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refractometer to measure brix
- Thread starter OrganicBuds
- Start date
buns of steel
budrunners
Active member
FatherEarth here is some info that may help you
I want to tell you the amazing, true story of my friend Duane Headings. Like many others in his generation, Duane is on a mission to grow and market the highest quality produce possible. In his first year of marketing strawberries, Duane consistently raised strawberries 3 to 4 brix points higher than commercially produced strawberries. Brix are measured by a refractometer which is a mechanical taste tester. How did Duane achieve this? His first step was submitting a soil sample for analysis and recommendation to International Ag Labs. In order to raise produce eagerly accepted by the market place, a systemic approach is required. An approach that addresses the deficiencies of your soil and the unique nutritional needs of the crop you are growing. This is why a soil analysis is so important in reaching maximum quality and yield potential.
What was Duane’s second step? One particular strawberry variety, Jewel, faced market rejection because of its pale internal color. By observation Duane discovered that by foliar feeding his strawberries with AMAZE, the center core of the Jewel strawberry turned deep red within 12 hours of application. After spraying AMAZE, Duane was able to harvest his strawberries and had no problem selling them. There was a catch of course—the strawberries had to be picked within 3 days of application or the cores would once again pale out to the lightest tint of pink. With that intriguing discovery, let me formally introduce you to AMAZE.
What is AMAZE?
AMAZE is a revolutionary foliar spray designed to feed the plant mineral nutrition through the leaves. It is revolutionary because it combines calcium with phosphorous in the phosphate form. This allows for excellent leaf penetration as well as calcium mobility within the plant. No other calcium foliar spray has such an effective mode of action. Since much of the produce quality hinges on calcium content, a systemic foliar program using AMAZE can pay big dividends as shown in the case studies with Duane Bowman which are included in this folder.
What is Foliar Feeding?
While this question seems simple enough most producers overlook how effective leaves are in providing nutrition to the plant. Everyone knows the bulk of earth elements in a crop enter through the roots. Leaves on the other hand can be up to 20 times more efficient in getting nutrients into the plant—if the nutrients are in the right form. For many top growers foliar feeding this their ‘ace in the hole’ helping them grow higher quality with increased yields. To neglect this form of plant nutrition could cause up to 1/3 loss in production in my estimation. Here are more reasons AMAZE should be an internal part of your foliar feeding program.
AMAZE is fully water soluble so plants can use it immediately. This sudden influx of soluble nutrients increases plant metabolism which means greater productivity.
AMAZE combines calcium with phosphorous in an acid solution. The acidity keeps both the calcium and phosphorous in a soluble form and greatly assists in leaf penetration. Once past the leaves, AMAZE provides mobile calcium throughout the entire plant.
Mobile calcium in plants moves to the growing point of plants and to the sinks; i.e. produce. As calcium increases in concentration, the greater resistance the produce has to rotting (shelf life) and improved cellular fidelity (flavor). Improved flavor and shelf life means retailers can’t keep your produce on the shelves because it sells out in record time.
AMAZE is as clear as water with zero suspended solids. This means you are buying 100% available plant food—the only kind that leaves can use.
AMAZE provides broad spectrum fertility: nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, and a whole plethora of trace elements. These trace elements are like spark plugs in the combustion cycle and without them the enzymatic reaction is not ‘sparked’. The trace elements in AMAZE speed up enzymatic reactions in plants increasing plant metabolism and productivity.
AMAZE works on all produce and forage crops. In forage crops it will increase energy and dry matter which results in improved animal performance—more milk yield or faster growth. Forges with high fiber and high energy even make race horses run faster.
The systemic use of AMAZE not only provides nutrients to the growing fruit or vegetables directly. It also opens the throttle on nutrients coming into the plant from the roots and enhances the amount of captured solar energy.
Bold statements I know, but let’s look to plant physiology without getting too technical. AMAZE has an analysis of 5-16-4 for nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, and also has 5 units of calcium plus a broad spectrum of unlabeled trace elements. When AMAZE enters a plant it causes a significant increase in the percent of solids in the produce. This increase comes primarily from carbohydrates and calcium and secondarily from potassium and trace minerals. Very little of the enhanced mineral content comes from phosphorous. Yet when looking at the analysis of AMAZE the phosphorous content is by far the most prominent element.
Why and to What Purpose?
When Calcium is mobile in the plant it is bonded to phosphorous as phosphate of calcium. The phosphate escorts the calcium to the product, puts it into its molecular formation and then unhooks itself from the calcium. Once this happens the calcium is no longer mobile in the plant. Phosphate then recycles and is involved in the transport of other nutrients from the root to the produce. This is the secret of why AMAZE so effectively ramps up plant metabolism. The increased phosphorous content within the plant functions as a catalyst. This means it transports nutrients in plants without becoming part of the produce and why the phosphorous content in produce remains relatively even in spite of systematic spraying of AMAZE.
Not only do phosphates transport nutrients they also are part of the production of plant sugars and the transport of plant sugars to the produce and roots of plants. When phosphates are abundantly supplied in the plants, the metabolic work of producing sugars, as well as transporting sugars and nutrients occurs automatically. When phosphates are inadequately supplied, not enough sugars are manufactured and the transportation system for nutrients and sugars is substantially reduced. As a result, produce is short on minerals and carbohydrates; i.e. poor nutrient density. The amount of sugars produced is linked to how much plant root exudates are given off by the roots into the rhizosphere. In other words, the more carbohydrates the leaves make, the more exudates given off by the plant. The more exudates the more bacteria are supported in the rizoshpere. The more rizospheric support the more insoluble minerals in the soil are made soluble by the bacteria and given to the plant for uptake.
AMAZE to the Rescue
All of this fascinating cycle goes back to having adequate available phosphate in the plant—less than optimum foliar applications of AMAZE can jump start this cycle. The reality today is that most fruit trees and plants are growing in soil with only 10-40% enough available phosphorous in the soil. This makes it nearly impossible for the plant to have enough phosphates for proper metabolic activity.
