The period from the resumption of vegetation to the start of stem elongation is extremely important for the growth and development of winter cereals. In the unstable weather seen in March and early April, plants may be under stress because they cannot absorb enough phosphorus from cold soil. At this time cereal plants form important yield components, so the yield level depends on the conditions in which these processes take place.
In view of the above, for the first foliar feeding of winter cereals phosphite products are unrivalled; they provide:
- Elimination of signs of phosphorus deficiency;
- Stronger growth of the secondary root system;
- Restraint of plant disease development;
- Stronger build-up of the vegetative part of plants, the basis of the future yield;
- Activation of the plants' photosynthetic apparatus;
- Greater carbon assimilation in photosynthesis, a direct path to higher yield mass and quality.
So foliar application of phosphorus in the form of phosphite, which plants take up quickly even at relatively low temperatures when the phosphate form is unavailable, promotes intensive growth of the root system, restrains the development of disease agents and enhances the efficiency of photosynthesis, ultimately raising the yield level.
For spring 2022, considering weather conditions and the state of plant development, and taking into account the results of practical use last year, we recommend:
- On crops where plant condition is generally satisfactory and there are no signs of stress, carry out the first foliar feeding with ECOLINE Phosphite (K) at 1.0–1.5 l/ha.
- On areas where a deficiency of individual nutrients is established, feed with the tank mix ECOLINE Phosphite (K) 1.0–1.5 l/ha + ECOLINE Cereal (Chelates) or ECOLINE Magnesium (Chelates) 1.0–1.5 l/ha. In case of copper, manganese, zinc or iron deficiency, use chelate fertilizers with the maximum content of the needed element at doses from 0.5 to 1.5 l/ha.
- On areas with poorly developed plants and those in a state of stress it is better to use ECOLINE Phosphite (K-Amino) at 1.0–1.5 l/ha for the first feeding.
