Nualgi Foliar Fertilizer Potato Trial Livingston, CA June-September 2015

Transcription

1 FROM ROOTS TO FRUIT! COMPLETE AGRONOMIC CONSULTING SUPPORT PROVIDED BY PEST CONTROL ADVISORS, QUALIFIED APPLICATORS, CERTIFIED CROP ADVISORS, CERTIFIED IRRIGATION SPECIALIST! Nualgi Foliar Fertilizer Livingston, CA June-September 2015 Commissioned by Nualgi America, Inc. 100 E San Marcos Boulevard, Suite 400, San Marcos, CA Field Trial Performed by Jeff Hill, PCA, CCA, QAL. President, ATP AGRICULTURE & IRRIGATION CONSULTANTS using research parameters per ARM reporting software PCA: J. Hill Consultant: Ryan Sweeney 1

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction 2. Objective 3. Methodology 3.1 Trial Location 3.2 Weather, timing 3.3 Soils 3.4 Test protocol 4. Trial Milestones 4.1 Growth and output 4.2 Nutrient Assessment 4.3 Color 4.4 Plant stress assessment 4.5 Pest and disease resistance 4.6 Yield 5. Trial Comments 2

3 1. Introduction Nualgi America, Inc. has engaged JTP Agriculture and Irrigation Consultants to conduct field trials of its foliar fertilizer product, Nualgi Foliar Spray. Nualgi America Inc. is an authorized distributor of Nualgi Nano-biotech. In addition to Nualgi Foliar Spray, Nualgi America also distributes and markets water treatment products such as Nualgi Ponds and Nualgi Aquarium. Nualgi America is based in San Marcos, CA. Nualgi Nano-biotech is a private company based in Bangalore, India lead by Mr. T Sampath Kumar who is the inventor and patent holder of the Nualgi technology. Nualgi Foliar Spray is an advanced nano scale foliar spray, which combines a balanced mix of 13 plant nutrients in a single formulation. It contains primary nutrients (P, K); secondary nutrients (Ca, Mg, S); Micro Nutrients (Fe, MN, Zn, Cu, B, Mo) and in addition Silica and Cobalt. The particle size is between 1 and 30 nano meters. It is unlike other foliar agents, which comprise of limited nutrients in the formulation. All nutrients are at nano scale allowing for easier fluming in the tank and smaller micro droplets during application. This report covers detailed data and commentary on the trial of Nualgi Foliar Spray applied to a Potato crop in Livingston, CA from planting to harvest during June- September Objective The objective of this trial is to prove or disprove the efficacy of Nualgi Foliar Spray on potatoes based on grower standards with a minimal approach of including Nualgi Foliar. 3. Methodology 3.1 Trial Location Trial was performed in Livingston, CA on 2.5 acres broken in 2 sections of 1.25 acres each per sweet potato variety located in 40-acre block. Livingston was chosen, as it is an ideal location within the sweet potato production area of California. 3

4 Sweet potato transplants 3.2 Weather, timing Livingston, CA climate is warm during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 70's and cold during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 40's.The warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is December with an average minimum temperature of degrees Fahrenheit. Temperature variations between night and day tend to be relatively big during summer with a difference that can reach 31 degrees Fahrenheit, and fairly limited during winter with an average difference of 17 degrees Fahrenheit. The annual average precipitation at Livingston is Inches. Rainfall in is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is January with an average rainfall of 2.43 Inches. Monthly Averages & Records - F C Date Average Average Average Low High Precipitation January " 0.1" February " 0.0" March " 0.1" April " 0.0" May " 0.0" June " 0.0" July " 0.0" August " 0.0" Average Snow 4

