Benefits of Accurate Crop and Foliar Nutrition in Organic Farming
Foliar nutrition is the process of feeding the plant with liquid fertilizer through the leaves. Sometimes the minerals and nutrients in the soil are not accessible for the plants because of a number of factors, such as weather for example or the alkalinity and acidity of the soil. Without chelation these minerals will be washed out by excess water in case of flood or rain. Foliar nutrition effective concentrations, therefore, supplement ground fertilizer for improved plant growth.
The importance of soil analysis could never be reiterated enough to ensure accurate crop nutrition. Before applying nutrients, you need to know the exact micro-biological component of the soil to understand the deficiency. For even more accurate determination of the nutrient deficiency, a tissue sample of the plant may be necessary. The problem is the plant doesn't really show any kind of deficiency when the conditions are at their optimum. Only when it's under stress can you see that there indeed is a problem it the first place and maybe then, it might already be too late.
When Do You Need Foliar Application?
The soil analysis will help you plan the foliar application of nutrients. However, knowing that you need foliar nutrition is one thing, it's quite another to know when exactly you need to apply. Fortunately there are general guidelines to follow:
You apply foliar nutrition when the soil analysis showed poor aeration or the deficiency of minerals and nutrients in the soil.
When you see disturbance in the root uptake, particularly during the reproductive phase
When you spot some damage in the root, which affects its capacity to absorb minerals
When the vascular system sustained some damage in case of a nematode attack
Also, some plants require direct feeding in the leaves during fruiting season. This is important in order to increase yield during harvest.
Organic farming in South Africa, you might be surprised to know, is actually quite sophisticated in terms of foliar nutrition technology along with the accurate application of organic-based inputs on the soil. So instead of the mineral staying at the roots, for example, they travel through the stem, flower and the leaves.
Chelating the Nutrients
Apart from foliar nutrition, you can actually maximize the potential of the minerals and nutrients in your soil through amino acid chelate. Chelated minerals are actually much preferred in plant nutrition because the minerals will actually be absorbed by every part of the plant.
The importance of soil analysis could never be reiterated enough to ensure accurate crop nutrition. Before applying nutrients, you need to know the exact micro-biological component of the soil to understand the deficiency. For even more accurate determination of the nutrient deficiency, a tissue sample of the plant may be necessary. The problem is the plant doesn't really show any kind of deficiency when the conditions are at their optimum. Only when it's under stress can you see that there indeed is a problem it the first place and maybe then, it might already be too late.
When Do You Need Foliar Application?
The soil analysis will help you plan the foliar application of nutrients. However, knowing that you need foliar nutrition is one thing, it's quite another to know when exactly you need to apply. Fortunately there are general guidelines to follow:
You apply foliar nutrition when the soil analysis showed poor aeration or the deficiency of minerals and nutrients in the soil.
When you see disturbance in the root uptake, particularly during the reproductive phase
When you spot some damage in the root, which affects its capacity to absorb minerals
When the vascular system sustained some damage in case of a nematode attack
Also, some plants require direct feeding in the leaves during fruiting season. This is important in order to increase yield during harvest.
Organic farming in South Africa, you might be surprised to know, is actually quite sophisticated in terms of foliar nutrition technology along with the accurate application of organic-based inputs on the soil. So instead of the mineral staying at the roots, for example, they travel through the stem, flower and the leaves.
Chelating the Nutrients
Apart from foliar nutrition, you can actually maximize the potential of the minerals and nutrients in your soil through amino acid chelate. Chelated minerals are actually much preferred in plant nutrition because the minerals will actually be absorbed by every part of the plant.
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