A Growing Future
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o many, bio stimulants are the future of farming, and, recently, we learned of a new one in the marketplace that is creating great promise through research and real-world applications. The early validated successes Gorton’s Solution with Humic & Fulvic Acids is showing is impressive, and looks to have great value in plant health, growth, production, and increased revenues for growers, as well as positive regenerative effects for soil and the environment. But first, what are bio stimulants? According to the 2018 Farm Bill, they are “a substance or microorganism that, when applied to seeds, plants, or in the rhizosphere, stimulates natural processes to enhance or benefit nutrient uptake, nutrient use efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress, or crop quality and yield.” In everyday terms, their general purpose is to stimulate plant growth and optimize plant health, and ideal plant health leads to less stresses and possibly more resistance to pests and diseases. According to an online UMass Extension Greenhouse Floriculture Program article, there are many new products in the market so look for one that has been tested by a relevant 3rd party and on a crop type most beneficial to each grower and with the desired outcomes each seek. Then buy some of the product and test it for potential large-scale use. Gorton’s Solution with Humic & Fulvic Acids first showed up to us in the Rio Grande Valley where we learned first-hand of the new, bio stimulant product. And much like the UMass recommendation, it is backed up with numerous impressive studies and successful 3rd party test applications. The product was created in 2020 and is the third generation created by Santa Fe Resource Development and Mr. Stephen Gorton. Mr. Gorton holds a Master’s in Science degree from Iowa State University and spent many years in agricultural food safety and science. By happenstance and wonderment, knowing that iron is good for plants and life in general, Mr. Gorton dissolved an old iron railroad spike with phosphoric acid and treated his garden with the resulting soluble mix. According to Mr. Gorton, iron acts as an oxygen carrier and is an essential micronutrient critical in cell division, growth, and chlorophyll formation. Seeing positive results versus non-treated plants, he dissolved other essential metal micronutrients into a product now forming the basis for Gorton’s Solution (first generation). Mr. Gorton patented the product, and then started
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developing and advancing its science that has now led to today’s third generation product. The enhanced product includes nutrients, micronutrients, humins, and carbon, plus natural polymers for increased water retention. The all-natural ingredients are conservation positive and are regenerative to soil, all the while stimulating plant health and growth. He believes many new bio stimulants focus on Humic & Fulvic Acids or micronutrients as the main catalyst, but that his new product significantly achieves both. Early real-world research and application visuals took place at Bent Tree Country Club in Dallas, TX, on turf grasses. Bent Tree quickly saw positive greening results, and then soon also realized the increased plant health led to the ability to water less (up to one-third) while still receiving similar results, providing them with water conservation and lucrative savings. With increased savings in mind, Bent Tree further experimented cutting down on fertilizer use (up to two-thirds less) and also still believed they maintained previous conditions but at substantial conservation and dollar savings. Recently, on July 6, the Greens & Grounds Superintendent for the club wrote “The grass is bluer than I have ever seen it, and it’s very cool to see the definition versus areas we did not treat.” The Dallas Arboretum was next to trial Gorton’s Solution, and they, too, noticed positive results. For the Arboretum, they were especially impressed with product benefits during hot, dry months when many non-treated plants showed heat distress. They noticed azaleas and other plants treated with Gorton’s did not wilt during hot, summer afternoons. As an ornamental garden, displaying perfect looking plants is of utmost importance. To validate plant growth and health, Santa Fe Resource Development (manufacturer of Gorton’s Solution with Humic & Fulvic Acids) commissioned Penn State University, ranked as the #1 Agronomy college in the US, to conduct a research study on bent grass. The results of this complex 2020 study showed, when coupled with a nitrogen source (fertilizer), Gorton’s Solution with Humic & Fulvic Acids produced the absolute longest root in the 16-plot study, 22% longer than the control group, and it had the longest average root length, 17% longer than
