14 Nutrigation program improves raspberry yield, quality AR UND THE WORLD SUCCESSFUL raspberry crops depend not only on yield amount, but also fruit quality, as postharvest behaviour of this soft fruit is a significant factor affecting growers’ revenue. A trial in Zamora, Michoacán state, Mexico, evaluating a Nutrigation program for raspberry using Poly-Feed and other water soluble fertilisers from Haifa achieved higher yield and improved fruit quality. The trial was undertaken in greenhouse soil and compared the use of Poly-Feed, Haifa Cal GG and Haifa Mag to the grower’s standard practice. Adequate supply of calcium during berry development helps produce firmer fruit with longer shelf life. Haifa Cal GG is a preferable source of calcium, as it contains nitrogen in the form of nitrate (NO3-), which enriches plant nutrition and improves the efficiency of calcium uptake. The benefits of Haifa’s Nutrigation program compared with the grower’s practice included: • Higher yield • Lower fertilisation cost • Better nutrient use efficiency • Better fruit quality (higher brix and firmness), which means higher rate of exportable fruits • Higher revenue for the grower – net profit increased by 8 per cent Poly-Feed 12-43-12 50 Poly-Feed 19-19-19 120 Poly-Feed 10-10-43 600 Haifa Cal GG 200 Haifa Mag 100 Phosphonitrate 150 Kg/ha N P2O5 K2O CaO MgO Grower’s practice 240 190 182 106 10 Haifa 180 110 287 53 16 Average yield (t/ha) Cost (US$/ha) Revenue* (US$/ha) ROI (US$/ha) Grower’s practice 9.1 6,331 48,230 Haifa 9.8 5,078 51,940 3,710 Results By Juan Manuel Diaz Martinez, Mexico Fertilisers used in Haifa Nutrigation program (kg/ha) * based on average box price of $5.32/kg Treatments FRoM Click for further info Haifa Cal GG Haifa Mag Farmer practice Haifa trial Poly-Feed
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