The second most important element after nitrogen is phosphorus, and its function is important for the capture and conversion of solar energy into useful plant compounds
Plants can only absorb the phosphorus they need if the roots acquire it in simple forms of soil dissolution, since it is one of the least available elements. The absorption of phosphorus by plants in different soils can be affected by the content of organic matter, pH, content of calcium, iron, and aluminum. The location of the fertilizer in the plant is especially important since this element is terribly slow and with low mobility, so it must remain in the root zone to facilitate its absorption.
The amount of phosphorus in the plants should be between 0.05 to 0.30% on the dry weight.
The yield of the crops will depend on the state of the phosphorus and its balance, therefore an adequate contribution of phosphorus to the crop will allow us to obtain stems with greater resistance to breakage, greater root development, increase in the production of flowers and seeds, better production of harvest and better resistance to pests and diseases. The phosphorus deficiency in the strawberry crop decreases the production and will present in the older leaves reddish colorations that die and fall precociously, the fruits appear small and their ripening is delayed, altering their flavor, making the strawberries more acidic.
When phosphorus is deficient, up to 50% of the harvest can be lost. General symptoms for lack of phosphorus:
- Weak appearance of the plant both in the aerial part and in the root, as thin leaves of smaller size and with little pronounced veins
- Leaves turn dark purple, especially the tips
- The stems turn a blue-green color
- The maturation of the plant is too slow
- Deformation of the fruits
The nutritional management of strawberries requires attention from the identification of the phosphorus deficit or necessary for the plant at the time of application, which may be determined by the assimilation of the plant and/or the rate of release of the applied product.
In organic production, it will be necessary to prepare the soil incorporating necessary amendments according to its correction or maintenance. The response to organic amendments or fertilizers is slower since they are natural processes that act on the physiological activity of the plant.
In conventional production, the fertilizers applied to the crop have a direct relationship with the quality and chemical properties of the soil, therefore the fertilization program for each season must be specific since there is no standard recipe for all conditions. The lack or excess of any nutrient will directly affect the productivity of the crop and the quality of the fruit.
The recommendation must be in accordance with the soil analyzes that can be carried out every 2 years and foliar analyzes every 2 weeks every season, with this, the specific elements are delivered in the appropriate quantities, promoting quality and high performance obtaining greater profitability.
Crop Nutritional Monitoring in strawberry fields
At AGQ Labs we have been working for more than 25 years in the continual monitoring of plant needs at any given time. In a practical and dynamic manner, throughout the growing season, we monitor the crop’s needs for water and nutrients, in order to adjust the irrigation and fertilizer regime to that demand.
Moreover, with such monitoring, we achieve a sustainable agricultural practice because there is no leaching that contaminates the aquifers or harms the soil structure. The result is:
- Minimization of environmental impacts
- Optimization of nutritive irrigation
- Better quality product
- Important savings in fertilizer costs
- Greater productivity and larger yields
To accomplish this, we have developed an internal Crop Nutritional Monitoring procedure, based on analyzing soil solutions extracted using our patented suction probes. At all times, our guarantee is based on the know-how gained by AGQ Labs over the course of our history.Through our continual efforts, we have reached optimal reference values for the major crops. Our agronomists from around the world are experts in the interpretation of all this information, thus contributing the greatest value in matters of irrigation and nutrition.
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