Soil salinity is one of agriculture’s most damaging problems. Around 20 per cent of irrigated farmland worldwide is affected. That figure is rising.
For growers of high-value fruits and vegetables, salinity is not just a technical challenge. It is a direct threat to income. The question is no longer whether to act, but how.
Traditional soil correction methods are costly and often fall short. While most methods work within the soil, Brandon Bioscienceās BLOCSAL with PSI 475 works within the plant.
Why Soil Correction Alone Is Not Enough
Two threats working at the same time
Salinity creates two distinct problems inside the plant. First, sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) ions accumulate in plant tissue and cause direct toxicity. Second, high electrical conductivity in the soil solution makes water uptake harder, creating a kind of physiological drought even when water is present.
The result is predictable: stunted growth, poor flowering, low fruit set and significant yield loss.
Reactive treatments do not build resilience
Standard responses, such as gypsum, leaching and water blending, treat the soil around the plant. They do not help the plant cope with stress on its own.
They are also reactive. By the time symptoms appear, yield damage has already occurred. And they demand large inputs of water, energy and materials, which carries its own sustainability burden.
Salinity Stress Solutions page.
Building Tolerance from the Inside Out
What PSIĀ® 475 Precision Technology delivers
BLOCSALĀ® is derived from Ascophyllum nodosum extract and a protein hydrolysate. It is formulated using Brandon Bioscience’s proprietary PSIĀ® Precision Technology. This is not a general growth stimulant. It has a precise, well-defined mode of action that targets the biological mechanisms of salinity tolerance directly.
When applied to crops irrigated with water above 1.5 dS/m, BLOCSALĀ® triggers a co-ordinated set of protective responses inside the plant.
Osmotic adjustment: holding water under salt pressure
BLOCSALĀ® stimulates the accumulation of osmolytes, primarily proline and sucrose. These compounds help the plant maintain its water potential even as the surrounding soil solution becomes increasingly saline.
This process is called osmotic adjustment. It allows the crop to keep absorbing water despite the unfavourable conditions outside the root.
Ionic homeostasis: keeping potassium in, sodium out
BLOCSALĀ® upregulates sodium transporter genes. This limits how much Na+ moves from the roots into leaf tissue. At the same time, it promotes potassium (K+) accumulation at the root level.
The result is a healthier K+/Na+ ratio in leaf and root tissue. This ratio is one of the most reliable indicators of salinity tolerance in plants. BLOCSALĀ® also boosts aquaporin activity, improving water movement across cell membranes under osmotic stress.
Proven Results Across Crops and Conditions
23 per cent yield improvement. 94 per cent win rate.
Field trials across tomato, pepper and table grape, all irrigated continuously at 1.5 dS/m or above, show an average marketable yield increase of 23 per cent compared to untreated controls.
BLOCSALĀ® achieved a win rate of 94 per cent across the full trial portfolio. That consistency matters. It means the product delivers a positive return in the vast majority of situations where salinity is the primary constraint.
Quality improvements that open premium markets
Beyond yield, treated crops show measurably higher Brix content. Titratable acidity improves too. Both contribute to better flavour, higher grade and stronger prices at market.
Backed by peer-reviewed science
Two independent studies support the BLOCSALĀ® data. Ikuyinminu et al. (2022) in the Journal of Agronomy documented yield improvements in salinity-stressed tomato. Ikuyinminu et al. (2023) in the Journal of Molecular Sciences mapped the transcriptomic and biochemical mechanisms behind those improvements.
A Product Built for Sustainable Farming
Low dose rate, low footprint
BLOCSALĀ® is applied at 1 to 1.5 litres per hectare. A minimum of two foliar applications covers the crop lifecycle. That is a modest input for a meaningful return.
The high-concentration formulation reduces packaging, lowers transport emissions and minimises storage space.
Preventative, not just reactive
BLOCSALĀ® works in stressed and unstressed conditions. It does not need to wait for symptoms to appear. It primes the plant’s defence systems before ionic pressure builds.
That means reliable protection throughout the season, regardless of how water quality fluctuates.
Climate Change Is Making This More Urgent
Salinity is increasing and it will not reverse
Rising temperatures increase evapotranspiration. That concentrates dissolved salts in soil water. Reduced rainfall in key growing regions drives greater reliance on groundwater, which is often more saline. Coastal growers face saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers.
Salinity is no longer a niche problem for a minority of growers. It is becoming a mainstream challenge in irrigated agriculture worldwide.
Resilience, not just performance
Sustainable agriculture in a warming world needs tools that help plants adapt, not just tools that adjust the soil around them. BLOCSALĀ® is built for this. It is science-led, nature-derived and proven under genuine field stress.
Sustainability and Standards page.
Ready to Protect Your Crop from Salinity Stress?
BLOCSALĀ® with PSIĀ® 475 Precision Technology is available now. It is backed by a substantial field trials and validated in two peer-reviewed publications
Whether you are managing existing salinity pressure or planning ahead for the next season, our technical team is ready to help.
BLOCSALĀ® product page for trial data and application guidance, or contact us to speak with a specialist.
