The decline in daylight hours we face every autumn directly reduces photosynthetic activity, which slows plant growth, disrupts flowering, and lowers overall crop yield. In other words, although light requirements vary from one plant species to another, several processes generally take place that must be taken into account and properly managed:
- Lower photosynthetic rate and slower growth. With less incoming radiation, the plant produces less energy. Many species slow their development or enter a state of vegetative dormancy.
- Etiolation (abnormal elongation). When light is scarce, many plants tend to elongate excessively and weakly, producing thin, pale stems as they search for light. This is a common phenomenon in certain vegetable crops, where it seriously compromises fruit size and quality.
- Altered photoperiod and flowering. The number of daily light hours largely determines when each species flowers. In fact, long-cycle fruiting crops such as tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers halt or delay flower and fruit set if they do not receive a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. By contrast, short-cycle leafy crops such as spinach, lettuce, Swiss chard, and radishes can develop with as little as 3 to 5 hours of daily light or under partial shade.
- Less light, lower water demand. As solar radiation and temperatures drop, evapotranspiration (water loss through the leaves) decreases. As a result, the soil retains moisture for longer, and if irrigation is not adjusted, crops are at risk of water stress caused by excess moisture (waterlogging).
The impact on our crops
As the days grow shorter, the impact on crops becomes clearly visible through:
- Metabolic slowdown: As mentioned above, reduced solar radiation lowers the photosynthetic rate, which decreases the production of sugars and biomass.
- Reduced nutrient uptake: As internal processes slow down, the plant’s demand for and assimilation of essential elements such as nitrogen and phosphorus decline.
- Loss of profitability: This is the direct consequence of all of the above. The overall weakening of the plant can interrupt productive continuity and reduce the final quality of the harvest.
The key? An advanced biostimulation strategy
To counter this physiological standstill, MAFA’s approach focuses on advanced biostimulation aimed at:
- Optimizing photosynthetic efficiency, so that the plant makes the most of the limited sunlight available.
- Providing the necessary thermal protection by activating the crop’s natural defense mechanisms against cold.
- Ultimately, keeping the crop active by stimulating development and fruit-sizing processes to secure harvest profitability even during unfavorable periods.
How can low sunlight be offset?
To ensure the plant keeps working at full capacity even when light conditions are not optimal, at MAFA we focus on activating key metabolic pathways. How?
- We apply specific biostimulants that optimize light capture, ensuring that chloroplasts continue to synthesize energy even on cloudy days.
- With the right biostimulation, we mobilize energy reserves, facilitating their translocation from leaves to fruits.
- In this way, we promote the accumulation of compatible solutes and free amino acids, which act as internal protectants against sudden drops in nighttime temperature, another factor to consider when sunlight is limited.
- By applying biological biostimulants, we keep leaves green and functional for longer, extending the crop’s productive capacity through the final stretch of the year.
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