mngement Grower 101 Clculting Costs Prt II: PGRS By Thoms Boyle Misclcultions cn result in overppliction of PGRs nd permnently stunted plnts, like these gerniums. Lern how to clculte the correct volume of PGR solutions needed for specific crops. PGR Compnies These compnies produce/mrket some of the most common plnt growth regultors used on ornmentl crops. AgroFresh (AF) (866) 206-1001 www.grofresh.com PGRs include nturlly occurring compounds (referred to s plnt hormones) s well s synthetic compounds. The most common PGRs used on floriculturl crops re listed in Figure 1, right. This rticle will focus on PGRs tht both promote or retrd growth. Appliction Methods There re severl methods for pplying PGR solutions: 1) sprying the folige nd stems (folir sprys); 2) drenching the growing medium; 3) dipping rooted or unrooted cuttings; 4) soking rhizomes, tubers, bulbs or other storge orgns; nd 5) sprying the growing medium surfce prior to potting. PGR lbels provide detiled informtion on the crops tht cn be treted nd ppliction methods tht re pproprite for ech crop. All of the common PGRs cn be pplied s folir sprys (see Figure 2, pge 48), but some ppliction methods re more restricted. Sumgic (Vlent U.S.A. Corportion), for exmple, is the only PGR listed in Figure 2, pge 48, tht is lbeled for pre-plnt Common PGRs For Ornmentl Crops Compound Horticulturl Clsses Exmples Use Exmples Growth- ProGibb Induces stem elongtion in gerniums promoting T&O (VC) nd fuchsis grown s stndrds (trees); chemicls prtilly substitutes for cold requirement for flowering in zle. Fscintion (VC) Delys flower senescence nd inhibits lef yellowing in lilies. Growth- A-Rest (SC) These chemicls control plnt height, retrding Cycocel (OHP) enhnce folige color nd cn increse chemicls Bonzi (SP) plnt resistnce to moisture stress B-Nine WSP (CC) nd ir pollution. Piccolo (FA) Sumgic (VC) Florel Brnd Reduces stem elongtion, increses Pistill (MC) brnching, reduces lef size nd induces flower bortion in mny crops; induces flowering in bromelids. Atrimmec (PBI) Breks picl dominnce nd enhnces lterl brnching in mny herbceous nd woody plnts. Anti-ethylene Ethylbloc (AF) Prolongs post-hrvest life of flowering chemicls (1-methylcyclo- potted plnts nd cut flowers tht re propene) sensitive to ethylene nd decreses flower bud bscission or petl drop in ethylene-sensitive crops. Root-inducing Hormodin (OHP) Promotes root formtion on cuttings chemicls Rootone (GT) from herbceous nd woody plnts. Dip N Grow (DG) See right for key nd contct informtion. Figure 1: PGRs re used to increse the mrketbility, vlue nd/or utility of mny ornmentl crops. Chemtur Corp. (CC) (203) 573-2000 www.chemtur.com Dip N Grow, Inc. (DG) (866) 347-6476 www.dipngrow.com Fine Agrochemicls, Ltd. (FA) (888) 474-3463 www.fine-merics.com GrdenTech (GT) (800) 969-7200 www.grdentech.com Monterey Chemicl (MC) (559) 499-2100 www.montereygresources.com OHP (OHP) (800) 659-6745 www.ohp.com PBI Gordon (PBI) (800) 821-7925 www.pbigordon.com SePRO Corp. (SC) (800) 419-7779 www.sepro.com Syngent Professionl Products (SP) (866) SYNGENTA www.syngentprofessionl products.com Vlent U.S.A. Corp. (VC) (800) 898-2536 www.vlent.com 46 GPN My 2006