Dwayne Bowman had a problem. Actually he had two. As a recent transplant from Ohio to the fruit tree region of Washington, and with no prior experience, his first job was to manage a large orchard producing apples and cherries. As Dwayne recounts “My wife knew more about fruit trees than I did when I got the job.”
To help overcome this problem Dwayne relied on the expertise of Wendell Owens at International Ag Labs. He was determined to follow the exact fertility recommendations given by Wendell accompanying the soil tests.
Dwayne’s second problem had to do with the orchard itself; alternate bearing. One year the orchard would produce somewhat acceptable yields followed by a year of dismal production. This economic killer is an all-too-common problem of modern orchard production. To further compound the economic problems the most lucrative aspect of the orchard, Honeycrisp apples, was suffering from a deplorable 25% culling loss due to bitter pit.
A particular block of Honeycrisp apples tells an amazing story. In 2005, the orchard yielded 27 bins per acre. In 2006 it yielded only 9 bins. This was clearly the off year in the alternate bearing cycle. In 2007 production was at 13 bins per acre. In 2008, the first year Dwayne took over the management, Honeycrisp apples averaged 40 bins per acre. This very respectable yield was coupled with an astounding decline in bitter pit loss to less than 1%. Since this harvest was on the top side of the alternate bearing cycle the real test would come next year. By 2009 the harvest pushed even higher; 44 bins per acre with the same low rate of bitter pit. Clearly the cycle of alternate bearing was broken. Unfortunately the chemical thinner used to take excess blossoms off the tree was over applied.
In 2010 Dwayne decided to quit using the chemical blossom thinner and instead had a certain percentage of blossoms thinned by hand. Yields for 2010 went 70 bins per acre.
What brought about this remarkable change in the orchard? Bowman credits management and appropriate fertility. The fertility program is actually quite simple. After the soil is tested a custom fertilizer blend is mixed and broadcasted once a year. The best time is just after harvest. The second component of the fertility program is to foliar feed dilute nutrient solutions through the leaves.
Most apples are notoriously short on calcium. This shows up as mushy apples that have little flavor or shelf life. To compensate, the industry has subjected some of these apples to a pressure treatment of liquid calcium chloride. This treatment forces calcium inside the apple with better shelf life as a result. It also leaves a bitter aftertaste—literally. This is why most Red Delicious apples taste terrible even though they look so nice.
Among apple varieties the Honeycrisp demands higher calcium levels in the apple. When this need is not met bitter pit results. With respect to quality a far better approach is to produce apples with high levels of calcium deposited into the apple while it is growing. This is exactly what Dwayne did by following the foliar program.
AMAZE to the Rescue
AMAZE is a 5-16-4 crystal-clear foliar spray. It is a true solution and has a broad spectrum of trace minerals and 5 units of calcium. AMAZE is unique because it combines plant-available phosphate with soluble calcium. By combining the calcium with the phosphate the calcium becomes mobile in the plant. Where does the calcium migrate to? That’s right… straight to the fruit.
Wendell’s foliar spray program was actually quite simple. Apply 2 quarts of AMAZE with 30 gallons of water along with 3 lbs. of dissolved dextrose and 1 quart of PGR. Apply weekly. Instead of applying this to every row Dwayne applied it to every other row. Later in the week he repeated the application down the skipped rows. This resulted in all the trees getting 75% coverage 2 times per week. Results were quite impressive. In the first year Dwayne did an experiment on Fuji apples by not foliar spraying several rows in a block that that had been given the recommended broadcast. Foliar spraying resulted in a 10% yield increase and more importantly in a 10% increase in apple sizing.
In my previous article on foliar plant nutrition, we explored the results of using AMAZE with PGR as a foliar program on Dwayne Bowman's apple orchard. While AMAZE works great on apples, it also shows great promise on fresh fruits and vegetables. All fresh fruit and vegetables will, at some point, either dehydrate or rot depending on how healthy the cells are. I like to term this cellular fidelity. For most produce cellular fidelity (i.e., resistance to rotting) can be enhanced by increasing the level of minerals and carbohydrates. The major mineral to focus on is calcium.
As you know, there are many foliar sprays on the market today. I like to break these down into two broad classes; those with calcium and those without calcium. Both types can be very useful but are generally used for different purposes. Foliar sprays without calcium are easier to make, cheaper to make, and are very useful on crops that store dry such as grains or nuts. Fresh fruit and vegetables, on the other hand, respond particularly well to properly made calcium foliar sprays. I will write about non-calcium foliar sprays in subsequent articles, but for the remainder of this article I want to focus on how to identify a good foliar spray made with calcium.
For a calcium foliar spray to be effective it must:
Penetrate the leaf
Accelerate plant metabolism
Deposit additional carbohydrates and minerals in the produce
Contain these three additional properties: Acidity, Polarity, Mobility
Leaf penetration is directly correlated to the acidity of a foliar spray solution. It takes acidity to soften the waxy cuticle on the leaf surface. If foliar nutrients cannot break through the waxy cuticle, all they do is sit on the leaf surface waiting to be washed off the next time it rains.
