well as most fruits and vegetables. Pay attention to the concentration and read the instructions carefully before use.
