Tuesday, February 9, 2010
HOW TO REDUCE FERTILIZER USE? THINK QUANTUM GROWTH.
If you are looking for ways to reduce fertilizer inputs, without affecting yield, here are a few tips:
1. Perform a soil test and based on the results, put only the recommended amount to match the plant’s nutritional needs.
2. Pay attention to pH. Depending on the soil pH, certain macro and micronutrients may not be available to the plant. Ensure that your soil pH is within the optimum growth parameters of the plant.
3. Ensure that you have plenty of available calcium. Calcium is not only essential for strong cell wall; it also regulates the uptake of other nutrients and greatly diminishes heat, drought and salt stress (soils with excessive sodium).
4. Take tissue samples throughout the plant’s growth cycle. Plants have different nutritional needs during stages of growth. It is better to spoon feed the plant with the needed fertilizer than to indiscriminately apply the standard NPK two or three times during the growth stage of the plant.
5. Consider slow release fertilizer. It may not be feasible for large scale farming, but it will ultimately save money for small home gardens, nurseries and turf. You can cut fertilizer use by as much as 30% with a quality slow release product. One of the reasons is that the nutrients will not readily leach out during a rain event. With conventional dry fertilizers, a one inch rain can practically wash out most of the fertilizer you may have put on the soil. Farmers typical over fertilize for this eventually, particularly if the type of crop they are growing precludes reapplication of fertilizer beyond a certain growth stage. Do your homework on the choice of slow release fertilizers. Sulfur coated is the cheapest but the least scientific in its release. Heat and moisture will affect the release time. So carefully plan for changes in temperatures and rain as the season progresses and adjust the ratio of slow release to conventional granular. The costlier slow release fertilizers are coated with polymers, which can provide up to 6 months of steady and precise release.
6. If you have already done all of the above and still want to decrease fertilizer use, here is the ultimate solution. It is called Quantum Growth. Quantum Growth is a scientific breakthrough in beneficial bacteria technology. It is the result of more than 30 years of research. What is unique about Quantum in the combination of bacterial strains, which not only can coexist with each other, but also the multi year shelf life even after opening. Among the bacterial strains are the nitrogen fixating ones, which take nitrogen from the air and transforms it to NH4+. Other strains fight harmful pathogens. Others retain soil moisture.
Growers, nurseryman and golf course superintendents who use Quantum Growth tells us they have cut nitrogen fertilizer by as much as 70% without compromising yield. Sod growers are reporting a noticeable decrease in nematodes; while others are greatly curtailing fungicide use.
Quantum comes in different formulations depending on the end use. It consists of living strains, which immediately work in the soil, unlike some competitors who offer dormant strains in order to have some shelf life.
For more information on Quantum Growth, log on to http://www.smartfarmingsolutions.com/. Do check out the phenomenal video. A picture is worth a thousand words.
For more information on Quantum Growth, log on to http://www.smartfarmingsolutions.com/. Do check out the phenomenal video. A picture is worth a thousand words.
Labels: beneficial bacteria, fertilizer use, Quantum Growth, reduce fertilizer, soil bacteria
Saturday, February 6, 2010
GROWERS, FARMERS, NURSERY OPERATORS AND GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS- ARE YOU READY FOR EPA IMPOSED FERTILIZER RESTRICTIONS?
In November 2009 a federal judge approved a decree mandating that the EPA set fertilizer limits to protect Florida waters from harmful algae bloom. This month, a number of EPA sponsored public hearings are scheduled in a number of cities throughout the state of Florida. Restrictions on fertilizer use and costly containment of runoff water may pose huge economic costs to farming operations in Florida. And in fact may jeopardize the survival of many of them.But Florida may be just the beginning of a nation wide curb on fertilizer use. For example, many environmental groups have been clamoring about agricultural runoffs from Midwest states finding their way to the Mississippi and causing a growing dead zone, void of all fish, in the Gulf of Mexico. Homeowners will not be exempted either. In fact some counties in Florida already have tough restriction on fertilizer use on private lawns during summer months.
So how can a grower or homeowner maintain yield or a healthy lawn with less fertilizer?
The solution is simple, cost effective and proven: Quantum Growth beneficial bacteria. Growers who currently use Quantum Growth report a 50% to 70% reduction in nitrogen fertilizer use without any negative impact on yield. Better yet, they are able to greatly reduce fungicide applications, saving themselves even more money.Quantum Growth, (formally Inoculaid), is a consortium of numerous beneficial bacteria, each with unique attributes. Some strains transform atmospheric nitrogen in NH4+, which the plant can uptake. Others help in the transport of macro and micronutrients to the root zone. Some destroy harmful pathogen in the soil and leaves, including fungi. Others help maintain soil moisture. Quantum Growth offers another huge advantage over other competing products in that it is a living culture, which immediately goes to work in the soil; and yet has a stable shelf life of several years. Most similar products have dormant cultures in order to provide a shelf life; meaning that to activate the bacterial strains requires a perfect environment over an incubating period of days or weeks. Biologists have long known that beneficial bacteria suppress plant diseases, transport nutrients, aerate the soil, decompose and make available organic nutrients to the plant and fixate atmospheric nitrogen. Quantum Growth is the culmination of more than 30 years of such research. The key was to develop living cultures, (naturally found in the soil), with unique and synergistic benefits which could coexist together. And that was the breakthrough.
Quantum comes in five versions depending on the application. For example, Quantum VSC offers additional strains to rapidly breakdown thatch and is ideal for turf. Quantum HSC is loaded with humates and other nutrients to allow the bacterial colonies to expand in depleted or low organic soils.
To learn more about a new, smarter and environmentally friendly way to grow fruits, vegetables or turf, log on to www.smartfarmingsolutions.com
So how can a grower or homeowner maintain yield or a healthy lawn with less fertilizer?
The solution is simple, cost effective and proven: Quantum Growth beneficial bacteria. Growers who currently use Quantum Growth report a 50% to 70% reduction in nitrogen fertilizer use without any negative impact on yield. Better yet, they are able to greatly reduce fungicide applications, saving themselves even more money.Quantum Growth, (formally Inoculaid), is a consortium of numerous beneficial bacteria, each with unique attributes. Some strains transform atmospheric nitrogen in NH4+, which the plant can uptake. Others help in the transport of macro and micronutrients to the root zone. Some destroy harmful pathogen in the soil and leaves, including fungi. Others help maintain soil moisture. Quantum Growth offers another huge advantage over other competing products in that it is a living culture, which immediately goes to work in the soil; and yet has a stable shelf life of several years. Most similar products have dormant cultures in order to provide a shelf life; meaning that to activate the bacterial strains requires a perfect environment over an incubating period of days or weeks. Biologists have long known that beneficial bacteria suppress plant diseases, transport nutrients, aerate the soil, decompose and make available organic nutrients to the plant and fixate atmospheric nitrogen. Quantum Growth is the culmination of more than 30 years of such research. The key was to develop living cultures, (naturally found in the soil), with unique and synergistic benefits which could coexist together. And that was the breakthrough.
Quantum comes in five versions depending on the application. For example, Quantum VSC offers additional strains to rapidly breakdown thatch and is ideal for turf. Quantum HSC is loaded with humates and other nutrients to allow the bacterial colonies to expand in depleted or low organic soils.
To learn more about a new, smarter and environmentally friendly way to grow fruits, vegetables or turf, log on to www.smartfarmingsolutions.com
Labels: benefical bacteria, epa, fertilizer restrictions, Inoculaid, Quantum Growth, reduce fertilizer
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