UUDISED

GOOD PROJECT EXAMPLE: Foliar Applied Fertilizers of Organic Crops and Phases of their Application

The problem to be solved

The aim of the activity is to identify the most suitable foliar fertilizers permitted in organic agriculture and develop appropriate technology for usage in Estonian conditions. An increasing selection of foliar fertilizers permitted in organic agriculture are on the market and producers have shown great interest in these fertilizers. At the same time, experience in foliar fertilizing concerning field crops, in particular, is scarce in our country, as well as in other countries.

Project outcomes

Foliar fertilizing is a step towards efficient appropriate integral technology for organic farming. Foliar analysis should be the basis for the technology because it is difficult to visually establish the reasons of nutrient deficiency. Once nutrient deficiency is evident, it is not possible to get maximum benefits from foliage fertilizing. Foliar fertilizing is only additional fertilizing, it is most effective when used at the peak growing cycle of plants when plants are sufficiently provided with the main nutrients. When the basic technology of plant production is not up to the standard and plant nutrition, with regard to the main nutrients, is deficient, foliar fertilizing cannot contribute much to the improvement of the situation. Foliar fertilizers should first and foremost be used in the critical plant growth phases when nutrient deficiency impacts yield the most: during the transition to root nutrition after the emergence of the plant in the seedling phase, during intensive vegetative growth and the budding period.

Spraying solutions should not consist of too many components, because it is not possible to solve all problems at the same time and plants may not efficiently assimilate complicated solutions. The choice of appropriate substances and the time of applying the fertilizer can be decided based on the foliar analysis. Unsuitable products or combinations of products may reduce yield. Best results of the tests with foliar fertilizers in the period of 2017-2019:

• Turnip rape was tested on the test plot of the Estonian Crop Research Institute: the best result was 2,815 kg/ha (additional yield 35% compared to the control).
• Winter wheat test by EHE Pojad Ltd.: the best result was 3,902 kg/ha (additional yield 48% compared to the control).
• Oat test by EHE Pojad Ltd.: the best result was 3,396 kg/ha (additional yield 29% compared to the control). 

“Plant protection spray is an increasingly used equipment for foliar fertilizing in the fields of organic producers.” Airi Vetemaa, a board member of NGO Maheklaster