Perennial Crops

What is a Perennial Crop? 

In the agricultural system, there are two main types of crops defined by their lifecycle, ranging from less than one year to several consecutive years. Annual crops, such as specific cereals, legumes, or tubers, have a lifespan of one year or less. 

Unlike these temporary crops that often require fallow periods, perennial (or permanent) crops are defined as plantations with land occupation lasting several consecutive years, without rotation at the plot level. These crops have a lifespan of at least three years, often exceeding five years on average. This category includes a wide variety of crops: fruit trees, vines, berries, etc. 

The beneficial effects of biostimulants on perennial crops 

Just like annual crops, perennial crops may also need assistance to promote their growth, improve their resistance to abiotic stresses , or to optimize the availability of nutrients present in the soil. Biostimulants thus present themselves as an effective solution for these permanent crops, which are often food crops or intended to feed livestock. 

Biostimulants act at several levels of the crop. From the soil to the roots and up through the leaves, these substances activate the natural functions of plants, allowing for responses to various challenges faced by permanent crops, such as vineyards or orchards. 

Biostimulation offers several advantages for plantations: 

• Stimulation of plant metabolism: by activating metabolic and enzymatic pathways and increasing resistance to abiotic stresses. 

• Optimization of soil functionality: by improving organic matter recycling, reducing soil compaction, or limiting erosion. 

• Proper development of the root system: by promoting root elongation, increasing the volume of soil utilized by the roots, or restoring the root system damaged by past tillage. 

• Improving the tolerance of perennial crops to stress: in response to various abiotic stresses, whether they be water-related or temperature-related. 

• Enhancing soil resources: by improving nutrient absorption through the leaves or increasing root volume. 

• Maintaining the quality and yield of crops: by optimizing the phases of startup, reproduction, and maturation of the plantation; strengthening cell walls; or boosting secondary metabolisms that define the olfactory, taste, and visual qualities of fruits. 

Which are the main perennial crops on which biostimulants are used? 

The positive effects of biostimulants are increasingly recognized in perennial crops in France, Europe, and around the world. Vine cultivation, fruit tree cultivation, and red fruit cultivation are all sectors where the use of biostimulants promotes the development of your plantations and agricultural yields, regardless of the cultivated area. Whether it is a modest farm or plots extending over several hectares, the use of biostimulants is ideal for improving crops, plantation by plantation.