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Trial Ablass (Saxonia) Trial Ablass (Saxonia) Trial Ablass (Saxonia)

Folanx® Ca29, the New Calcium Fertilizer - Effect on the Physiological Change in Calcium Content in Apples during the Growing Stage

During the 2007 growing season a field trial using Folanx® Ca29 was carried out at the Ablasser Obstgarten GmbH Company (Sornzig, Saxony). The trial set out to examine how treatment with Folanx® Ca29 changed the calcium content in the test apples during the growing phase compared to a control group treated with a calcium nitrate fertilizer.
Trial Design 

During the growth phase the test group was treated with the micro-granular Folanx® Ca29 compound on a total of seven occasions (4 + 2 + 1 sprayings up to individual sampling) at 14 day intervals. On each occasion fertilization was done using the same amount of fertilizer: 5.0 kg Folanx® Ca29 per ha. The control group first remained untreated but was later treated with the customary 2.0 + 7.0 kg Ca(NO3)2/ha in two sprayings between the June fruit drop and harvesting.
The Jonagold Wilmuta variety was used in the trials.
Results

During the BBCH 75 (walnut-size / 03.07.2007), BBCH 87 (1st picking / 24.09.2007) and BBCH 87 (2nd picking / 19.10.2007) development stages 10 fruits were picked from each of the two groups and tested as a composite sample for their calcium content in mg/100 g fm at the IAU (Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Analysis), Freyburg/Unstrut.
The results are shown in the following diagram:
Folanx Ca29, the New Calcium Fertilizer - Effect on the Physiological Change in Calcium Content in Apples during the Growing Stage: mg Ca/100 g FM (BBCH 75, BBCH 87/1, BBCH 87/2)   
The analysis of each of the three test stages showed that the apples which had been treated with Folanx® Ca29 contained significantly higher levels of calcium compared to the control samples. The gap between the trial and control groups gradually increased during the course of the tests. A 20 % higher calcium content in the trial group was determined at the first sampling phase (BBCH 75), with the second phase (BBCH 87 / 1st picking) showing 30 %. A third harvesting (BBCH 87 / 2nd picking) following a further Folanx® Ca29 treatment showed a 40 % higher calcium level in the trial group, with the absolute calcium level remaining virtually unchanged (dilution effect through the increasing fruit size).

Conclusions

One can conclude from the results that apples fertilized with Folanx® Ca29 immediately after blossoming store so much calcium in their very early development stage that the physiological dilution effect accompanying the increasing fruit size can be partially countered. This effect was further enhanced in the trial group through the later Folanx® Ca29 sprayings following the June fruit drop. The control group, which received customary Ca(NO3)2 fertilization, was unable to catch up on this “calcium head start” during the growing phase. The positive effect of an early Folanx® Ca29 fertilization on the level of calcium in the fruit and the bitter pit index, which is not documented here, remains throughout the growth period.