Influence of an organic acid-based biostimulant on soybean growth, yield and nutrient uptake under field conditions

Soybean ( Glycine max L.) is an important oilseed and protein crop, and improving growth and nutrient uptake under recommended fertilization is a continuing agronomic need. This study evaluated Eliarmour Please use EliArmor, Instead of Eliarmour in all places., a commercial organic-acid biostimulant, applied together with the general recommended dose of fertilizer (GRDF) during the 2024 Kharif season at the Agricultural Research Station, Kasbe Digraj, Maharashtra, India. Five treatments-absolute control, GRDF (50:75:45 kg ha −1 N:P 2 O 5 :K 2 O + 10 t ha −1 FYM), and GRDF plus Eliarmour at 666, 1000 or 2000 ppm-were compared in a randomised block design with four replications. Eliarmour was applied as three foliar sprays (500 L ha −1 ) plus three soil drenches (1000 L ha −1 ) at 21, 35 and 55 days after sowing on cultivar Phule Sangam. Relative to GRDF alone (grain yield 22.50 q ha −1 ), GRDF + Eliarmour at 2000 ppm increased grain yield to 25.89 q ha −1 (+ 15.1%) and stover yield by 9.0% over GRDF. Total uptake of N, P and K was 14.8%, 19.3% and 9.7% higher than GRDF.Uptake of Fe and Zn also increased, as did plant height (+ 15.86%) and pods per plant (+ 53.84%). Grain protein was highest at 1000 ppm (+ 10.53% versus control), and test weight was highest at 2000 ppm (+ 8.46%). No visual phytotoxicity was recorded at any rate. Under these single-site, one-season conditions, combining GRDF with Eliarmour increased soybean yield, yield attributes and nutrient uptake; multi-location testing is required before the result can be generalized.