Bugs bewre. A new genertion insecticide is bgging the most ferocious pests. It s Sfri. A super-systemic, brod spectrum solution with quick uptke nd knockdown, spry or drench. So you get new level of commnd over whiteflies, phids, scle, fungus gnts, lefminers nd melybugs. And since Sfri s residul control is unsurpssed, you pply less, nd less often. To see the science behind Sfri, visit vlent.com/sfri tody. Products Tht Work, From People Who Cre www.vlentpro.com 800-89-VALENT (898-2536) Red nd follow the lbel instructions before using. Sfri nd Products Tht Work, From People Who Cre re trdemrks of Vlent U.S.A. Corportion. 2005 Vlent U.S.A. Corportion. All rights reserved. 05P-1077 Sfri is registered in most sttes. Check with www.vlentpro.com or cll 800-89-VALENT (898-2536) for current registrtion sttus. Write in 235
mngement ppliction to the growing medium surfce prior to plnting, nd this method is lbeled for use only on bedding plnts. Mny growers prefer spry pplictions insted of drenches becuse lrge numbers of plnts cn be treted in shorter period of time, so sprys re more economicl in terms of lbor costs. However, with drenches, the mount of ctive ingredient pplied per pot is more consistent thn with sprys (ssuming the grower is creful to pply the sme drench volume to ech pot), so more uniform PGR response cn be obtined with drenches compred to sprys. Clculting Spry Volume This formul cn be used to clculte the totl volume of diluted PGR solution needed for sprys: # gllons needed = Totl # of squre feet to be treted Coverge (squre feet treted per gllon) Generlly for sprys, 1 gl. of diluted PGR solution is pplied to every 200 sq.ft. of growing re. However, PGR mnufcturers vry in their recommended rtes (see Figure 3, pge 50). Exmple 1. A grower is producing bedding plnts in 806-cell pcks in 1020 trys. The bedding plnts re growing on 10 5x60-ft. benches. Determine the mount of B-Nine (Chemtur Corp.) solution needed for spry ppliction on the bedding plnts. 10 5x60-ft. benches of bedding plnts. PGR: B-Nine. Recommended ppliction rte for B-Nine sprys: 1 gl. per 200 sq.ft. (Coverge = 200 sq.ft per gl.). Number of gllons of diluted B-Nine solution is unknown. # gllons needed = # squre feet treted Coverge (squre feet per gllon) # gllons needed = 10 benches x 5 ft. x 60 ft. 200 sq.ft. per gl. 3,000 sq.ft. 200 = 15 gl. of diluted B-Nine solution needed Exmple 2. A grower hs 20 5x15-ft. benches of bedding plnt plugs. Determine the mount of Bonzi (Syngent Professionl Products) solution needed for spry ppliction on the plugs. 20 5x15-ft. benches of bedding plnt plugs. PGR: Bonzi. Recommended rte for pplying Bonzi s spry on bedding plnt plugs: 1 gl. per 200-400 sq.ft. Assume 1 gl. will be pplied per 400 sq.ft. (Coverge = 400 sq.ft per gl.). Number of gllons of diluted Bonzi solution is unknown. # gllons needed = # squre feet treted Coverge (squre feet per gllon) # gllons needed = 20 benches x 5 ft. x 15 ft. 400 sq.ft. per gl. 1,500 sq.ft. 400 = 3.75 gl. of diluted Bonzi solution needed Clculting Drench Volume Use this formul to clculte the totl volume of diluted PGR solution required for drenches: # gllons needed = # pots x drench volume per pot 128 fl.oz. per gl. Recommended drench volumes per pot re similr for most PGRs but differ slightly for Cycocel (OHP) (see Figure 4, pge 50). Exmple 3. A grower hs 3,000 6-inch pots of poinsettis nd wnts to pply Bonzi s drench for height control. How mny gllons of diluted Bonzi solution re needed for the poinsettis? 