Foliar fertilizers are like superheroes for your plants! They are liquid fertilizers specially designed to be sprayed on the leaves, providing a convenient and effective way to deliver essential nutrients directly to the foliage. By skipping the traditional root uptake process, foliar fertilizers offer a turbocharged nutrient boost that plants can quickly absorb. They also improve nutrient efficiency, making sure every drop counts, and allow for targeted delivery to specific plant parts and growth stages. With foliar fertilizers in action, your plants get the ultimate nutrition they need to reach their full potential and achieve supercharged crop productivity!
Applying a foliar fertilizer can bring several advantages to your farming practices. Let’s explore some of the key reasons why it may be beneficial:
Nutrient Availability:
Foliar fertilizers are directly applied to the leaves of plants, allowing for rapid and efficient nutrient absorption. Plants can absorb nutrients through their leaves more easily compared to their roots. This is particularly useful when plants are lacking essential nutrients or facing stressful conditions, as foliar application provides an immediate nutrient boost.
Stoller’s Golden Harvest was applied once at the 3-5 leaf stage (herbicide timing) on canola plants. After the application, a tissue test was conducted seven days later to assess the plant’s nutrient status and response to the foliar fertilizer.
Correcting Nutrient Deficiencies Quickly:
Foliar fertilizers can deliver specific nutrients that may be deficient in the soil or required in higher amounts during critical growth stages. For instance, during the critical stage of flowering, supplementing the plants’ heightened need for boron by applying liquid boron can be highly beneficial. By directly targeting the leaves, farmers can address specific nutrient deficiencies and ensure plants receive the necessary elements for healthy growth and development.
Lack of Nutrient Availability in High pH Soils:
Applying a foliar fertilizer to high pH soils can provide direct and efficient nutrient absorption for plants. With limitations imposed by alkaline soil/ high pH soil conditions, foliar fertilizers deliver essential nutrients directly to the leaves, ensuring plants have access to the necessary elements for growth and development. The primary nutrients affected are iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), boron (B), copper (Cu), and phosphorus (P).
Flexibility & Responsiveness:
Foliar fertilizers offer flexibility in adjusting nutrient applications based on the specific needs of crops. Farmers can quickly respond to changes in nutrient requirements, weather conditions, or plant stress by applying foliar sprays as needed. This adaptability allows for timely interventions to support optimal plant health.
Stoller’s Golden Harvest was applied during the V3 stage on soybeans, and a tissue test was conducted seven days after the application. The results showed significant improvements in Boron (+13%), Copper (+45%), and Zinc (+53%) levels compared to the control. Additionally, the plants treated with Golden Harvest exhibited a noticeably darker green coloration, indicating healthier and more vibrant foliage.
Ease of Use:
Foliar fertilizers can be combined with other foliar applications such as herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides. This simultaneous delivery of nutrients and pest control management reduces the number of passes required over the field, potentially improving overall crop health and productivity.
It’s important to remember that foliar fertilizers should not replace soil fertility management practices. Soil testing and proper nutrient management remain crucial for long-term soil health and sustainable farming. Foliar fertilizers should be used as a supplemental tool to address specific nutrient deficiencies or in situations where foliar application offers advantages.
Stoller offers various options for foliar fertilizers, including targeted solutions like Sugar Mover for boron (B) applications during flowering, or more complete foliar fertilizer packages like Golden Harvest (5-18-2-1 with micros) or Harvest More Urea Mate (5-10-27 with micros).
Stoller Foliar Fertilizers
| Product | N | P | K20 | S | Ca | Mg | B | Co | Cu | Mn | Mo | Zn | Also Contains: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Harvest | 5.0% | 18.0% | 2.0% | 1.0% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.05% | 0.6% | Fulvic Acid | ||
| Harvest More Urea Mate | 5.0% | 10.0% | 27.0% | 4.0% | 1.5% | 0.15% | 0.008% | 0.3% | 0.5% | 0.008% | 0.3% | ||
| Sugar Mover | 8.0% | 0.004% | Growth Enhancing Co-Factors | ||||||||||
| X-Tra Power | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 3.2% | Growth Enhancing Co-Factors |
To learn more about Stoller’s foliar fertilizer options, reach out to your local Stoller Territory Manager.
