Valena™ - Sustainable Soil Amendment
Prime Soil for Optimal Plant Growth
Young plant growers produce large quantities of young plants for the commercial horticulture, floriculture, and landscape industries, selling to greenhouse growers, garden centers, and everyone in between. Supplying both old standards and new and innovative plant varieties, young plant growers are often at the forefront of the plant industry regarding the latest growing techniques and current market trends. Growers want to ensure with full confidence the product they offer is of consistent quality, uniformity, and vigor.
Valena™ was designed with the grower in mind, because we understand that they are continuously seeking out new and innovative ways to improve the growth of healthy plants.
Kemin offers an alternative plant growth strategy: Instead of treating the plants directly, we believe in maximizing the potential of the environment in which a plant grows at the very beginning of the plants' life, is a more powerful option.
That is why we developed Valena™, a soil amendment of paramylon rich Euglena gracilis algae, that helps create good soil for growing plants.
Valena™ is a soil supplement that gives soil an upgrade with the latest natural growth technology, creating an enhanced growing media that promotes high-quality plugs and cuttings, helping to achieve high potential plants from the seedling stage to the store shelf!
Valena is a 2018 Greenhouse Grower Fresh Ideas
Unique Sustainable Material
- Derived from Kemin’s proprietary strain of unicellular Euglena gracilis algae
- In-house production: E. gracilis fermented under a controlled environment to produce up to 50% paramylon
- Paramylon: unique carbohydrate storage molecule made of pure 1,3-ß-glucan.
Guaranteed Analysis:
- Carbohydrate ≥50%
- Crude Protein ≥20%
- Total Nitrogen (N) ≥2%
- Total Phosphorus (P2O5) ≥1%
- Total Potassium (K2O) ≥0.2%
Key Benefits
Kelp meal alternative, conventional fertilizers and plant growth regulators
Designed to fit into any nutritional program
Helps get plants ready earlier for transplant
Growing Media For Greenhouse Production
Valena is also for soil manufacturers seeking a first-class ingredient to include in their professional mixes when preparing growing media for greenhouse crops.
Smart Mode of Action
As Valena breaks down in the soil it releases a unique 1,3-ß-glucan that improves soil characteristics allowing for better plant root development and nutrient uptake that are favorable to plant growth. How? Substances like Valena are viewed as a Pathogen-Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMPs) by Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs)1-4 present naturally in plant cells, meaning that the presence of Valena in the soil can be mistaken for pathogens. Plants normally increase nutrient uptake to fight off potential pathogens. However, when there is an increase in nutrient uptake with no real pathogenic threat, it means the soil was optimized for the best possible nutritional uptake by the plant.5-7
Supplies soil with ingredients to support optimal plant growth
Provides nutrients that help increase uptake efficiency
Aids in the growth of healthy, strong and thriving plants from the start
Directions for Use - Nutritional Program
Dry granular powder form, easy to incorporate into your growing media at the beginning of a plant’s life cycle:
TOP DRESS
RATE
One application at 1.5 g/L of growing media
APPLICATION TIMING
At seedling or establishment phase (transplanting)
DIRECTION FOR USE
1) Sprinkle the desired rate on the top of the growing media, around the base of the growing plant
2) Follow by normal irrigation practices to hydrate and distribute the product into the growing media
3) Sub-irrigation is not recommended for this type of application
SOIL INCORPORATED
RATE
One application at 1.2 kg/cubic yard of growing media
APPLICATION TIMING
Prior to seedling or planting
DIRECTION FOR USE
1) Incorporate the desired rate of dry granular to soil or growing media
2) Mix thoroughly until completely dispersed.
6-week Plug Trial on Vinca
The objective of the plug trial was to show the effect of Valena incorporated into the soil related to vinca plant growth. Plant growth was evaluated looking at different parameters standard to growers such as: plug stem height, plug lateral stem height, plant’s wet weight, plant’s dry weight, and plug root score. To determine and recommend the best application rate and method for growers, we performed the study at two application levels and applied Valena as either a top dress or incorporated into the soil.
Stem height of vinca plug plants six weeks after treatment with Valena.
Dry weight of vinca plug plants six weeks after treatment with Valena.
Both application methods, soil incorporated or top dress, showed enhanced plug growth measured by stem height. One top dressing application of Valena at 3 g/L on vinca plugs increased dry weight biomass significantly with an average of +75% compared to untreated plugs: the heavier a plant is by dry weight, the more biomass the plant has, and represents an indicator of a thriving and healthy plant.
The overall increase in each parameter indicates that amending the soil with Valena, a rich source of 1,3-ß-glucan, can help growers prime the soil to encourage efficient nutrient uptake for optimal plant growth of seedlings.
Read Full Study
Literature Download
Contact our Sales Managers for a trial pricing or additional product information.
Brett Cranston - Washington, Idaho, Oregon
Call: 515-240-0430
Email: Brett.Cranston@kemin.com
Darl Reed - Florida
Call: 515-707-6312
Email: Darl.Reed@kemin.com
Richard Jones - California
Call: 626-372-1153
Email: Richard.Jones@kemin.com
MEET THE TEAM
Valena is currently registered, or otherwise authorized for sale, in Colorado, Florida, Georgia and Michigan. Other registrations have been submitted and are under review. Please contact us to discuss registration in your specific state.
Certain statements may not be applicable in all geographic regions. Product labeling and associated claims may differ based upon regulatory requirements. Consult with your regulatory representative for specific applications and labeling.
References:
1. Bittel, P. and S. Robatzek (2007). Microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) probe plant immunity. Current Opinion in Plant Biology, 10:335-341.
2. Bigeard, J., Colcombet, J., and H. Hirt (2015). Signaling mechanisms in pattern-triggered immunity (PTI). Molecular Plant, 8:521-539.
3. Burketova, L., Trda, L., Ott, P., and O. Valentova (2015). Bio-based resistance inducers for sustainable plant protection against pathogens. Biotechnology Advances, 33:994-1004.
4. Balmer, A., Pastor, V., Gamir, J., Flors, V., and B. Mauch-Mani (2015). The ‘prime-ome’: towards a holistic approach to priming. Trends in Plant Science. 20:443-452.
5. Schmidt, W. and J. Ebel (1987). Specific binding of a fungal glucan phytoalexin elicitor to membrane fractions from soybean Glycine max. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 84:4117-4121.
6. Cosio, E., Frey, T., Verduyn, R., van Boom, J., and J. Ebel (1990). High-affinity binding of a synthetic heptaglucoside and fungal glucan phytoalexin elicitors to soybean membranes, FEBS Lett. 271:223-226.
7. Cheong, J. and M. Hahn (1991). A specific, high-affinity binding site for the hepta-beta-glucoside elicitor exists in soybean membranes. Plant Cell 3:137-147.
