Foliar Fertilisers

We have seen the significant benefits from integrating liquid fertilisers into the overall fertiliser programs for crops and pastures over the past 18 years.

When annual crops and pastures are established, the correction of nutrient imbalance through the soil is not easily or cost-effectively achievable. For some elements like phosphorus and most trace elements (zinc, copper, manganese, etc), it is not economical or even practical to feed the crop and pasture plants only through the soil when they are established. Foliar sprays give the flexibility and choice to top up the deficient element when the plant is growing. This is especially the case with nutrients which are known to have limited mobility, such as trace elements.

The efficiency of a quality foliar fertiliser uptake is much better than the soil application. For example with nitrogen, it is shown that the efficiency of foliar fertilisers is about 80-85% compared to a much lower efficiency (as low as 15%) through the soil. This means that in some cases the uptake efficiency could be improved by as much as five fold if foliar application is exercised. Similar differences in the efficiency of phosphorus utilization are reported.

Liquid fertilisers need to be integrated into the overall fertiliser program that includes granular fertiliser. This is because foliar fertilisers cannot supply the full plant-removal quantities required for macronutrients (e.g. nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, etc) and soil application of macronutrients under most conditions is unavoidable.

The following performance attributes are expected from a well balanced high quality liquid fertiliser formulation that has a good pH and also contains plant-available phosphorus;

– The supply of phosphorus and trace elements will stimulate photosynthesis. This is especially important in periods of potential stress.

– Foliar-applied phosphorus is rapidly translocated to the roots and this stimulates essential root rhizosphere activity, improving biological activity in the root zone and nutrient availability from the soil.

– The plant root access to subsoil moisture is more rapid.

– The breakdown of chlorophyll is prevented.

– Essential root growth is stimulated through the expected shift in the cation/anion balance brought about by the foliar application.

The two (2) foliar fertilizers that we have had significant experience with and have seen consistent results from over the years are;

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