Foliar spray involves directly spraying liquid fertilizers or nutrients onto plant leaves. This delivery method absorbs the nutrients through the leaves and distributes them throughout the plant through both the vascular system and leaves. Unlike soil application, foliar sprays target all above-ground plant parts, including young leaves, buds and even fruits or vegetables. Nutrients are usually absorbed within hours and delivered to all parts of the plant much faster than soil application.
Benefits of Foliar Feeding
Foliar sprays provide several agronomic advantages over traditional soil applications. Nutrients can be delivered targeted precisely when the plant needs them the most. For instance, spraying micronutrients right before flowering ensures optimal growth and fruit/grain setting. Timely foliar sprays also help correct deficiencies that already exist in plant tissues. Another key benefit is high nutrient use efficiency as foliar application wastes minimal nutrients. Up to 90% of the nutrients can potentially be absorbed by leaves compared to 30-50% with soil application due to leaching and fixation issues. This reduces the input costs for farmers.
Major Crops Benefited by Foliar Spray Industry
Rice
Rice crops are highly responsive to Foliar Spray nutrition. Spraying multinutrients during tillering and panicle initiation boosts yields by 5-10%. Zinc and boron foliar sprays during flowering increase the number of grains per panicle. Similarly, spraying potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen during flowering and grain filling enhances rice quality and milling recovery.
Wheat
Applying micronutrients like zinc and boron through foliar sprays shows visible improvements in wheat crop. Spraying during jointing increases the number of tillers per plant and grains per spike. Whereas spraying during flowering and grain filling improves grain size, protein content and test weight. Overall, foliar feeding wheat with a balanced mix of macro and micronutrients increases yields by 15-20%.
Vegetables
Most vegetable crops especially solanaceous vegetables greatly benefit from foliar nutrition. Spraying major, secondary and micro nutrients results in early crop maturity, higher crop stand, increased fruit size and number. Some key vegetables where foliar sprays increase marketable yields include tomato, chilli, brinjal, cabbage, cauliflower and okra. Overall, the yields can go up by 25-50% depending on the crop and spray schedules.
Fruits
Fruits are also responsive to foliar nutrition management. Timely sprays of nutrients play a vital role in increasing fruit set and yield in crops like mango, banana, grapes, citrus and papaya. For grapes, spraying calcium and boron during flowering doubles the bunch weight. Similarly, mangoes spraying with secondary nutrients increases yields by 40%. Foliar feeding strategies are especially important for high-value horticulture crops.
Application Methods and Precautions
Foliar sprays are typically applied using knapsack or powered sprayers. The most common methods include:
- Low volume high concentration sprays - spraying lower water volumes (50-250 L/ha) with higher nutrient concentration (0.5-2% solutions). Ensures maximum absorption.
- High volume low concentration sprays - spraying higher water volumes (250-1000 L/ha) with lower nutrient concentration (0.1-0.5% solutions). Suits larger areas.
- Soil drenching - direct spraying on soil when crops have limited foliage like young fruit plants, tree crops etc.
A few key precautions include applying on a non-rainy day, early morning or evening for maximum absorption. Spray coverage of both surfaces of leaves is essential. Tank mixing is common but compatibility of mixes must be tested first. Overspraying can burn leaves so correct application method and volumes are important. Following these best practices ensures optimum benefits from foliar applications.
Future Scope
With advancements in formulations, foliar nutrition is evolving as a mainstream agronomic practice globally. The development of soluble polymers, chelates, liposomes etc have improved the absorption and translocation of key nutrients. Precision farming technologies are enabling automated, computer-controlled site-specific foliar spraying catering to intrafield variability.
Drones and robots are automating leaf analysis and foliar spraying in a targeted way based on real-time deficiencies. Once calibrated for different crops, these automation techniques will scale up foliar nutrition adoption. Overall, foliar spray technology has huge potential to boost the resource use efficiency while enhancing crop yields and quality meeting the rising global food demand.
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About Author-
Ravina Pandya, Content Writer, has a strong foothold in the market research industry. She specializes in writing well-researched articles from different industries, including food and beverages, information and technology, healthcare, chemical and materials, etc. With an MBA in E-commerce, she has an expertise in SEO-optimized content that resonates with industry professionals. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravina-pandya-1a3984191)
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