Articles
An evaluation of BOOSTER-MagTM on processing tomato farming productivity
Article number
1233_6
Pages
33 – 40
Language
English
Abstract
With the support of the Australian Processing Tomato Research Council (APTRC), Calix has worked with a northern Victoria processing tomato grower to quantify the effect of BOOSTER-MagTM treatment on field processing tomato grower productivity.
BOOSTER-MagTM is a new mineral-derived, bio-active magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) product under development by Calix specifically as an agricultural foliar spray.
Expanded scale BOOSTER-MagTM field trials were undertaken over two farms in the 2016/17 season.
The objective of the work was to quantify any differences in farm productivity that BOOSTER-MagTM may provide regarding yield, yield quality (pH and Brix) and conventional pesticide usage and cost.
The evaluation compared crop grown as follows: 1) control fields (8 and 5 ha, respectively); managed conventionally using in-market pesticides according to observed pest and disease pressure and industry Economic Injury Level (EIL) thresholds; 2) trial fields (6 and 4 ha, respectively); BOOSTER-MagTM applied every two weeks as a base-treatment with additional pesticide treatments only if EIL thresholds were reached.
The comparative crop monitoring reports, grower spray records and harvest data obtained are instructive.
BOOSTER-MagTM treatment coincided with fewer EIL events and therefore fewer conventional pesticide treatments.
No statistically significant difference in relative yield and yield quality was observed indicating the substitution did not compromise yield or yield quality.
The grower observed no obvious difference in pest and disease pressure however increased spider numbers and increased parasitic insect activity in the trial fields was noted and assessed.
It is suggested BOOSTER-MagTM bio-activity with respect to pest control, and although not quantified in this work, plant pathogen and disease control, contributed to a meaningful improvement in grower productivity and sustainability.
BOOSTER-MagTM is a new mineral-derived, bio-active magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) product under development by Calix specifically as an agricultural foliar spray.
Expanded scale BOOSTER-MagTM field trials were undertaken over two farms in the 2016/17 season.
The objective of the work was to quantify any differences in farm productivity that BOOSTER-MagTM may provide regarding yield, yield quality (pH and Brix) and conventional pesticide usage and cost.
The evaluation compared crop grown as follows: 1) control fields (8 and 5 ha, respectively); managed conventionally using in-market pesticides according to observed pest and disease pressure and industry Economic Injury Level (EIL) thresholds; 2) trial fields (6 and 4 ha, respectively); BOOSTER-MagTM applied every two weeks as a base-treatment with additional pesticide treatments only if EIL thresholds were reached.
The comparative crop monitoring reports, grower spray records and harvest data obtained are instructive.
BOOSTER-MagTM treatment coincided with fewer EIL events and therefore fewer conventional pesticide treatments.
No statistically significant difference in relative yield and yield quality was observed indicating the substitution did not compromise yield or yield quality.
The grower observed no obvious difference in pest and disease pressure however increased spider numbers and increased parasitic insect activity in the trial fields was noted and assessed.
It is suggested BOOSTER-MagTM bio-activity with respect to pest control, and although not quantified in this work, plant pathogen and disease control, contributed to a meaningful improvement in grower productivity and sustainability.
Publication
Authors
R. van Merkestein, L. Mann, A. Morrison, J. Geltch, P. Geltch, M. Geltch
Keywords
field processing tomato, bio-active magnesium hydroxide, pest control, yield, sustainability
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