The effect of the use of this nutrient, via foliar application in the cultivation of citrus, has been studied by the Valencian Institute of Agricultural Research (IVIA), Moncada (Valencia) over a period of two years and in different plots through foliar application of Multi-K (Potassium nitrate) and Haifa Bonus™ 12-5-42 (an innovative foliar formula from Haifa that allows for high concentration spraying, which reduces the number of applications required) at different doses and application periods.
In the photo: first foliar application of the treatments
According to the results obtained from the analysis of the effect of foliar application of K, through 1 or 3 applications of Multi-K or Haifa Bonus, on the different parameters analyzed, the following conclusions can be drawn:
- The foliar application of K did not modify seasonal fruit growth
- The use of three foliar applications of Haifa Bonus™ increased foliar concentrations of N and P compared to the control trees and those that had received only a single application of Multi-K™
- All the potassium fertilisers used via foliar application (Multi-K™ and Haifa Bonus™) increased the concentration of K compared to the control trees, and it increased even more in relation to the number of applications or the concentration of K
- The fruits harvested from the plots showed no significant disparity in size, percentage of peel, juice or rind thickness; regardless of the treatment applied. However, there is a clear tendency to acquire fruits with increased weight and size when foliar applications of K are carried out, and this tendency increases with the use of three applications of Haifa Bonus™: The foliar treatments carried out using K with Multi-K™ and Haifa Bonus™ increased production outcomes, with higher values than the control trees, independent of the intensity of flowering. Although there were no significant differences, a growth trend was observed in this parameter due to an increase in the number of applications of Haifa Bonus™ via foliar application.
