| Foliar Feeding |
Foliar feeding is an effective method for correcting deficiencies and overcoming the soil’s inability to transfer nutrients to the plant. Availability of
essential nutrients and trace minerals from the soil may be limited at times by root distribution, soil temperature, soil moisture, nutrient imbalances
and other factors. Foliar feeding can help maintain a nutrient balance within the plant, which may not occur strictly with soil uptake.
A project conducted at Michigan State University, using radioactive tagged nutrients, proved that foliar feeding can be 8 to 10 times more effective
than soil feeding. Foliar feeding stimulates an increase in chlorophyll production, cellular activity and respiration. It also triggers a plant response that
increases water and nutrient uptake from the soil.
According to Iowa State University research; “Because plants can absorb nutrients through their leaves, spraying fertilizer nutrients on the plants can
prevent nutrient depletion, keep leaves more active in carrying on photosynthesis, and increase seed yields. But, excess amounts of fertilizer can
injure or “burn” the leaves. So it is essential that the proper kinds and amounts of fertilizer solutions be sprayed on the plants at the proper times.”
The effectiveness of foliar applied nutrients is determined by the type of formulation and yield increases of 5-10% or more can be achieved when
using the right product at the right time.
U.S. Ag, LLC has a variety of excellent foliar feed fertilizers; as well as several O.M.R.I. approved fertilizers. Our foliar feed products have been
used as foliar applications on a wide variety of crops including corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, sunflowers, dry edible beans, peanuts, cotton and
more with good results. When properly applied our products have shown a good yield response and will not burn or injure the growing crop.
The best time to foliar feed is late evening to early morning, when the stomata (the small opening on the leaves) are open. Avoid spraying when the
temperature is above 80º or when the weather is hot & dry and water vapor is leaving the cells. (Note: Added surfactants, such as Sur-Tec can
reduce water tension and improve the absorption rate of foliar sprays).
A yield increase of only 2 bushels/acre of soybeans or 4-5 bushels of corn can pay for a foliar application.
Additional bushels are money in the bank!
1. Foliar feeding with the correct nutrients can be the most efficient method of feeding a plant since 95% of a fertilizer solution can be found in the
smallest root within 60 minutes if conditions are right!
2. Foliar sprays of the best selected materials, at the proper stage of growth of a crop, at the proper time and with good application practices has
proven to be a very profitable way to apply fertilizer solutions and other select materials.
3. Plants under stress need help. Foliar feeding of select materials has proven to be very beneficial to plants under unfavorable growing conditions.
4. No special equipment required. Use your existing spray equipment. Hi Boy or fan sprayers.
5. Two Simple Rules:
A. Foliar spray when air temperatures and humidity both equals 135 or less.
B. When air temperature is cooler than soil surface temperature.
IMPORTANT TIPS FOR FOLIAR FEEDING
The value of foliar feeding was proven many years ago by Michigan State University. A project partially funded by the Atomic Energy Commission
used radioactive tagged nutrients to prove that a plant can feed through the leaves. In fact they proved that it is 8-10 times more effective to feed a
plant that way as far as the amount of nutrients necessary to do the same job as if they were put in the soil. However, it is our opinion that although
foliar feeding can be useful and effective in correcting deficiencies, it is a much better approach to use foliar feeding for increasing yields and quality
by overcoming the limitations of the soil and its ability to transfer nutrients into the plant.
The best time to foliar feed is between 3:00 A.M. and 8:00 A.M. or after 5:00 P.M. Optimum time is normally late evening to early night. These are
the times that the stomata (the small opening on the leaves) are open. However. if the temperature is 80F or above, do not bother to spray as you
will get little effect. The best temperature is around 72F or below. If the weather is very hot and dry, then you may have to spray between 2 and 4
A. M. when the cells of the leaf are full of water and dew collects on the foliage. Any soluble material applied to the foliage has a good chance of
diffusing into the leaf with considerable speed. However, if the foliage is dry and water vapor is leaving the cells rapidly. there is little chance of
foliage-applied materials being absorbed. The moisture evaporates quickly and the dry salts are easily removed by air movement. For this reason,
the application of foliage sprays should be made at times when the humidity is high - between 5 P.M. and 8 A.M., or on cloudy. drizzly days. This
may interfere somewhat with airplane applications. because of visibility, but applications made during a hot, dry day with air moving may be less
beneficial. Wetting agents tend to improve the response to foliage sprays.
Most foliar sprays should contain small amounts of nitrogen to act as an electrolyte to carry nutrients into the plant. They may also need to have
phosphorus for internal circulation.
The pH of a spray should be between 6.2 to 7.0 where possible. Usually you want sweeter (alkaline) sprays for young plant growth and sour (acid)
to make fruit, grain, ears, etc. The easiest way to adjust pH's from acid to alkaline materials or water is to use baking soda (to raise pH); to make
things acid use Citric acid or vinegar.
If foliar feeding is effective, you should be able to see visual results in approximately 48 hours. If you have a refractometer for measuring the sugar
content (brix) of crop juices, then you may be able to detect the difference in 1 to 4 hours. If material did not penetrate and simply end up on the
ground, then the reactions may take as long as two weeks.
Always mix sprays as well as possible and apply them in as fine a mist as possible.
