LIQUID soil and foliar applications are the most efficient tools available to stimulate pasture and crops in winter where adequate soil moisture is available but the low temperature slows the energy supply.
In general terms for every 10 degrees celsius drop of temperature, the rate of biological/enzymatic reaction is halved.
However, there are a few ways to stimulate growth in winter.
Two of which are mentioned below
1. Foliar Uptake
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Foliar versus soil uptake helps plant growth in winter for two reasons.
Firstly, uptake efficiency of soil applied nutrients is much lower than foliar; this is due to a greater dilution of fertiliser in soil as well as slower uptake by the root system due to cold weather.
Secondly, foliar uptake uses less energy than soil uptake per unit of nutrient; this is because when a nutrient is taken from the soil, energy is used on its uptake at two distinct points.
Foliar uptake in contrast only uses energy once when ions are taken up from leaf free space into leaf cells.
2. Phosphate and nitrogen in foliar spray is essential to benefit from Integrated Fertiliser Management (IFM).
It has been shown that when foliar phosphate is applied especially in sunlight, the root system develops pockets of activity that are otherwise absent, these pockets exude hydrogen ion (by proton pumping) and organic acids to mobilise tied up soil nutrients.
To learn more about foliar feeding and to receive information on the full range of Healthy Earth Foliar Applications as well as our biological applications please contact Bayley on 0420 946 156 or email Bayley@goodeorganics.com.au
