Ferticell® Program for Reducing the Effects of Sodium and Chlorides for Strawberry Production

Agroplasma Program for Reducing the Effects of Sodium

and Chlorides for Strawberry Production

D. Holden
Holden Research and Consulting

PO Box 1437
Camarillo, CA 93011

“Objectives:
To monitor growth and production in strawberries when treated with an Agroplasma program when
exposed to excessive salts in the irrigation water.

Methods and Materials: Commented [AD1]: Much stronger statistics than the
The Portola strawberries utilized for this trial was grown in a controlled nursery environment in 2 liter usual 3 replications
containers in a commercial potting media. This trial was set up as a completely randomized block
trial of two Agroplasma programs overlaid on a grower standard with increased salt loads
compared to the grower standard with increased salt loads in the water and a grower standard
without increased salt loads with completely randomized data collection of six replicates maintained
during the growing season. All treatments received at planting controlled release fertilizer. All
materials were applied as drenches to the potted plants. Drench rates and rates of sodium chloride
treated water can be found in the Notes section of this report. No problems with phytotoxicity were
noted through the use of these Agroplasma materials.

Results and Discussion: Commented [AD2]: A note at the end of this summary
All data for this trial will be found in this report*, represented in the attached Charts 1-8 and found in report directs interested readers to the website, to request
the attached A&L leaf analysis taken in season. in writing a copy of the full report.

Charts 1-8 (and data in columns 5-44, average for the season in 45-54) tracks all marketable Commented [AD3]: A&L Labs found treated plants had
production for all picks commencing on February 16, 2015 and ending June 5, 2015, with statistically close to double the tissue N, P, and K, higher Mg, Mn, ZN,
significant differences noted between treatments, in particular the significant differences seen in both much lower Cl, reduced Na, Fe, and Ca (why Ca?!) TBD:
quality and size of the berries produced. Charts 1 and 2 shows the marketable production in evaluate these results against published optimal tissue
nutrient levels in strawberries.
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Commented [AD4]: (Cpt. Obvious comment here) While
this may not necessarily reflect in overall yield, it is very
important to the grower.

calibrated trays per acre for all treatments for each pick day both on a daily and cumulative basis. As Commented [AD5]: Plants treated with NaCl + absolute
can be seen in Chart 2 treatments 1 and 2 produced the most flats on average for the pick period, outperformed the grower standard, which had no added
with a cumulative total of 1417 and 1581 flats per acre equivalent. Treatment 1 was the grower NaCl (!)
standard with no additional sodium chloride added to the water, while treatment 2 were the berries
grown with additional sodium chloride and the high rate of Absolute added to the soil on a regular Commented [AD6]: The Absolute program net return on
basis. A different perspective of how the rated production affected final grower returns is shown in investment (ROI) was $375/ac for no-salt issue berries, and
Charts 3 and 4 which show the daily marketable returns based on USDA Shipping Point Market jumped to $824 when salt was present.
Prices found at HTTP:\\marketnews.usda.gov/portal for each pick day. This data is represented as
the net back to grower after costs of approximately $6.00 per tray were removed that would
represent picking labor, carton and tray costs, transportation to the cooler, and cooling costs
associated with picking the strawberries. Based on this data numerically cumulative seasonal
increase to the grower's return was seen by the use of treatment 2 over the grower standard with
salt (treatment 4), with a nice numerical return noted with a cumulative total for treatment 2 of $5329
per acre for this program period over $4505 for the grower standard program with salt water,
compared to the grower standard program at $4954 per acre. Chart 5 shows the daily market
utilization for the berries picked during the season, that is the percent of marketable berries to the
total weight of berries picked, with treatment 2 showing a 46% utilization on average while treatment
3 performed a bit less at 45.5%, with the grower standard at 43.2%, all of which showed
significantly higher utilization than did the grower standard with additional salt at 35%. Chart 6
shows the mean weight per marketable fruit during the season. In this case the treatment 2
program produced berries that averaged 22.3 grams by weight, while the grower standard program
with salt added produced berries that weighed 21.9 grams by weight on average. Chart 7 shows the
net differential in returns to the farm for each pick day for the treatment programs over the grower
standard, which in this case was $375 per acre more for the season for the treatment 2 program, but
$824 per acre better than the berries grown under the salty conditions. Finally Chart 8 consolidates
the estimated net return per flat prices per day paid back to the grower during this trial period.