The second property calcium foliar sprays need is polarity. Polarity is the separation of positive and negative charges thus creating dipole molecules within the spray solution. This is also needed in order to penetrate the leaf. Here is how it works: the negative charges of the nitrates and phosphates are magnetically attracted Calcium Foliar Spraysto the positive hydrogen ions inside the leaf. If the waxy cuticle has been sufficiently softened by acidity the nitrates and phosphates will pass through the leaf surface first; pulling the calcium and potassium behind. This is the secret of getting calcium into a plant leaf. Read the next sentence carefully. The ratio of negative to positive charges is critically important; there must be significantly more negative charges than positive charges in order for the negative charges to carry the positive charges into the leaves. A word picture might illuminate this concept better. Imagine two physically fit men deep in the wilderness. One weighs 100 lbs and the other weighs 300 lbs. One of them breaks his leg and needs to be carried out of the wilderness. If the 300 lb. man breaks his leg, the 100 lb. man will not be strong enough to carry him out. If the 100 lb. man breaks his leg the 300 lb. man could carry him out. A neutral solution represents an approximate one-to-one ratio of negative to positive charges. One last thing about polarity; dextrose was dissolved and applied with every AMAZE application. Dextrose is a six carbon sugar that is highly polar and is an integral part of the spray program because it significantly increases nutrient penetration due to its polarity.
he third property a calcium foliar spray must have is plant mobility. This means the calcium must be mobile in the plant so it can move to the fruit or sinks of the plant. Many say that calcium is not mobile in the plant. This is only partially true. It is mobile in the plant when bonded with phosphates. This happens all the time while plants grow. Soil calcium enters the plant in phosphate of calcium form, and is then ushered to the growing point of the leaves or the fruit of the plant and integrated into the cellular structure.
Dr. Carey Reams, a longtime Ag consultant, was an early promoter of foliar plant nutrition and is widely considered the founding father of foliar feeding. Dr. Reams conducted numerous classes on the subject and laid out the foundational principles that are still being taught today. I want to highlight two foundational principles:
All nutrients in a foliar spray must be presented to the plant in a usable form.
All foliar sprays must contain some phosphates.
Let’s discuss these rules. Unlike nutrients placed in soil that has active microbial digestion, plant leaves don’t have enough microbial activity to convert complex compounds into soluble forms. This is why successful foliar sprays must present soluble nutrients to the plant for quick uptake. The study of plant physiology reveals that phosphorus in the phosphate form is intricately involved with the transport of nutrients and energy within the plant. Phosphates drive the Krebs cycle, which is how plants make energy. Anytime you see a foliar spray offering plants phosphorus in a non-usable form, such as phosphites, run away as fast as you can.
Once the calcium bonds with phosphate, calcium is no longer available because it is now part of the cell. When the available calcium and/or phosphorus of the soil are below optimum level, cellular fidelity of the produce is compromised. International Ag Labs has developed AMAZE foliar spray by adding calcium bonded to phosphates to compensate for this deficiency and drastically improve produce quality and quantity. There is a lesson to be learned when contemplating calcium’s one-way street: for best results calcium foliar sprays should be regimented to continually supply ongoing doses of mobile calcium. What is the best way to determine efficacy of the calcium foliar spray? Check the calcium content of the fruit against a control that was not sprayed. Do not check the leaves as this could easily be a false positive.
n part I of this advertorial series we looked at the surprising turnaround on Dwayne Bowman's apple orchard. AMAZE, a 5-16-4 with 5 units of calcium, was highlighted as a calcium foliar spray used to increase apple size, quality, and yield. In part II of this series we looked at AMAZE’s mode of action and some important attributes necessary for a truly effective calcium foliar spray. In this third and last of our advertorials I want to place AMAZE in the larger context of how it works when incorporated with other products and a good soil program.
One of the unique teachings of Dr. Carey Reams is that fertilizers can push a crop toward vegetative growth or reproduction. This concept is very important to understand, especially when foliar spraying crops. The wrong product at the wrong time can drastically reduce yield. Since AMAZE is slightly on the growth side of the energy spectrum, it is not recommended for continuously flowering crops such as soybeans. On the other hand, growth energy is what bulks crops, so it works great on bulking fruit and vegetables—particularly fruit trees, bramble fruit, salad greens, root veggies, and vining fruits. For reproductive fruit and vegetables begin application after blossom drop.
AMAZE is not a silver bullet, nor does it replace a good soil program. Rather, it complements it by increasing the return from the nutrients applied to the soil. A good soil program must address four important areas; soil energy, foundational minerals, humus and biology, and trace elements. For a complete overview please see the article 4 Bases of Mineralized Soil included with this information. You must keep soil energy up in order for AMAZE to work properly. If soil energy, as measured on a conductivity meter is low, i.e. less than 200 micro Siemens/centimeter (ERGS) for non-saline soils, the effectiveness of the foliar program is drastically reduced. A good rule of thumb is 400 ERGS for non-saline soils.
The application rate for AMAZE is 1-2 quarts per acre. For saline soils (ERGS above 1,800) a 1 quart rate works better since plants in saline soil are more susceptible to leaf burn from foliar sprays. How often should AMAZE be sprayed? Every 7 to 14 days depending on the crop and budget. A weekly spray is ideal since this provides regular calcium deposits to the produce as it matures.
amaze-application-rate
AMAZE is frequently combined with other products such as liquid calcium nitrate, phos acid fish, PGR.
Liquid Calcium Nitrate:
Holds a reputation for producing bulk through strong growth energy components. This product can be added to AMAZE at 1 quart per acre.
Phos Acid Fish:
This product is a liquid fish that has been acidified with phosphoric acid to bring the pH down to 3.5 or less. Phos acid fish is reproductive in its effect on plants. International Ag Labs large produce customers in Mexico report that AMAZE combined with phos acid fish gives greater color intensity in melons. When combined with AMAZE use 1-2 quarts per acre.
PGR:
A liquid seaweed-based product from International Ag Labs that provides seaweed-derived auxins and cytokinins. These natural plant regulators cause cells to elongate and divide. It functions as a bulker and works synergistically with AMAZE to induce larger sized produce. It also supplies potassium and an extensive array of trace minerals. PGR is used at the rate of 1 quart per acre.
Dextrose:
Dextrose improves nutrient penetration, solution adherence to plants, and helps prevent large beading on the plants. It also appears to be more metabolically active once inside the plant. Use 2-3 pounds of dextrose per acre with each application.
