South Africa has some of the most ideal locations in the southern Hemisphere to grow and multiply highly valuable vegetable seeds destined for the European summer planting season. The remoteness and technical expertise of the local growers are key ingredients that are required for successful production of this niche market.
Recent advances in locally formulated Multicote Agri, Controlled Release Fertilizer blends have enabled sustained nutrient availability and crop health during this prolonged growing cycle. The management benefit of reduced fertilizer applications during the season is a major advantage to growers.
On a recent visit to the Vredendal region, together with Johan Coetzee (grower), Oubaas Kersop (Syngenta Seed) and Michael Koch (Haifa), we inspected this leafy salad crop being harvested for its seed. Over the past 6 years, various other groups of vegetable seed crops (e.g., cucurbit, brassica and onion) have been successfully fertilized with Multicote Agri, increasing the seed production, while maintaining seed quality.
Multicote™ Agri Controlled Release Fertilizers are designed to feed agricultural crops continuously throughout the growth season – for optimal growth and yield production
Based on Haifa’s polymer coating technology, Multicote™ Agri release nutrients to the soil in a gradual manner, according to plant’s requirements. This prevents leaching of nutrients, thus improving nutrient use efficiency and allowing for reduced application rates.
