Plants experience stress at almost every moment, either caused by pathogens or by abiotic factors. Reducing it, is very important to optimise fruit yield and quality. Our foliar biostimulant Sili-Fert P can help achieve this and was therefore tested in this case at an apple grower in the Netherlands.
We performed this trial on 6-year-old apple trees from the variety Junami. We tested Silifert-P on 1 ha, next to 1 ha control area where no Sili-Fert P was used. The team applied a tailor-made spray application scheme, incorporating Sili-Fert P only when other products were sprayed. This allowed the grower to avoid separate applications and thereby save time.
Firstly, these spray applications resulted in an increased hardness of the apples (Fig. 1). Moreover, the yield was higher after Sili-Fert P treatment, resulting in only 2 harvest moments compared to 3 in the untreated area (Fig. 2). It is a huge advancement for the growers’ time management.
Additionally, the brix value of the apples and the fruit weight increased significantly, and the general appearance improved. Trees looked greener and more healthy, and they suffered less from sunburn. This is thanks to the fact that the use of Sili-Fert P increases pigment production, leading to less damage by UV light.
