Fertilization Recommendations for Field Crops

Fruit Trees (Pome and Stone Fruit)

Before bloom (mouse-ear stage/green bud): 1 L/ha. Goal: promote bud break and flower quality. After bloom (fruit set/pea size): 1 L/ha. Supports fruit set and early fruit development. During fruit growth (two to three applications at 14–21 day intervals): 1 L/ha each. Promotes fruit growth, size, and quality. After harvest (leaf fall): 1 L/ha. Supports storage of reserves for the following year and improves winter hardiness. Rationale: Biostimulants can improve flower induction, increase fruit set, and enhance fruit size and quality (color, sugar content, storability) while making trees more resilient to stress (e.g., frost, drought). A late post-harvest application supports recovery of the tree.

Viticulture

Before budbreak (wool stage): 1 L/ha. Promotes vigorous shoot growth. Before bloom (inflorescences just before flowering): 1 L/ha. Improves flowering quality and subsequent fruit set. After fruit set (berries at pea size): 1 L/ha. Supports berry development and size increase. At bunch closure/veraison: 1 L/ha. Promotes berry quality, sugar accumulation, and color development. Rationale: In vineyards, biostimulants can invigorate shoot growth, optimize fertilization and fruit set, positively influence berry development and size, and improve grape quality (sugars, acids, anthocyanins). They also enhance stress tolerance.

Flowers (Ornamentals in Field and Containers)

After planting/emergence: 1 L/ha (or equivalent dilution for container crops). Promotes establishment and root growth. Before bud formation/beginning of bloom: 1 L/ha (or equivalent dilution). Stimulates abundant, vigorous flowering. During peak bloom (every 14–21 days if needed): 1 L/ha each (or equivalent dilution). Extends bloom duration and improves flower quality (color, size, longevity). Rationale: In ornamentals, biostimulants support robust growth, promote rich and long-lasting blooms, enhance color intensity and plant health, and increase resilience against environmental stressors like drought or disease.

Soybean (Legumes)

Applications during the vegetative phase (BBCH 12–14) help accelerate early growth and canopy closure. Reapplications in later BBCH stages, especially around the onset of flowering (BBCH 60–61), can positively influence flower and pod formation.

Rapeseed (Brassicas)

Autumn applications (BBCH 14–18) promote early development and winter hardiness. Applications after winter dormancy and from BBCH 33–35 support vegetative growth and flowering/silique formation.