Plant growth regulators (PGRs) and plant growth stimulators (PGSs) are naturally-occurring or synthetic compounds that, when applied to plants, modify their physiological processes, and growth and development habits. In plant cells, they stimulate specific enzymes or pathways and help regulate metabolism.

The term “PGR” is widely used in Western Canada to refer to products that are sprayed on wheat to shorten the height of the crop, while PGSs are designed to be incorporated into a well-balanced nutrition program to achieve a better uptake of nutrients, enhanced growth and development, better seed, fruit or tuber set, improved crop standability and more. Producers looking to preserve yield and profitability are encouraged to take a closer look at PGSs.

The Green Revolution of the 1960s sought to greatly increase agricultural production through the introduction of high-yield crops, chemical fertilizers, and synthetic herbicides and pesticides. With these new advancements, it was suddenly possible to grow more food on the same number of acres, to better meet the needs of a growing global population. 

One thing that became somewhat overlooked during the Green Revolution (and the decades that followed) was soil organic matter. However, we are finally starting to recognize the value and impact that soil organic matter content has on crops, and actions are being taken to improve it.