Monday, June 22, 2009
INOCULAID® (BENEFICIAL SOIL BACTERIA) PROTECTS PLANTS FROM HARMFUL FUNGI
Inoculaid (beneficial soil bacteria) not only reduces nitrogen fertilizer application by as much as 50%, it is also very effective against harmful fungi, nematodes and other pathogens. The month of May was the second wettest on record for Florida; and provided the perfect conditions for fungal diseases- heat and constant rain. For us, it was a perfect opportunity to put Inoculaid to the test. In April, over a period of several weeks, we seeded or transplanted hundreds of tomatoes, celery, several variety of peppers and basil plants to pots and left them to mother nature without any synthetic application of fungicides. The same for cucumbers and squash, which we seeded on bare ground. Instead, we applied Inoculaid twice during the plants’ growth stage. The results impressed us.The cucumbers, whose vines grew on bare ground, experience downy mildew but survived and produced unblemished fruits, without any spots. The only other plants with fungus growth were the spaghetti squash, which had some powdery mildew but also produced excellent fruits without any belly rot.We recently compared notes with many watermelon and cucumber growers; and unfortunately learned that they did not fare well against fungal diseases using synthetic fungicides.
For a terrific look at how Inoculaid works, through the lens of a microscope, log on to http://www.smartfarmingsolutions.com/
Inoculaid will reduce the amount of fertilizer and fungicides you currently use on your lawn, garden or nursery.
For a terrific look at how Inoculaid works, through the lens of a microscope, log on to http://www.smartfarmingsolutions.com/
Inoculaid will reduce the amount of fertilizer and fungicides you currently use on your lawn, garden or nursery.
Labels: beneficial soil bacteria, fertilizer, fungicide, fungus, Inoculaid, plant disease
Sunday, June 14, 2009
HYDRETAIN DIMINISHES SALT TOXICITY TO PLANTS DURING A DROUGHT
***Image Courtesy of Purdue University***
If you are experiencing a drought and do not sufficiently overhead irrigate your lawn or garden your plants may suffer a double blow. First, the stress from the lack of moisture in the soil; and secondly, the toxicity of excess salts in the soil. Moisture is necessary to dissolve inorganic fertilizers; and to trans-locate these nutrients to the root zone for absorption. In drought condition, the capillary force from moisture evaporation will bring salts up to the surface. Some salts can be quite toxic to plants such as the ions of sodium, chlorine and carbonates. For example, sodium competes with the essential nutrient potassium, thereby making it difficult for plants to uptake potassium. Symptoms of salt damage include stunted plants, small dark bluish leaves and scorched, white leaf margins. These appear first in the older leaves which have been transporting and accumulating salts for the longer time. Salinity can also be a problem for potted plants, which remain in the same pot for a long time.
The easiest way to measure salts is with an EC meter. EC stands for electro conductivity. Salts increase electrical conductivity of water. The type of soil can also affect the EC reading. For example, clay or humus rich soils will have higher readings than sand due to their colloid charges and their ability to retain water.
Plants vary in their tolerance to salts. For examples onions, tomatoes, cucumbers strawberries are very sensitive to salts above an EC reading of 2 dS/m. However, damage can result at a much lower salt level when the plant is also exposed to heat stress. Most lawn grass varieties are tolerant to a much higher level of salt. Nevertheless, without overhead irrigation with water low in salts, the grass will suffer. This is becoming an issue with communities and golf courses using recycled water.
This is where Hydretain comes in. It is a liquid humectant, which is easily sprayed on plants and sod. It makes a moisture barrier around the root zone, absorbing soil moisture and preventing it from evaporating into the air. In addition, it contains bivalent ions (with two positive charges ++), which displace sodium (+), thereby neutralizing its detrimental effects. Hydretain is a proven and powerful antidote for drought and salt build up on the soil surface.
For more information, go to http://www.smartfarmingsolutions.com/
The easiest way to measure salts is with an EC meter. EC stands for electro conductivity. Salts increase electrical conductivity of water. The type of soil can also affect the EC reading. For example, clay or humus rich soils will have higher readings than sand due to their colloid charges and their ability to retain water.
Plants vary in their tolerance to salts. For examples onions, tomatoes, cucumbers strawberries are very sensitive to salts above an EC reading of 2 dS/m. However, damage can result at a much lower salt level when the plant is also exposed to heat stress. Most lawn grass varieties are tolerant to a much higher level of salt. Nevertheless, without overhead irrigation with water low in salts, the grass will suffer. This is becoming an issue with communities and golf courses using recycled water.
This is where Hydretain comes in. It is a liquid humectant, which is easily sprayed on plants and sod. It makes a moisture barrier around the root zone, absorbing soil moisture and preventing it from evaporating into the air. In addition, it contains bivalent ions (with two positive charges ++), which displace sodium (+), thereby neutralizing its detrimental effects. Hydretain is a proven and powerful antidote for drought and salt build up on the soil surface.
For more information, go to http://www.smartfarmingsolutions.com/
Labels: drought, Hydretain, saline soil, salt damage, soil moisture
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