Application & Water:
All foliar sprays work best with low conductivity water. ERGS less than 50 is ideal but less than 250 is acceptable. Preferred water sources include; captured rain water, R.O. water, and low conductivity surface or well water. Use anywhere from 20-100 gallons of water per acre depending on plant size. Strive for a fine mist for better leaf coverage.
I want to tell you the amazing, true story of my friend Duane Headings. Like many others in his generation, Duane is on a mission to grow and market the highest quality produce possible. In his first year of marketing strawberries, Duane consistently raised strawberries 3 to 4 brix points higher than commercially produced strawberries. Brix are measured by a refractometer which is a mechanical taste tester. How did Duane achieve this? His first step was submitting a soil sample for analysis and recommendation to International Ag Labs. In order to raise produce eagerly accepted by the market place, a systemic approach is required. An approach that addresses the deficiencies of your soil and the unique nutritional needs of the crop you are growing. This is why a soil analysis is so important in reaching maximum quality and yield potential.
What was Duane’s second step? One particular strawberry variety, Jewel, faced market rejection because of its pale internal color. By observation Duane discovered that by foliar feeding his strawberries with AMAZE, the center core of the Jewel strawberry turned deep red within 12 hours of application. After spraying AMAZE, Duane was able to harvest his strawberries and had no problem selling them. There was a catch of course—the strawberries had to be picked within 3 days of application or the cores would once again pale out to the lightest tint of pink. With that intriguing discovery, let me formally introduce you to AMAZE.
What is AMAZE?
AMAZE is a revolutionary foliar spray designed to feed the plant mineral nutrition through the leaves. It is revolutionary because it combines calcium with phosphorous in the phosphate form. This allows for excellent leaf penetration as well as calcium mobility within the plant. No other calcium foliar spray has such an effective mode of action. Since much of the produce quality hinges on calcium content, a systemic foliar program using AMAZE can pay big dividends as shown in the case studies with Duane Bowman which are included in this folder.
What is Foliar Feeding?
While this question seems simple enough most producers overlook how effective leaves are in providing nutrition to the plant. Everyone knows the bulk of earth elements in a crop enter through the roots. Leaves on the other hand can be up to 20 times more efficient in getting nutrients into the plant—if the nutrients are in the right form. For many top growers foliar feeding this their ‘ace in the hole’ helping them grow higher quality with increased yields. To neglect this form of plant nutrition could cause up to 1/3 loss in production in my estimation. Here are more reasons AMAZE should be an internal part of your foliar feeding program.
AMAZE is fully water soluble so plants can use it immediately. This sudden influx of soluble nutrients increases plant metabolism which means greater productivity.
AMAZE combines calcium with phosphorous in an acid solution. The acidity keeps both the calcium and phosphorous in a soluble form and greatly assists in leaf penetration. Once past the leaves, AMAZE provides mobile calcium throughout the entire plant.
Mobile calcium in plants moves to the growing point of plants and to the sinks; i.e. produce. As calcium increases in concentration, the greater resistance the produce has to rotting (shelf life) and improved cellular fidelity (flavor). Improved flavor and shelf life means retailers can’t keep your produce on the shelves because it sells out in record time.
AMAZE is as clear as water with zero suspended solids. This means you are buying 100% available plant food—the only kind that leaves can use.
AMAZE provides broad spectrum fertility: nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, and a whole plethora of trace elements. These trace elements are like spark plugs in the combustion cycle and without them the enzymatic reaction is not ‘sparked’. The trace elements in AMAZE speed up enzymatic reactions in plants increasing plant metabolism and productivity.
AMAZE works on all produce and forage crops. In forage crops it will increase energy and dry matter which results in improved animal performance—more milk yield or faster growth. Forges with high fiber and high energy even make race horses run faster.
The systemic use of AMAZE not only provides nutrients to the growing fruit or vegetables directly. It also opens the throttle on nutrients coming into the plant from the roots and enhances the amount of captured solar energy.
Bold statements I know, but let’s look to plant physiology without getting too technical. AMAZE has an analysis of 5-16-4 for nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, and also has 5 units of calcium plus a broad spectrum of unlabeled trace elements. When AMAZE enters a plant it causes a significant increase in the percent of solids in the produce. This increase comes primarily from carbohydrates and calcium and secondarily from potassium and trace minerals. Very little of the enhanced mineral content comes from phosphorous. Yet when looking at the analysis of AMAZE the phosphorous content is by far the most prominent element.
Why and to What Purpose?
When Calcium is mobile in the plant it is bonded to phosphorous as phosphate of calcium. The phosphate escorts the calcium to the product, puts it into its molecular formation and then unhooks itself from the calcium. Once this happens the calcium is no longer mobile in the plant. Phosphate then recycles and is involved in the transport of other nutrients from the root to the produce. This is the secret of why AMAZE so effectively ramps up plant metabolism. The increased phosphorous content within the plant functions as a catalyst. This means it transports nutrients in plants without becoming part of the produce and why the phosphorous content in produce remains relatively even in spite of systematic spraying of AMAZE.
Not only do phosphates transport nutrients they also are part of the production of plant sugars and the transport of plant sugars to the produce and roots of plants. When phosphates are abundantly supplied in the plants, the metabolic work of producing sugars, as well as transporting sugars and nutrients occurs automatically. When phosphates are inadequately supplied, not enough sugars are manufactured and the transportation system for nutrients and sugars is substantially reduced. As a result, produce is short on minerals and carbohydrates; i.e. poor nutrient density. The amount of sugars produced is linked to how much plant root exudates are given off by the roots into the rhizosphere. In other words, the more carbohydrates the leaves make, the more exudates given off by the plant. The more exudates the more bacteria are supported in the rizoshpere. The more rizospheric support the more insoluble minerals in the soil are made soluble by the bacteria and given to the plant for uptake.