5 3.3 Soils The Delhi series consists of very deep, somewhat excessively drained soils. They formed in wind-modified material weathered from granitic rock sources. Delhi soils are on floodplains, alluvial fans and terraces. Slopes are 0 to 15 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 13 inches and the mean annual temperature is about 62 degrees F. TAXONOMIC CLASS: Mixed, thermic Typic Xeropsamments TYPICAL PEDON: Delhi sand - annual grasses, grazed (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.) Cl--0 to 21 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) sand, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; single grained; loose; slightly acid (ph 6.5); gradual smooth boundary. (10 to 30 inches thick) C2--21 to 40 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) sand, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; slightly lighter color than horizon above; loose; slightly acid (ph 6.5); gradual smooth boundary. (16 to 25 inches thick) C3--40 to 70 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) sand, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; loose; strongly acid (ph 5.5). RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Delhi soils have short undulating slopes of 0 to 15 percent and lack stratification. The mean annual soil temperature at a depth of 20 inches is 60 to 66 degrees F and the soil temperature usually is not below 47 degrees F at any time. The average January soil temperature is about 50 degrees F and the average July temperature is 75 to 85 degrees F. The soil between depths of about 12 to 35 inches is continuously dry from late April or May until late October or early December and is continuously moist in some or all parts all the rest of the year. Very coarse sand is 0 to 5 percent and combined coarse and very coarse sand is 35 percent or less. The C horizon is 10YR 5/3, 5/4, 6/4, 6/3, 6/2, 6/1, 7/1, 7/2, 7/3 or 7/4. Moist colors are 10YR 4/2, 4/3, 4/4, 5/4, 5/3, 5/2, 5/1, 6/1, 6/2, 6/3 or 6/4. Usually there is little change in color with depth, but in some pedons the upper part of the profile is slightly darker than the lower part and an A horizon can be identified. The upper part is sand, fine sand, loamy fine sand or loamy sand. The lower part is sand or loamy sand. The clay content ranges from 0 to 5 percent. The soil is slightly acid to slightly alkaline. When an A horizon is present, it has dry color of 10YR 6/2, 6/3, 5/2, 5/3, 5/4 or 4/3. Moist color is 10YR 4/3 or 4/2. Clay content is 0 to 5 percent and textures are fine sand or loamy sand. Organic matter content is less than 1 percent. Reaction is slightly acid to slightly alkaline. 5

6 3.4 Irrigation Irrigation frequency depends on the crop s evapotranspiration (ET) requirements and the water- holding capacity of the soil, but may be done daily once the plants are fully established. Total water use typically ranges from 2.5 to 3.5 acre-feet per acre. Irrigation cut-off dates vary depending on crop development and harvest schedule. Irrigation should be halted when jumbo-sized roots exceed 33% of total root production, unless the crop is slated for processing and maximum total tonnage is desired. There is no evidence to support the practice of discontinuing drip irrigation 2 to 4 weeks prior to harvest in order to toughen the skin and minimize harvest losses, but such practices do reduce the development of scurf if the roots have already begun to develop this disease. We utilized drip irrigation and applied water throughout the growing season based on ET and WHC of field. 3.5 Test Protocol This trial consisted of 2 trial segments focusing on the grower standard, as well as grower standard with the addition of Nualgi Foliar. Nutrient Uptake Sweet potato plants yielding 15,000 to 20,000 lbs./a accumulate an estimated 50 to 80 lbs. nitrogen (N), 20 to 30 lbs. phosphorus (P), 80 to 100 lbs. potassium (K), 4 lbs. magnesium (Mg), 5 lbs. calcium (Ca), and 0.8 lb. iron (Fe) on foliage and roots. Sweet potato has a high requirement for potassium. Potassium uptake is dependent on the soil availability of magnesium. Fertilizer Rates and Placement Fertilizer applications should be made to complement the nutrient content already available in the soil. To assess the soil fertility status for sweet potato production, conduct soil tests prior to planting. Applications, which are made above levels required by plants, may result in excessive foliage growth at the expense of root growth, nutrient leaching into aquifers, and in undesirable accumulation of salts in the soil root zone. Sweet potato is a crop that requires nitrogen, phosphorus, and adequate potassium for optimum root growth. High nitrogen levels will cause excessive vine growth at the expense of root yields and may result in root cracking. Avoid planting on recently manure soils because it renders the tubers to become more susceptible to scurf infection. Grower Standard: Growers standard consisted of multiple injections and foliar throughout growing season. Grower followed applications based on yield 6