3,000 6-inch pots of poinsettis. PGR: Bonzi. Recommended drench volume for Bonzi: 4 fl.oz. per pot (see Figure 4, pge 50). Number of gllons of diluted Bonzi solution is unknown. # gllons needed = # pots x drench volume per pot 128 fl.oz. per gl. # gllons needed = 3,000 pots x 4 fl.oz. per pot 128 12,000 fl.oz. 128 = 93.8 or pproximtely 94 gl. of diluted Bonzi solution needed Prepring Diluted Solutions PGR recommendtions typiclly come with dilution tble for ech PGR. The dilution tbles list the prts per million (ppm) of ctive ingredents nd the corresponding mount of PGRs (in fluid ounces or milliliters) required to prepre 1 gl. (or liter) of diluted solution. The method I use for clculting diluted solutions does not require dilution tbles but insted utilizes single formul pplicble for ll PGRs. All the grower needs to do is plug in the desired concentrtion (in ppm) nd the finl volume of diluted solution nd clculte the mount of PGR: Amount of PGR = Desired concentrtion (ppm) x Finl volume (gllons) Conversion constnt The conversion constnts re specific for ech PGR nd listed in Figure 5, pge 51. There re two conversion constnts for ech PGR: one for fluid ounces per gllon nd the other for milliliters per gllon. Exmple 4. Determine the number of fluid ounces of Cycocel required for 1,000 ppm spry on gernium seedlings if 25 gl. of diluted PGR solution will be prepred. 1,000 ppm Cycocel to be pplied s folir spry. 25 gl. of diluted Cycocel solution needed. Conversion constnt is 922 (see Figure 5, pge 51). Appliction Methods For Mjor PGRs Appliction PGR Methods Exmple Crops A-Rest (SC) Folir spry Azles, bedding plnts, pot mums Drench Bedding plnts, Ester lilies, poinsettis Atrimmec (PBI) Folir spry Begonis, English ivies, fuchsis, klnchoes B-Nine (CC) Folir spry Bedding plnts, folige plnts, hydrnges Dip Rooted or unrooted mum cuttings Bonzi (SP) Folir spry Bedding plnt plugs, poinsettis, pot mums Drench Bedding plnts (6-inch or lrger pots), bulb crops, poinsettis Sok Cldium tubers, hybrid lily bulbs Cycocel (OHP) Folir spry Azles, bedding plnts, hibiscus, poinsettis Drench Pot sters, poinsettis, pot sunflowers Fscintion (VC) Folir spry Ester lilies, LA hybrid lilies, orientl lilies Florel Brnd Folir spry Bromelids, fuchsis, gerniums, vinc vine Pistill (MC) Piccolo (FA) Folir spry Bedding plnts, coreopsis, poinsettis Drench Cldiums, cll lilies, pot mums Sok Amryllis bulbs, dffodil bulbs ProGibb T&O (VC) Folir spry Azles, cll lilies, poinsettis, spthiphyllums Sumgic (VC) Folir spry Bedding plnts, Ester lilies, poinsettis, pot mums Drench Bulb crops, Ester lilies, LA hybrid lilies, pot mums Dip Rooted or unrooted mum cuttings Sok Asitic, LA hybrid nd orientl lily bulbs Pre-plnt spry Bedding plnts on medi surfce See pge 46 for key nd contct informtion. Figure 2. There re severl methods for pplying PGR solutions: Plnt sprys nd growing medi drenches re used on crops estblished in continers, wheres dips or soks re pplied to cuttings or bulbs prior to potting. 48 GPN My 2006
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mngement PGR A-Rest (SC) Atrimmec (PBI) B-Nine (CC) Bonzi (SP) Cycocel (OHP) Fscintion (VC) Florel Brnd Pistill (MC) ProGibb T&O (VC) Sumgic (VC) Recommended Spry Appliction Rtes Recommended Rtes 1 gl. per 200 sq.ft. 1 gl. per 400-600 sq.ft. 1 gl. per 200 sq.ft. 1 gl. per 200-400 sq.ft. for plug trys or smll continers; 1 gl. per 130 sq.ft. for lrger plnts Usully 1 gl. per 130-200 sq.ft. (1 gl. per 400 sq.ft. in some situtions) 1 gl. per 200 sq.ft. 1 gl. per 160 sq.ft. for flower induction in bromelids; no rte informtion on lbel for other uses Usully 1 gl. per 200 sq.ft. (mount depends on plnt size nd spcing) Usully 1 gl. per 200 sq.ft. (see product lbel for exceptions) See pge 46 for key nd contct informtion. Figure 3. These re generl recommendtions for spry ppliction rtes; rtes cn vry bsed on geogrphic loction nd how much control is desired. Number of necessry fluid ounces of Cycocel is unknown. Amount of PGR = Desired concentrtion (ppm) x Finl volume (gllons) Conversion constnt Amount of