AMAZE to the Rescue
All of this fascinating cycle goes back to having adequate available phosphate in the plant—less than optimum foliar applications of AMAZE can jump start this cycle. The reality today is that most fruit trees and plants are growing in soil with only 10-40% enough available phosphorous in the soil. This makes it nearly impossible for the plant to have enough phosphates for proper metabolic activity.
Dwayne Bowman had a problem. Actually he had two. As a recent transplant from Ohio to the fruit tree region of Washington, and with no prior experience, his first job was to manage a large orchard producing apples and cherries. As Dwayne recounts “My wife knew more about fruit trees than I did when I got the job.”
To help overcome this problem Dwayne relied on the expertise of Wendell Owens at International Ag Labs. He was determined to follow the exact fertility recommendations given by Wendell accompanying the soil tests.
Dwayne’s second problem had to do with the orchard itself; alternate bearing. One year the orchard would produce somewhat acceptable yields followed by a year of dismal production. This economic killer is an all-too-common problem of modern orchard production. To further compound the economic problems the most lucrative aspect of the orchard, Honeycrisp apples, was suffering from a deplorable 25% culling loss due to bitter pit.
A particular block of Honeycrisp apples tells an amazing story. In 2005, the orchard yielded 27 bins per acre. In 2006 it yielded only 9 bins. This was clearly the off year in the alternate bearing cycle. In 2007 production was at 13 bins per acre. In 2008, the first year Dwayne took over the management, Honeycrisp apples averaged 40 bins per acre. This very respectable yield was coupled with an astounding decline in bitter pit loss to less than 1%. Since this harvest was on the top side of the alternate bearing cycle the real test would come next year. By 2009 the harvest pushed even higher; 44 bins per acre with the same low rate of bitter pit. Clearly the cycle of alternate bearing was broken. Unfortunately the chemical thinner used to take excess blossoms off the tree was over applied.
In 2010 Dwayne decided to quit using the chemical blossom thinner and instead had a certain percentage of blossoms thinned by hand. Yields for 2010 went 70 bins per acre.
What brought about this remarkable change in the orchard? Bowman credits management and appropriate fertility. The fertility program is actually quite simple. After the soil is tested a custom fertilizer blend is mixed and broadcasted once a year. The best time is just after harvest. The second component of the fertility program is to foliar feed dilute nutrient solutions through the leaves.
Most apples are notoriously short on calcium. This shows up as mushy apples that have little flavor or shelf life. To compensate, the industry has subjected some of these apples to a pressure treatment of liquid calcium chloride. This treatment forces calcium inside the apple with better shelf life as a result. It also leaves a bitter aftertaste—literally. This is why most Red Delicious apples taste terrible even though they look so nice.
Among apple varieties the Honeycrisp demands higher calcium levels in the apple. When this need is not met bitter pit results. With respect to quality a far better approach is to produce apples with high levels of calcium deposited into the apple while it is growing. This is exactly what Dwayne did by following the foliar program.
AMAZE to the Rescue
AMAZE is a 5-16-4 crystal-clear foliar spray. It is a true solution and has a broad spectrum of trace minerals and 5 units of calcium. AMAZE is unique because it combines plant-available phosphate with soluble calcium. By combining the calcium with the phosphate the calcium becomes mobile in the plant. Where does the calcium migrate to? That’s right… straight to the fruit.
Wendell’s foliar spray program was actually quite simple. Apply 2 quarts of AMAZE with 30 gallons of water along with 3 lbs. of dissolved dextrose and 1 quart of PGR. Apply weekly. Instead of applying this to every row Dwayne applied it to every other row. Later in the week he repeated the application down the skipped rows. This resulted in all the trees getting 75% coverage 2 times per week. Results were quite impressive. In the first year Dwayne did an experiment on Fuji apples by not foliar spraying several rows in a block that that had been given the recommended broadcast. Foliar spraying resulted in a 10% yield increase and more importantly in a 10% increase in apple sizing.
In my previous article on foliar plant nutrition, we explored the results of using AMAZE with PGR as a foliar program on Dwayne Bowman's apple orchard. While AMAZE works great on apples, it also shows great promise on fresh fruits and vegetables. All fresh fruit and vegetables will, at some point, either dehydrate or rot depending on how healthy the cells are. I like to term this cellular fidelity. For most produce cellular fidelity (i.e., resistance to rotting) can be enhanced by increasing the level of minerals and carbohydrates. The major mineral to focus on is calcium.
As you know, there are many foliar sprays on the market today. I like to break these down into two broad classes; those with calcium and those without calcium. Both types can be very useful but are generally used for different purposes. Foliar sprays without calcium are easier to make, cheaper to make, and are very useful on crops that store dry such as grains or nuts. Fresh fruit and vegetables, on the other hand, respond particularly well to properly made calcium foliar sprays. I will write about non-calcium foliar sprays in subsequent articles, but for the remainder of this article I want to focus on how to identify a good foliar spray made with calcium.
For a calcium foliar spray to be effective it must:
Penetrate the leaf
Accelerate plant metabolism
Deposit additional carbohydrates and minerals in the produce
Contain these three additional properties: Acidity, Polarity, Mobility
Leaf penetration is directly correlated to the acidity of a foliar spray solution. It takes acidity to soften the waxy cuticle on the leaf surface. If foliar nutrients cannot break through the waxy cuticle, all they do is sit on the leaf surface waiting to be washed off the next time it rains.
