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Location

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Date Posted

Colorado

Are there certain fertilizers that are more effective in drench format vs. foilar feeding?

I used a foilar feeding program exclusively last year, and was thinking about supplementing it with some regular drench applications of fertilizer next year.

12/14/2008 9:35:56 PM

[email protected]

Most foliar ferts aren't properly chelated to allow true foliar absorption. Hence the low doses mostly land on the soil will irrigation whereupon the roots get most of the workout.

This can be corrected but only with proper organic nutrient chelation. There is a division of Grigg Brothers that is working on making these unique ferts available but there is no real solid distribution yet. Their Dr. Miller has a specific unique chelator for each element. I'll be taking his training pretty soon. I'm not allowed to sell it without the training.

We're taking on their their line but I'm concerned the market might not support this line.

12/15/2008 7:53:53 PM

Colorado

looks like all their product are the glucoheptanoate derivatives of the desired nutrients. Has anyone out there tried this approach?

12/15/2008 10:55:01 PM

Sheridan . NY

I believe that AGRO-K has been doing this for a long time with its foliars---being micro refined--I COULD BE WRONG -STEVE---??-- craig

12/16/2008 9:25:14 AM

Colorado

Craig- are the Agro-K products the glucoheptanoates?

12/16/2008 9:34:47 AM

Massillon, Ohio

OK then......"glucoheptanoate" !
Searched Websters & other places...no definitions.
Help me out with this. Thanks!

12/16/2008 12:29:29 PM

Western NY

Glucoheptonate

chealated with calcium it would look something like (2R,3R,4S,5R,6R)-2,3,4,5,6,7-hexahydroxyheptanoate officially, or C14H26CaO16 for the formula.

12/16/2008 12:40:44 PM

[email protected]

That was impressive Andy... I thought you just started hitting letters and numbers and came up with that! lol...

12/16/2008 2:09:44 PM

Western NY

I didn't do it from memory. I try not to think about organic chem too much or it will bring back the nightmares.

12/16/2008 2:34:49 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

You just made me relive those days Andy. Nomenclature.......ugh.

12/16/2008 7:37:49 PM

[email protected]

I'll find out which specifics they'll publish right now. Might take a few days.

Agro-K (like Miller) is definately moving the right way by milling low-salt raws as fine as possible. Miracle Grow can't even compare.

12/18/2008 1:20:34 PM

back to the orginal question:
"Are there certain fertilizers that are more effective in drench format vs. foilar feeding?"
Knowing that Organic substances in the soil either applied or produced by plants or microorganisms are the natural chelating agents
I choose the more "organic route" here. I apply drenches to boost the rhizosphere, tea, fish, kelp, humic/fulvic, chelated CA and other micro nutients, to name a few.

For foliars if using the mister I might use all of the above at different times. Foliar as you know requires absorbtion through the stoma, best done late in the day when they are opening,but early enough for the leaf to dry off for disease suppresion.

Depending on how you apply your drenches you can accomplish both of these tasks at the same time.

good question Pete and a whole winter to make your decisions

12/18/2008 7:33:31 PM

Sheridan . NY

Agro-k as i said is MICRO REFINDED ESPECIALLY made for foliar feeding-- BUT also can the same job as a drench on the ground --

12/19/2008 8:24:23 AM