The "law of little bits" always applies in foliar feeding. It is better to spray small amounts of material more frequently than it is to drench large
amounts of material. Always be careful as not to burn the leaf in direct sunlight or allow droplets to form. That is why it is important to use a wetting
agent with most sprays to spread it out, so that you do not get beads of water as prisms to burn the leaves.
essential nutrients and trace minerals from the soil may be limited at times by root distribution, soil temperature, soil moisture, nutrient imbalances
and other factors. Foliar feeding can help maintain a nutrient balance within the plant, which may not occur strictly with soil uptake.
A project conducted at Michigan State University, using radioactive tagged nutrients, proved that foliar feeding can be 8 to 10 times more effective
than soil feeding. Foliar feeding stimulates an increase in chlorophyll production, cellular activity and respiration. It also triggers a plant response that
increases water and nutrient uptake from the soil.
According to Iowa State University research; “Because plants can absorb nutrients through their leaves, spraying fertilizer nutrients on the plants can
prevent nutrient depletion, keep leaves more active in carrying on photosynthesis, and increase seed yields. But, excess amounts of fertilizer can
injure or “burn” the leaves. So it is essential that the proper kinds and amounts of fertilizer solutions be sprayed on the plants at the proper times.”
The effectiveness of foliar applied nutrients is determined by the type of formulation and yield increases of 5-10% or more can be achieved when
using the right product at the right time.
U.S. Ag, LLC has a variety of excellent foliar feed fertilizers; as well as several O.M.R.I. approved fertilizers. Our foliar feed products have been
used as foliar applications on a wide variety of crops including corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, sunflowers, dry edible beans, peanuts, cotton and
more with good results. When properly applied our products have shown a good yield response and will not burn or injure the growing crop.
The best time to foliar feed is late evening to early morning, when the stomata (the small opening on the leaves) are open. Avoid spraying when the
temperature is above 80º or when the weather is hot & dry and water vapor is leaving the cells. (Note: Added surfactants, such as Sur-Tec can
reduce water tension and improve the absorption rate of foliar sprays).
A yield increase of only 2 bushels/acre of soybeans or 4-5 bushels of corn can pay for a foliar application.
Additional bushels are money in the bank!
1. Foliar feeding with the correct nutrients can be the most efficient method of feeding a plant since 95% of a fertilizer solution can be found in the
smallest root within 60 minutes if conditions are right!
2. Foliar sprays of the best selected materials, at the proper stage of growth of a crop, at the proper time and with good application practices has
proven to be a very profitable way to apply fertilizer solutions and other select materials.
3. Plants under stress need help. Foliar feeding of select materials has proven to be very beneficial to plants under unfavorable growing conditions.
4. No special equipment required. Use your existing spray equipment. Hi Boy or fan sprayers.
5. Two Simple Rules:
A. Foliar spray when air temperatures and humidity both equals 135 or less.
B. When air temperature is cooler than soil surface temperature.
IMPORTANT TIPS FOR FOLIAR FEEDING
The value of foliar feeding was proven many years ago by Michigan State University. A project partially funded by the Atomic Energy Commission
used radioactive tagged nutrients to prove that a plant can feed through the leaves. In fact they proved that it is 8-10 times more effective to feed a
plant that way as far as the amount of nutrients necessary to do the same job as if they were put in the soil. However, it is our opinion that although
foliar feeding can be useful and effective in correcting deficiencies, it is a much better approach to use foliar feeding for increasing yields and quality
by overcoming the limitations of the soil and its ability to transfer nutrients into the plant.
The best time to foliar feed is between 3:00 A.M. and 8:00 A.M. or after 5:00 P.M. Optimum time is normally late evening to early night. These are
the times that the stomata (the small opening on the leaves) are open. However. if the temperature is 80F or above, do not bother to spray as you
will get little effect. The best temperature is around 72F or below. If the weather is very hot and dry, then you may have to spray between 2 and 4
A. M. when the cells of the leaf are full of water and dew collects on the foliage. Any soluble material applied to the foliage has a good chance of
diffusing into the leaf with considerable speed. However, if the foliage is dry and water vapor is leaving the cells rapidly. there is little chance of
foliage-applied materials being absorbed. The moisture evaporates quickly and the dry salts are easily removed by air movement. For this reason,
the application of foliage sprays should be made at times when the humidity is high - between 5 P.M. and 8 A.M., or on cloudy. drizzly days. This
may interfere somewhat with airplane applications. because of visibility, but applications made during a hot, dry day with air moving may be less
beneficial. Wetting agents tend to improve the response to foliage sprays.
Most foliar sprays should contain small amounts of nitrogen to act as an electrolyte to carry nutrients into the plant. They may also need to have
phosphorus for internal circulation.
The pH of a spray should be between 6.2 to 7.0 where possible. Usually you want sweeter (alkaline) sprays for young plant growth and sour (acid)
to make fruit, grain, ears, etc. The easiest way to adjust pH's from acid to alkaline materials or water is to use baking soda (to raise pH); to make
things acid use Citric acid or vinegar.
If foliar feeding is effective, you should be able to see visual results in approximately 48 hours. If you have a refractometer for measuring the sugar
content (brix) of crop juices, then you may be able to detect the difference in 1 to 4 hours. If material did not penetrate and simply end up on the
ground, then the reactions may take as long as two weeks.
Always mix sprays as well as possible and apply them in as fine a mist as possible.
The "law of little bits" always applies in foliar feeding. It is better to spray small amounts of material more frequently than it is to drench large
amounts of material. Always be careful as not to burn the leaf in direct sunlight or allow droplets to form. That is why it is important to use a wetting
agent with most sprays to spread it out, so that you do not get beads of water as prisms to burn the leaves.
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
