A field trial conducted in Vietnam confirmed: spraying Poly-Feed™ and Haifa MKP™ on the leaves results in higher yield and profit
The field trial tested the farmer's practice – a base fertilizer program – against Haifa's treatment: the farmer's watermelon fertilizer practice + Poly-Feed™ and Haifa MKP™ foliar sprays. The results, as shown in the table and graphs below, were in favor of Haifa's treatment – there is higher profit per Ha and higher yield.
|
Crop/cultivar |
Watermelon |
|---|---|
| Country / location | Vietnam / Can Tho province |
| Trial type | Open field |
| Seasons | Dry and Rainy season, 2012 |
| Area | 2 ha (1 ha/season) |
| Haifa products tested | Haifa MKPTM, Poly-FeedTM 15-30-15, Poly-FeedTM 16-8-34 |
| Application method | Foliar nutrition |
| Variety properties | Name: TN 755 Growth time: 55-60 days Fruit weight: 4-5 kg Average Yield: 30-40 tons/ha |
| Tested treatments | Control (farmer practice): Base fertilizer program: 125N - 100P2O5 - 120K2O + 40CaO Haifa treatment: Farmer practice + Poly-FeedTM 15-30-15+TE (50grams/16 lits water, 320 lits/ha) spray 2 times after planted 13 days and 18 days; Haifa MKPTM (100grams/16 lits water, 320 lits/ha) spray one time before flower setting 5-7 day; Poly-FeedTM 16-8-34+TE (50grams/16 lits water, 320 lits/ha) spray 3 times after fruit setting and 5 days apart |
| Control treatment results | Farmer practice: Dry season: 22.6 t/Ha Rainy season: 18.5 t/Ha |
| Best treatment results | Farmer practice + Haifa foliar: Dry season: 24.8 t/Ha Rainy season: 19.9 t/Ha |
| Cost of best treatment | 20 USD |
| Net benefit of best treatment | Net profit difference : Dry season:639 USD/Ha Rainy season: 578 USD/Ha |
| Benefit/cost ratio of Haifa treatment | Dry season: 31.95 Rainy season: 28.90* |
| Conclusions | The extra cost of the foliar treatment (20 USD/ha) gave higher profit per Ha (578-639 USD/ha). The foliar treatment cost/benefit ratio was higher in the dry season, when yields are usually low due to less than optimal growing conditions |
| Reference | MSc. HUYNH TRI CUONG, Agronomic Director |
* Although the fertilizer costs were higher, the total cost for each season was lower, due to lower pests infection in the foliar nutrition treatments, resulting in less pesticides use.
