Core Bio Ag

Should I be adding sugar to my post herbicide application? My response: Amino acids are superior to sugar for corn and soybean applications because they directly provide essential building blocks for plant biology, supporting protein synthesis, enzyme production, and metabolic pathways critical for growth, stress resistance, and yield. Unlike sugars, which primarily offer a generic energy source, amino acids like glutamine and proline enhance nitrogen assimilation and stress tolerance, addressing specific physiological needs. Amino acids also serve as food sources for soil microbes, feeding a broader and more diverse microbial community that supports soil health and nutrient cycling, as evidenced by studies showing amino acids stimulate a wider range of beneficial bacteria and fungi compared to sugars (Moe, 2013). In contrast, plants naturally produce far more sugar through photosynthesis than the negligible amount from an external application—applying a pound of sugar is like adding a teaspoon of water to the ocean, offering minimal impact given the vast endogenous sugar pools in crops like corn and soybeans. Adding sugar risks attracting pests or fueling undesirable microbial growth if misapplied, whereas amino acids are efficiently absorbed and utilized. Thus, keeping plants healthy with targeted amino acid applications is far more valuable than adding sugar, which provides limited benefits and potential drawbacks.