The second property calcium foliar sprays need is polarity. Polarity is the separation of positive and negative charges thus creating dipole molecules within the spray solution. This is also needed in order to penetrate the leaf. Here is how it works: the negative charges of the nitrates and phosphates are magnetically attracted Calcium Foliar Spraysto the positive hydrogen ions inside the leaf. If the waxy cuticle has been sufficiently softened by acidity the nitrates and phosphates will pass through the leaf surface first; pulling the calcium and potassium behind. This is the secret of getting calcium into a plant leaf. Read the next sentence carefully. The ratio of negative to positive charges is critically important; there must be significantly more negative charges than positive charges in order for the negative charges to carry the positive charges into the leaves. A word picture might illuminate this concept better. Imagine two physically fit men deep in the wilderness. One weighs 100 lbs and the other weighs 300 lbs. One of them breaks his leg and needs to be carried out of the wilderness. If the 300 lb. man breaks his leg, the 100 lb. man will not be strong enough to carry him out. If the 100 lb. man breaks his leg the 300 lb. man could carry him out. A neutral solution represents an approximate one-to-one ratio of negative to positive charges. One last thing about polarity; dextrose was dissolved and applied with every AMAZE application. Dextrose is a six carbon sugar that is highly polar and is an integral part of the spray program because it significantly increases nutrient penetration due to its polarity.
he third property a calcium foliar spray must have is plant mobility. This means the calcium must be mobile in the plant so it can move to the fruit or sinks of the plant. Many say that calcium is not mobile in the plant. This is only partially true. It is mobile in the plant when bonded with phosphates. This happens all the time while plants grow. Soil calcium enters the plant in phosphate of calcium form, and is then ushered to the growing point of the leaves or the fruit of the plant and integrated into the cellular structure.
Dr. Carey Reams, a longtime Ag consultant, was an early promoter of foliar plant nutrition and is widely considered the founding father of foliar feeding. Dr. Reams conducted numerous classes on the subject and laid out the foundational principles that are still being taught today. I want to highlight two foundational principles:
All nutrients in a foliar spray must be presented to the plant in a usable form.
All foliar sprays must contain some phosphates.
Let’s discuss these rules. Unlike nutrients placed in soil that has active microbial digestion, plant leaves don’t have enough microbial activity to convert complex compounds into soluble forms. This is why successful foliar sprays must present soluble nutrients to the plant for quick uptake. The study of plant physiology reveals that phosphorus in the phosphate form is intricately involved with the transport of nutrients and energy within the plant. Phosphates drive the Krebs cycle, which is how plants make energy. Anytime you see a foliar spray offering plants phosphorus in a non-usable form, such as phosphites, run away as fast as you can.
Once the calcium bonds with phosphate, calcium is no longer available because it is now part of the cell. When the available calcium and/or phosphorus of the soil are below optimum level, cellular fidelity of the produce is compromised. International Ag Labs has developed AMAZE foliar spray by adding calcium bonded to phosphates to compensate for this deficiency and drastically improve produce quality and quantity. There is a lesson to be learned when contemplating calcium’s one-way street: for best results calcium foliar sprays should be regimented to continually supply ongoing doses of mobile calcium. What is the best way to determine efficacy of the calcium foliar spray? Check the calcium content of the fruit against a control that was not sprayed. Do not check the leaves as this could easily be a false positive.
n part I of this advertorial series we looked at the surprising turnaround on Dwayne Bowman's apple orchard. AMAZE, a 5-16-4 with 5 units of calcium, was highlighted as a calcium foliar spray used to increase apple size, quality, and yield. In part II of this series we looked at AMAZE’s mode of action and some important attributes necessary for a truly effective calcium foliar spray. In this third and last of our advertorials I want to place AMAZE in the larger context of how it works when incorporated with other products and a good soil program.
One of the unique teachings of Dr. Carey Reams is that fertilizers can push a crop toward vegetative growth or reproduction. This concept is very important to understand, especially when foliar spraying crops. The wrong product at the wrong time can drastically reduce yield. Since AMAZE is slightly on the growth side of the energy spectrum, it is not recommended for continuously flowering crops such as soybeans. On the other hand, growth energy is what bulks crops, so it works great on bulking fruit and vegetables—particularly fruit trees, bramble fruit, salad greens, root veggies, and vining fruits. For reproductive fruit and vegetables begin application after blossom drop.
AMAZE is not a silver bullet, nor does it replace a good soil program. Rather, it complements it by increasing the return from the nutrients applied to the soil. A good soil program must address four important areas; soil energy, foundational minerals, humus and biology, and trace elements. For a complete overview please see the article 4 Bases of Mineralized Soil included with this information. You must keep soil energy up in order for AMAZE to work properly. If soil energy, as measured on a conductivity meter is low, i.e. less than 200 micro Siemens/centimeter (ERGS) for non-saline soils, the effectiveness of the foliar program is drastically reduced. A good rule of thumb is 400 ERGS for non-saline soils.
The application rate for AMAZE is 1-2 quarts per acre. For saline soils (ERGS above 1,800) a 1 quart rate works better since plants in saline soil are more susceptible to leaf burn from foliar sprays. How often should AMAZE be sprayed? Every 7 to 14 days depending on the crop and budget. A weekly spray is ideal since this provides regular calcium deposits to the produce as it matures.
amaze-application-rate
AMAZE is frequently combined with other products such as liquid calcium nitrate, phos acid fish, PGR.
Liquid Calcium Nitrate:
Holds a reputation for producing bulk through strong growth energy components. This product can be added to AMAZE at 1 quart per acre.
Phos Acid Fish:
This product is a liquid fish that has been acidified with phosphoric acid to bring the pH down to 3.5 or less. Phos acid fish is reproductive in its effect on plants. International Ag Labs large produce customers in Mexico report that AMAZE combined with phos acid fish gives greater color intensity in melons. When combined with AMAZE use 1-2 quarts per acre.
PGR:
A liquid seaweed-based product from International Ag Labs that provides seaweed-derived auxins and cytokinins. These natural plant regulators cause cells to elongate and divide. It functions as a bulker and works synergistically with AMAZE to induce larger sized produce. It also supplies potassium and an extensive array of trace minerals. PGR is used at the rate of 1 quart per acre.
Dextrose:
Dextrose improves nutrient penetration, solution adherence to plants, and helps prevent large beading on the plants. It also appears to be more metabolically active once inside the plant. Use 2-3 pounds of dextrose per acre with each application.
