Folanx® Ca29, the New Calcium Leaf Fertilizer – Still Effective when Applied at an Advanced Stage?
At two orchard companies in Meckenheim (Rhineland) trials were carried out under practical conditions to find out whether Folanx® Ca29 can also be successfully used as a calcium fertilizer for apples during the later growth stages.
The experiment was carried out in the 2007 growing season.
The experiment was carried out in the 2007 growing season.
Experimental Design
The Braeburn variety was used in trials at two sites, at the B and L orchard companies. In both test groups treatment using Folanx® Ca29 was tested at various stages of growth and compared to an untreated, calcium fertilizer-free control group.
The trial was carried out in two phases - one leading up to the BBCH 73 sampling stage (walnut-size) and the second leading up to the BBCH 87 (picking) stage.
Fertilizer concentration was identical during each treatment: 2.5 kg Folanx® Ca29 per ha and per meter canopy height. During the course of the whole growing season both test variants, B and L, received six Folanx® Ca29 treatments.
The Braeburn variety was used in trials at two sites, at the B and L orchard companies. In both test groups treatment using Folanx
The trial was carried out in two phases - one leading up to the BBCH 73 sampling stage (walnut-size) and the second leading up to the BBCH 87 (picking) stage.
Fertilizer concentration was identical during each treatment: 2.5 kg Folanx
Trial Stage 1 / BBCH 73 Sampling (21.06.2007)
During the period prior to taking the first set of samples, the test trees in Company B received six Folanx® Ca29 treatments (starting after blooming and continuing on at 5 - 8 day intervals). The trees in Company L were treated twice (right after blooming and again after 19 days).
At both the B and L trial sites analysis showed that the calcium levels of the Folanx® Ca29 group during the walnut-size phase were approx. 30 % above those of the respective untreated control group.
During the period prior to taking the first set of samples, the test trees in Company B received six Folanx
At both the B and L trial sites analysis showed that the calcium levels of the Folanx
Trial Stage 2 / BBCH 87 Sampling (09.10.2007)
During the period prior to taking the second set of samples, the test trees in Company B, which had already received six Folanx® Ca29 spray treatments early on, were not given any more calcium fertilizer. The trees in Company L (two early treatments) went on to receive four sets of Folanx® Ca29 treatment at 2 - 3 week intervals during the second trial phase, starting in July.
When harvested at stage BBCH 87 no measurable difference between the trial group trees (six early Folanx® Ca29 treatments up to stage BBCH 73) and the untreated control group was discernable. These findings are not in keeping with the results of previous Folanx® Ca29 tests and are most probably attributable to incorrect sampling.
Pinova apples at site B, which were treated in the same manner as the Braeburn apples in the trial but which had originally not been included in the experiment, showed the anticipated calcium level result at stage BBCH 87, i.e. with the Folanx® Ca29 group showing a 20 % lead on the untreated Pinova control group.
At trial site L (2 early + 4 late fertilizer treatments) analysis showed that the trial group, when harvested at stage BBCH 87, had a 30 % higher calcium level than the control group, as the following diagram illustrates:
During the period prior to taking the second set of samples, the test trees in Company B, which had already received six Folanx
When harvested at stage BBCH 87 no measurable difference between the trial group trees (six early Folanx
Pinova apples at site B, which were treated in the same manner as the Braeburn apples in the trial but which had originally not been included in the experiment, showed the anticipated calcium level result at stage BBCH 87, i.e. with the Folanx
At trial site L (2 early + 4 late fertilizer treatments) analysis showed that the trial group, when harvested at stage BBCH 87, had a 30 % higher calcium level than the control group, as the following diagram illustrates:
Conclusions
As anticipated, the calcium level found in those apples that had received six Folanx
The results of this field tria show that Folanx
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