Vigor, SPAD, and final end of season plant development weights were taken during this trial. Early
and mid-season vigor ratings on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the best looking plants, can be found in
columns 1(1-5-15) and 4 (4-11-15). The early vigor readings showed no statistically different

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averages for the treatments, but at this time treatment 2 (after only one actual treatment) had the Commented [AD7]: Sales comment: This is why we need
highest rating. The later season data for vigor rating found in column 4 indicated that treatment 1 to be careful with how a crop “looks” to our eyes. The
(grower standard) had the most vigorous plants, followed by treatment 2 (Absolute program only). better “looking” crop (most vigorous) lost the grower $375
Both of these treatments indicated significantly better plants than was found with treatments 3 and 4. in potential earnings. Want to grow ornamentals?... use the
SPAD (SPAD meters give a relative chlorophyll value with the higher the number indicating higher grower standard. Want to increase your bottom line? Use
chlorophyll readings) readings in January and February (columns 2 and 3) show no significant Absolute.
differences between treatments. Finally end of season mass averages for the plants shoots, roots, Franklin, et al, describe this phenomena as the root:shoot
and whole weights (columns 53-55) show that treatment 2 (the full Absolute program in the presence ratio in their article on Plant, Cell and Environment (2016),
of sodium chloride) produced significantly higher root mass and eventual whole weight mass than all “The carbon bonus of organic nitrogen enhances nitrogen
other treatments. use efficiency of plants”

Leaf analysis was performed twice for the plants grown in these treatments and will be found in the Commented [AD8]: More dry matter was produced
attached A&L Lab reports 15-050-025 and 15-16-034. Sample ID's ending in 1-4 correspond to under salty soils using Absolute. This is very exciting to me
treatments 1-4. As can be seen in both reports, leaf sodium levels were found to be quite similar because strawberry is rated as a salt sensitive crop, with a
and quite low for this test, but chloride levels were quite different. In general chloride leaf level 50% yield loss estimated at an EC of only 2.5 mmhos/cm
above 0.5% in strawberries is considered detrimental. The first readings show that the grower
standard treatments were at an average of 0.59% with all the treatments following at 0.75, 0.73, and Commented [AD9]: Absolute had little effect on actual
0.77%. The later readings show the grower standard at 0.92%, followed by the treatments 2-4 at Na uptake, but had a significant effect in tissue Cl.
1.23, 1.11, and 1.01%. At the same time the late season readings show a reverse in the readings of
leaf nitrogen for treatments 1-4 at 2.4, 2.36, 2.25, and 2.18% Since soil chlorides are a competing Commented [AD10]: Anion competition, excess Cl-
anion in the soil for nitrates, these leaf readings would be consistent with the addition of sodium competing with NO3- and we may be able to argue that
chloride to treatments 2-4. The fact that treatments 2 and 3 (Absolute, Absolute-Universal other anions also support this observation, since tissue P, S,
programs) had slightly higher leaf nitrogen over treatment 4 (grower standard with additional sodium and B (to a lesser extent) were also higher in plants treated
chloride) may indicate the positive influence the use of Absolute and Absolute-Universal had on the with Absolute.
growth of these plants.

All data rated as significant was done so utilizing the New Duncan's Multiple Test Range at a 90% Commented [AD11]: I’ve been to new product
confidence level. presentations where they use a 75% confidence level, with
less replications. These results are solid.
Conclusions:

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Based on the data collected in this trial, the use of one quart per acre of Absolute on a 14 day Commented [AD12]: Substantiated Claim: higher quality,
schedule appeared to have a significant effect in decreasing the long term negative effect of sodium larger fruit, increase average marketable fruit.
chloride on the production of strawberry fruit. These production differentials seemed to have been
attained via higher quality and larger fruit on average. Increases in the average number of
harvestable marketable fruit were also seen. Though production increases were not seen with the
other program (Absolute/Universal) the ratio of higher quality fruit was also seen through the use of
this program.”

Charts:

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* For the sake of brevity, full experimental data, statistical analysis, tables, and other detailed
information included in the full report were not included in this document. Full trial report
available upon written request trough http://agroplasmausa.com/contact-us

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