PGR = 1,000 ppm x 25 gl. 922 25,000 922 = 27.1 or pproximtely 27 fl.oz. of Cycocel needed Exmple 5. The grower in Exmple 3 with 3,000 poinsettis in 6-inch pots will be pplying Bonzi s drench. The recommended rte for drenching poinsettis with Bonzi is.25-3 ppm; the grower chooses to pply 1.5 ppm. How mny milliliters of Bonzi will be needed if 94 gl. of diluted solution will be prepred? Drench Volume Recommendtions Drench Volume (fluid ounces per continer) Continer A-Rest Bonzi Cycocel Sumgic Dimeter/Type (SC) (SP) (OHP) (VC) 2 1 4- to 3-inch pot - - 2-4-inch pot 2 2 3-5-inch pot 3 3 4-6-inch pot 4 4 6 4 8-inch pot 10 10 8-10-inch pot 25 25 - - 10-inch hnger - 15 - - 12-inch pot 40 40 - - See pge 46 for key nd contct informtion. Figure 4. These re the generl drench volumes recommended by mnufcturers for four PGRs. Use the eqution listed in the text to clculte the mount of PGR needed for prepring diluted solutions. Rtes cn vry bsed on geogrphic loction nd how much control is desired. 1.5 ppm Bonzi to be pplied s drench. 94 gl. of diluted Bonzi solution needed. Conversion constnt is 1.06 (see Figure 5, pge 51). Number of milliliters of Bonzi is unknown. Amount of PGR = Desired concentrtion (ppm) x Finl volume (gllons) Conversion constnt Amount of PGR = 1.5 ppm x 94 gl. 1.06 141 1.06 = 133 ml of Bonzi needed Exmple 6. A grower hs 1,600 Ester lilies growing in 6-inch pots. The recommended rte for Sumgic pplied s drench on Ester lilies is.25-.5 ppm. How mny gllons of diluted Sumgic solution re needed to drench the lilies, nd how mny fluid ounces of Sumgic will be needed if the ppliction rte is.5 ppm? Greenhouses nd Equipment for ll your growing needs. Serving the Horticulturl community for 27 yers. Fctory Direct Prices......right to your door! Greenhouses, Benching & Disply Units. Polycrbonte, Greenhouse Film & Coverings. Industril Grde Fns & Heters. Mention Promo Code: GA0506 Cll tody 1.800.476.9715 for your FREE Mster Ctlog with over 25,000 items or shop online 24/7 t www.growerssupply.com Write in 782 Write in 779 50 GPN My 2006
mngement 1,600 6-inch pots of Ester lilies..5 ppm Sumgic to be pplied s drench. Recommended drench volume for Sumgic: 4 fl.oz. per 6-inch pot (see Figure 4, pge 50). Number of gllons of diluted Sumgic solution is unknown. Number of fluid ounces of required Sumgic is unknown. Conversion constnt is 3.91 (see Figure 5, right). # gllons needed = # pots x drench volume per pot 128 # gllons needed = 1,600 pots x 4 fl.oz. per pot 128 6,400 128 = 50 gl. of diluted Sumgic solution needed Amount of PGR = Desired concentrtion (ppm) x Finl volume (gllons) Conversion constnt Amount of PGR =.5 ppm x 50 gl. 3.91 25 3.91 = 6.4 fl.oz. of Sumgic needed to prepre 50 gl. of GPN diluted solution Thoms Boyle is professor in the Deprtment of Plnt, Soil & Insect Sciences t the University of Msschusetts. He cn be reched t tboyle@pssci.umss.edu or (413) 545-3586. Conversion Constnts Fluid ounces Milliliters PGR per gllon b per gllon c A-Rest (SC) 2.06 0.07 Atrimmec (PBI) 1,563 52.8 B-Nine (CC) 6,641 225 Bonzi (SP) or Piccolo (FA) 31.3 1.06 Cycocel (OHP) 922 31.2 Fscintion (VC) 140 4.74 Florel Brnd Pistill (MC) 305 10.3 ProGibb T&O (VC) 264 8.93 Sumgic (VC) 3.91 0.132 See pge 46 for key nd contct informtion. b Ounces (voirdupois) per gllon for B-Nine WSG. c Grms per gllon for B-Nine WSG. Figure 5. There re two conversion constnts for ech PGR: one for fluid ounces per gllon nd the other for milliliters per gllon. LernMore For more informtion relted to this rticle, go to www.gpnmg.com/lm.cfm/gp050606 Write in 700 My 2006 GPN 51