7 estimation. Fertilizer application for sweet potato was 80-lbs./A nitrogen; 440 lbs./a of phosphorus (P2O5); and 120 lbs./a of potassium (K2O). Grower Standard + Nualgi Foliar: The only difference between this plot and grower standard was the application of 3 foliar shots at 200ml per application of Nualgi Foliar and reduction of fertilizer additions by 30%. 4 Trial Milestones 4.1 Growth and Output There was a visible growth difference between the section that was applied with NF as an add on. There was an increase in size of the tuber as well as the overall color. Sept 2015 GS+NF 7

8 Both above images are from Sept 2015 the one on Left is GS the one on right is GS+NF 8

9 Sept 2015 GS Sept 2015 GS+NF 9

10 4.2 Nutrient Assessment Nualgi America Inc. When looking at the crop there was very little difference between the two sides in color of the leaves but there was more of a top biomass. The increased biomass of the leaf area would allow increased photosynthesis and more nutrient uptake. Grower Standard Grower Standard Sept

11 Grower Standard + NF 4.3 Color Sweet potatoes are harder to color grade as they are normally of a red color or a tan/yellow combo. The potatoes can be seen to be of deep red color making the overall consumer more likely to purchase. Leaf color of GS+NF 11

12 4.4 Plant Stress Assessment One thing that we needed to consider is the overall impact of water and environmental stress points and how that affects the plants ability to continue respiration. When plants come under any stress whether environmental due to mainly heat or dehydration due to water deficit irrigations the plant slows and therefore affects yields and quality. We didn t consider the quality of the water as a factor. But overall plant appeared to be healthy and limited on stress. 4.5 Pest and Disease Resistance 4.6 Yield While the use of Si has been proven to decrease diseases and or pest pressures we didn t perform these test, as Nualgi will be utilized as a nutritional and not as a dual-purpose material. We did visually see no visible issues in the NF blocks but no relationship was established. There was an increase in the overall yield of the NF block but the overall amount made due to the sizing was equal. Or opinion is that the material can increase sizing and overall impact if we are able to apply during the entire growing season. There was an obvious increase in tubers and we needed the material to be present longer. We will test again in 2016 to confirm if this hypothesis is correct. Below images were all taken in September 2015 GS 12

13 GS GS GS+NF above image 13

14 GS GS+NF 14

15 GS GS GS+NF 15

16 GS+NF GS+NF 5. Trial Comments After trial completed it is obvious that the overall impact of Nualgi Foliar on the biomass of the crop. We also saw an increase in tubers but the overall sizes of the tubers weren t big enough. We feel that this is due to the starting of the application compared to planting. Our hypothesis would be start applications sooner and increase applications to 6 during the growing stage. We feel this will help with the sizing of all the tubers therefor increasing the overall yield and ROI. While we feel that over applications of synthetic based nutrients deplete the soil profile of the carbon chain molecules and strips bonds therefor causing depletion of nutrients and the need forever increasing amount of materials the addition of Nualgi Foliar will help sustain plant growth and overall health. This is due to the active elements inside the materials, which help increase photosynthesis and enables the plants to absorb more CO2. This in turn increases liquid based carbons in the plant and allows for more translocation and a healthier more robust plant. This also is due to the chelation and prevention of crystallization of the Na ion in the water and the soil and pushing that away from the crop to avoid toxicity. Quality of Crop: The overall impact of Nualgi on the crop itself is simply undeniable. What we can see with the addition of NF there is a decrease in plant stress and an increase of 16

17 rigidity of the plant. This helps the plant to increase respiration and photosynthesis. NF as an add it to a program can allow growers to increase the plants ability to grow and therefor is a beneficial add to a grower based program. Grower: Crop appearance was better, we were thinking we had more tonnage but based on the sizes of the tubers we were about equal to our normal block. We want to try again next year and start applications sooner and increase based on consultant s idea of increasing uptake from the plant. If we can get applications on earlier we can size out all tubers and most likely increase yields. Overall no real setback from using but no gain this year. With reduction in fertilizer and adding in Nualgi we paid the same and made the same. 17

18 18 Nualgi America Inc.