Application & Water:
All foliar sprays work best with low conductivity water. ERGS less than 50 is ideal but less than 250 is acceptable. Preferred water sources include; captured rain water, R.O. water, and low conductivity surface or well water. Use anywhere from 20-100 gallons of water per acre depending on plant size. Strive for a fine mist for better leaf coverage.
It does not sound as if Amaze is organic. Is it?
People may wish to search out/research the indicators that phosphorous in trichome type plant tissues tends to accumulate polonium 210, a radioactive substance. There are some studies indicating that in tobacco, this substance is responsible for the majority of lung cancer in smokers, rather than tar, etc. (You didn't need to quit ;> just switch to natural grown)
Anecdotally this has merit because historically, homegrown cannabis smokers who smoke large amounts (eg. in Jamaca) have been shown to not have a correlating incidence of lung cancer.
Also anecdotally one may find a relationship historically of the increased percentage of cancer across the population and the use of soluble phosphorus (and other solubles).
Just some thoughts.
People may wish to search out/research the indicators that phosphorous in trichome type plant tissues tends to accumulate polonium 210, a radioactive substance. There are some studies indicating that in tobacco, this substance is responsible for the majority of lung cancer in smokers, rather than tar, etc. (You didn't need to quit ;> just switch to natural grown)
Anecdotally this has merit because historically, homegrown cannabis smokers who smoke large amounts (eg. in Jamaca) have been shown to not have a correlating incidence of lung cancer.
Also anecdotally one may find a relationship historically of the increased percentage of cancer across the population and the use of soluble phosphorus (and other solubles).
Just some thoughts.
B
BugJar
I wonder if there is something legitimate to the dextrose claim.
B
BugJar
lets see some current pics! to prove how awesome AMAZE is
M
MrSterling
MM - good points; I really need to read up on that issue.
Dear lord that post on Amaze was a little big and feeling a lot like the company's shtick got copy-pasted. Maybe cut it down to the relevant scientific evidence?
Dear lord that post on Amaze was a little big and feeling a lot like the company's shtick got copy-pasted. Maybe cut it down to the relevant scientific evidence?
Amaze is derived from Urea, phosphoric acid, potassium phosphate, & calcium nitrate--which will take 1/2 hour to 10 days before 50% of the nutrients are absorbed by the plant--via foliar spray...perhaps not as swift or speedy as one would assume.
The table below represents the time for 50% absorption of the following nutrients into the plant tissue.
Nitrogen (as urea) 1/2 - 2 hours
Phosphorus 5 - 10 days
Potassium 10 - 24 hours
Calcium 1 - 2 days
Magnesium 2 - 5 hours
Sulfur 8 days
Zinc 1 - 2 days
Manganese 1 - 2 days
Iron 10 - 20 days
Molybdenum 10 - 20 days
Source: https://www.midwestlabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/foliar_nutrition.pdf
Sometimes, foliar spraying certain elements is counterproductive and may take longer--when compared to root feeding (like phosphorus, sulfur, etc).
I prefer blending my own foliar sprays using items from my shelf...and I always add a dab of urea (0.5g/gallon); yes, even commercial sprays for pest and disease prevention are charged with urea (most herbicide sprays contain small amounts urea--to speed up the plant's intake of the active ingredients).
IMHO--I guess if you buy "potassium phosphate" for less than $10 a pound, then Amaze is a yawner. But if your "potassium phosphate" container has cartoon characters on the label--which means you probably paid around $30/8oz for the same stuff...and Amaze could be your next silver bullet.
BTW, Amaze Recommended Program is:
1 – 2 qts/acre AMAZE
1 qt/acre PGR
3 lbs Dextrose
20 gal/acre Water
Anyone see anything spectacular? Or am I missing something?
Cheers!
PS..updated my earlier "cut and paste thread" on refractometers, as the original links changed. There are now pictures!
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?p=5083535#post5083535
The table below represents the time for 50% absorption of the following nutrients into the plant tissue.
Nitrogen (as urea) 1/2 - 2 hours
Phosphorus 5 - 10 days
Potassium 10 - 24 hours
Calcium 1 - 2 days
Magnesium 2 - 5 hours
Sulfur 8 days
Zinc 1 - 2 days
Manganese 1 - 2 days
Iron 10 - 20 days
Molybdenum 10 - 20 days
Source: https://www.midwestlabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/foliar_nutrition.pdf
Sometimes, foliar spraying certain elements is counterproductive and may take longer--when compared to root feeding (like phosphorus, sulfur, etc).
I prefer blending my own foliar sprays using items from my shelf...and I always add a dab of urea (0.5g/gallon); yes, even commercial sprays for pest and disease prevention are charged with urea (most herbicide sprays contain small amounts urea--to speed up the plant's intake of the active ingredients).
IMHO--I guess if you buy "potassium phosphate" for less than $10 a pound, then Amaze is a yawner. But if your "potassium phosphate" container has cartoon characters on the label--which means you probably paid around $30/8oz for the same stuff...and Amaze could be your next silver bullet.
BTW, Amaze Recommended Program is:
1 – 2 qts/acre AMAZE
1 qt/acre PGR
3 lbs Dextrose
20 gal/acre Water
Anyone see anything spectacular? Or am I missing something?
Cheers!
PS..updated my earlier "cut and paste thread" on refractometers, as the original links changed. There are now pictures!
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?p=5083535#post5083535
budrunners
Active member
EF20 thanks for posting the information great job of getting information, so far i cant complain about using Amaze, PGR and Dextrose. its working much better than my homemade foliar sprays because I dont know how much phos acid to use with my home brew. so its easy enough for me as the lab guys have stated its the phos acid that allows for easier leaf penetration otherwise you are wasting most of your time spraying not saying homebrews wont work its just that they are not as effective unless you have added phos acid.
