North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Jim Fruth <jfruth@uslink.net>]

    A week or so ago, I asked the group, et. al., about their opinion re
foliar feeding in achieving increased fruit production.  Below is my letter
to my soils lab followed by the reply (Akhtar's English isn't the best).

> Akhtar,
> I've used your foliar spraying regimen on my  black raspberries for three
> years and now I can, conclusively say, "Berry  size and total production
has
> been exactly the same in both the foliar  sprayed plants and the control
> groups that weren't sprayed."
> How can that be?
> Thanks,
> Jim Fruth
> Pequot Lakes,  MN
>
>
>
> Happy new year Jim:
> Foliar response you get in soils with low fertility levels. If control and
> applied has the same results than you your soil fertility level are high
or
> climatically plant had no stress. Foliar plant nutrient are kind of
> insurance  
> that the plant under stressful weather or adverse condition will have
> support.
> Also you need to check the location of control and field condition,
> moisture 
> level will make big different,
> if your yield is at satisfactory level in both the plots, just try one
year
> grow like control and compare with past yields, you may have very  clear
> idea 
> that   you need to put extra input or labor or not
>  
> Foliar or organic program has shown inconsistency, due to soil fertility
> levels.
> Aktar.
>