Foliar Feeding provides fast, on-the-spot nutrition to ensure high, top quality yields. It serves as an effective supplementary feeding to complete soil fertilization and for prompt correction of nutrient deficiencies. Foliar application of nutrients at specific stages of crop development boosts yield and improves quality.
Complementary nutrition
Foliar application of nutrients complements soil application and Fertigation when root uptake is disturbed, when soil fertilization is inadequate, and application of nutrients with restricted mobility in the phloem such as Ca, B, Fe, Mn or Zn.
Corrective nutrition
Foliar uptake of nutrients is much faster than root uptake. Therefore foliar fertilization is the method of choice when deficiency symptoms are noted, and prompt correction of deficiencies is required. Nutrients rapidly absorbed through the foliage, providing the plant with the missing nutrients, and strengthening it.
In specific growth stages
Plants require different amounts of nutrients in different growth stages. It is sometimes difficult to control the nutrient balance in soil. Foliar applications of essential nutrients during key stages can improve yield and quality.
Mechanism of Foliar Fertilization
There are 2 main pathways of entry for foliar nutrients: passive diffusion across the cuticle and through the stomata.
Passive diffusion is responsible for the majority of nutrient uptake
Uptake rate depends on solute concentration on the leaf surface
Concentration depends on spray concentration and relative humidity
Passive diffusion efficiency improves because the rate of solute that can be applied to the leaf surface without causing damage is higher, and it also remains in the active state on the leaf surface for longer