Do a search on spraying coca cola on plants, you will find that this works because of the phos acid and simple sugars.
To each their own Im not trying to change anyones mind just sharing my experience.
I can say this stuff works for me and IF I knew how much phos acid to add to a home made foilar spray, I would have no need for Amaze and at 10.00 a quart thats cheap in my book so its easy for me just to buy the bottle and add whatever I want to Amaze, I use the PGR which is kelp and some of my brewed tea and Dextrose in my foliar.
Peace
Do a search on spraying coca cola on plants, you will find that this works because of the phos acid and simple sugars.
To each their own Im not trying to change anyones mind just sharing my experience.
I can say this stuff works for me and IF I knew how much phos acid to add to a home made foilar spray, I would have no need for Amaze and at 10.00 a quart thats cheap in my book so its easy for me just to buy the bottle and add whatever I want to Amaze, I use the PGR which is kelp and some of my brewed tea and Dextrose in my foliar.
Peace
budrunners
Active member
EF20 that chart you have does it include the use of Phos. acid as part of the absorption rate ? I believe that chart is accurate for non phos. acid use but find me something with phos. acid added to a foliar spray to say its ineffective
yep....nutrition in "plant available form" is the key, budrunners.
For example, silica, if in the form of liquid potassium silicate--a conversion must occur first before it can be "plant available", whereas if the silica in form of a soluble monosilicic acid, then no conversion occurs since you have "plant available silica".
Almost all of earth's 97 or so elements must go through a conversion of sorts before it is "plant available"....a notion most people forget about when comparing "nutes & ferts".
Cheers!
For example, silica, if in the form of liquid potassium silicate--a conversion must occur first before it can be "plant available", whereas if the silica in form of a soluble monosilicic acid, then no conversion occurs since you have "plant available silica".
Almost all of earth's 97 or so elements must go through a conversion of sorts before it is "plant available"....a notion most people forget about when comparing "nutes & ferts".
Cheers!
So I am running into a problem with my brix readings. I find it harder and harder to squeeze a drop of liquid out of my plant material. I was using a garlic press up until this outdoor season. Now when I use the garlic press, it just pushed the plant material out the little holes, and creates no juice. When this started to happen I resorted to using two spoons (my wife was not happy) and a pair of vise grip pliers. I was able to get a reading a couple of weeks ago, 21 brix on one plant, but now I can't even get the spoons to give a drip of plant sap. Anybody have any ideas why this is happening first off, and second, anybody have a better way of collecting plant sap?
I was thinking of making my own pliers with a flat plate or something JBwelded on. Anybody have a link to where some place might sell something like this?
I was thinking of making my own pliers with a flat plate or something JBwelded on. Anybody have a link to where some place might sell something like this?
This worked for me...from one of my earlier posts:
"Try extracting the sap from 3-4 fan leaves.
I use a plastic card folded in half (like a taco shell), then place fan leaves with stems aligned such that about a 1/4 inch of stems protrude from one end, fold the plastic with the leaves inside, place the plastic card on table edge and with a round tool (pencil, pen, metal rod) squeeze the sap from the leaves by pressing the round tool on the card...and 2-5 drops of precious sap will emerge from the stems, which I dab on the refractometer.
Clean up is easy, I walk to the sink, rinse the plastic card and refractometer...and all done. Cost...$0."
Cheers!
Eclipsefour20 - Nice, I remember reading this info now that you have reposted it. I will give it a shot tomorrow afternoon. I think somebody in this thread also mentioned the higher the brix reading, the less liquid you get from squeezing your leafs. What are the numbers you commonly read Eclipse?
OB, it seems that older leaves (big fat ones) produce a lower brix #--like in 7-10, the newer leaves (not as fat) have higher numbers--like 9+. The highest reading I got was 16, but that was when I did the vice-grip pliers method that consumed a branch, leaves and stalk.
Whether a plant measures a 7 or 14 is not that important (oh high numbers are great), but what is more important is after a specific treatment, what is the change in brix--and which direction. If there is a decrease, no bueno...if there is an increase, yahoo!
I dab 3-5 droplets for my testing--about 1+ droplet per leaf. I realize, this "leaf testing" may not give me actual "plant brix"--which would require more of the plant to be sacrificed for testing (hate to lose potential bud sites)...but I get what I want: Does ___________ (treatment) increase or decrease the plant's brix?
Cheers!
Whether a plant measures a 7 or 14 is not that important (oh high numbers are great), but what is more important is after a specific treatment, what is the change in brix--and which direction. If there is a decrease, no bueno...if there is an increase, yahoo!
I dab 3-5 droplets for my testing--about 1+ droplet per leaf. I realize, this "leaf testing" may not give me actual "plant brix"--which would require more of the plant to be sacrificed for testing (hate to lose potential bud sites)...but I get what I want: Does ___________ (treatment) increase or decrease the plant's brix?
Cheers!
Great way of looking at it, thank you EclispeFour20
I roll mine leaves up into a ball and put between two spoons and then vice grips till drips on the refractometer . Buds test higher then leaves. leaves in the light test higher then leaves in the shaded areas. from what i have noticed so far but i am still new to the brix.
Ive broken more than a couple garlic presses try to squeeze out a drop. Im having a buddy weld some ss plates onto some vice grips for me... here is a link for you OB
http://www.pikeagri.com/component/virtuemart/plant-testing-meters/sap-sampling-presses
http://www.pikeagri.com/component/virtuemart/plant-testing-meters/sap-sampling-presses
Thanks again FatherEarth, you are quickly becoming one of the best sources of information on ICmag.
odkin
Member
As a few of you have stated- monitoring brix is most useful when you use the reading to determine a positive or negative response to changes in your soil or nutrient program. I would be interested to hear a few examples where you had a negative response to a foliar feeding, and what you deduced from the lower brix reading that told you the foliar spray was not particularly positive for your plant.
