Effects of Biostimulants on Yield and Quality of Winter Cereals

Biostimulant application significantly improved quality traits of wheat, barley, and oats, with notable increases in thousand-seed mass, test weight, and protein content. The study highlights a practical agronomic strategy to mitigate environmental stress and enhance cereal quality in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

T. Gavrić; Bekir Tankosić; D. Hadžić; M. Bezdrob· Works of the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences University of Sarajevo· 2026· DOI 10.67407/rppf.2023.2.8

The core problem

Cereals are the most important cultivated crop globally. Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) exhibits relatively lower cereal yields compared to neighboring countries, partly due to unfavorable environmental conditions. Farmers can mitigate these adverse effects through various agronomic practices. One promising approach is the application of biostimulants. This study aimed to examine the influence of biostimulants on cereal yields and quality under the environmental conditions of central Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Innovation

A field experiment was conducted at Sarajevo, B&H, at the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Science. The experimental design included a combination of biostimulant treatments (applied and unapplied) and different cereal species: wheat, barley, and oats. The study assessed various quality traits, including thousand-seed mass, test weight, and protein content.

Introduction

Cereals are the most important cultivated crop globally. Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) exhibits relatively lower cereal yields compared to neighboring countries, partly due to unfavorable environmental conditions. Farmers can mitigate these adverse effects through various agronomic practices. One promising approach is the application of biostimulants. This study aimed to examine the influence of biostimulants on cereal yields and quality under the environmental conditions of central Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Why it matters

The results demonstrate that biostimulant application can enhance key quality parameters in winter cereals, potentially offsetting some negative environmental effects. The increases in thousand-seed mass, test weight, and protein content suggest improved grain filling and nutrient utilization. These findings support the use of biostimulants as a sustainable agronomic tool to improve cereal quality in B&H and similar regions.

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