Liquid Logics - agronomy update

Potassium and Frost damage prevention

Are you concerned with frost damage this season? Do you want to
improve your tree or vine resistance to frost damage?

Spring last year provided some of the most devastating frosts across
the fruit growing regions of Australia. This year we have already had
some cold snaps and now we are coming into the frost risk period
it is time to consider your options with frost protection.

Copper – steer your crop in the right direction

Do you find white and curved heads in your number of grains per head is reduced?
Do youHave you had problems with lodging crops?

Copper is the second most important micro nutrient for wheat crops next to zinc. Similar to zinc deficiencies,
copper deficiency lead to large reductions in yield without the crop showing any visual symptoms. In Australia, copper deficiency is most common in sandy soils that are low in organic matter content, such as the coastal soils of South and Western Australia. Calcareous and alkaline soils of South Australia are subject to copper deficiency no matter what the physical characteristics of the soil are.

Zinc Application – timing is critical

Are you applying zinc to your broadacre crops this season? Are you planning a foliar application of zinc to your cereals?
Do you want to combine your zinc application with a post emergent herbicide spray?

Zinc is short throughout all the cropping areas of Australia. Zinc deficiencies can cause yield losses of up to 40% without the crop showing any symptoms. Zinc is the most important trace element required for your crop in the very early stages of growth. It is required for cell expansion, carbohydrate and protein development as well as the production of root growth hormones, and must be applied to the crop by the 4-5 leaf growth stage to affect yield. Zinc can be applied as a seed
dressing, in the soil oras a foliar spray.

Water Use Efficient Crops – make every drop count!

In light of the current water allocations and the limited amount of water in the soil profile growers are having to ensure that every drop of water applied to crops counts.

Water use efficiency (WUE) is a concept that relies on two simple aspects: WUE (kg/ha/mm) = Crop yield (kg/ha) / Water supply (mm)To be able to maintain a profitable yield, crops need to use water at the most efficient rate possible. This can be achieved by managing the soils water holding capacity, increasing the amount of water uptake through the root system and reducing water loss through transpiration. Products that will assist these needs are Supa Humus (12% humic acid), Kelpak
(11 mg/L auxins, 0.031 mg/L cytokinins), Stand SKH (NPK 0-0-15 + 20% silica + 1% humic acid) and Supa K 30
(NPK 0-0-30+ trace elements).

Is Boron Mobile or Immobile?

Is it possible that an element can be both mobile and immobile in plants? Do you need to sample your crop differently as a result of boron mobility? In which plant species is boron immobile? How is it possible that plants can show boron deficiency symptoms but sap tests indicate adequatelevels of boron?

Application of boron suspensions such as Supa Bor (NPK 4-0-0 + 10% B) or Supa Bor Plus (NPK 7-0-0 + 15% B) quickly solve deficiency problems and increase the boron content of plants to the desired level. Because of differential mobility of boron in different plant species, extra care needs to be taken when assessing boron levels.

Understanding Sulphates, Oxides & Chelates

The choice of liquid fertilisers you find at your local supplier is endless. How do you make a choice? Does it matter whether
you apply chelates or oxide-based formulations? Does the situation make a difference to your choice? Which formulation will give you the most benefits? What type of formulation is the best to use in complicated tank mixes?

It is time for zinc application in several crops. Agrichem alone has at least 3 zinc products on the shelf. In which situation should you use our chelate, Supa Zinc? When do you apply sulphate-based products? What kind of uptake will you get with our oxide-based, King Zinc?

Prepare for Hotter than Average Summer

The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting a hotter than average summer this year. There is a moderate to strong shift in the odds towards above normal daytime temperatures for the October to December quarter all over the country. Together with
the drought the chance for heat stress, wilting and decreased yield is high. It is possible to manage crops so that they will
cope better with these extreme conditions.

Products with stress relief and cell strengthening features like Supa K 30 (NPK 0-0-30+ trace elements), Stand SKH
(NPK 0-0-15 + 20% silica + 1% humic acid), and Kelpak (11 mg/L auxins, 0.031 mg/L cytokinins) help plants to overcome
heat effects. Supa Humus (0-0-2 + 12% humic acid) enhances the water retention properties of soil.

Recovery from Frost Damage

We have experienced devastating frost this year in stone fruit and vines in Victoria and New South Wales. Have you been affected? Do you have frost damage in your orchard or your vineyard? Do you need to promote new shoot growth?
Would you like to provide all possible support to your trees or vines to assist them in recovering from this serious stress?

Kelpak with plant hormones (11 mg/L auxins, 0.031 mg/L cytokinins) has the ability to assist plants in overcoming stress situations and will provide the best chance of helping them to recover from frost injuries. On vines, apply Kelpak together
with Supa Trace Advance (NPK 3-0-0, 4.8% S, 1% Zn, 1.6% Fe, 1.4% Mg, 1.3% Mn, 0.6% Cu, 0.03% Mo, 0.6% B) for the best result.