University Trials for product registration in Uganda, Aug-Dec 2019, Mar-Jul 2020 and Aug-Nov 2020, repeated in commercial fields in Nawangoma, Jinja and Namatala Mbale Districts concluded that CalMax is an excellent source of calcium for plant nutrition.
Conducted by: Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute, Kabanyolo (MAURIK)
Crop: Tomato, c.v. Grande
Set up: Plants transplanted in to 12 plots each 3m x 3m, 30 seedlings per plot at spacing of 60 cm x 45 cm. Treated with standard fungicides and insecticides
Applications: started 14 days after planting and repeated during intensive vegetative growth, before flowering and at fruit ripening stages.
Assessments: Plant height, fruit yield, soluble solids, fruit firmness, blossom-end rot % score.
Treatments:
1.Untreated Control
2.CalMax 30 ml in 20 litres water (1.5 l/ha)
3.CalMax 50 ml in 20 litres water (2.5 l/ha)
4.CalMax 70 ml in 20 litres water (3.5 l/ha)
OMEX CalMax application significantly reduced the number of flower buds being shed and therefore, resulted in higher tomato yield.
OMEX CalMax significantly reduced Blossom-end rot incidence but did not completely eradicate it due to differences in soil moisture stress levels during the trials at the different sites.
OMEX CalMax application improved tomato fruit firmness
OMEX CalMax application did not result in significant increase in plant height. To have an effect on plant growth, there needs to be a balanced nutrition beyond providing elevated Ca2+ only and the data suggests that there might have been mineral nutritional imbalances at the trial sites for enhanced plant growth.
Conclusions and Recommendations
- OMEX CalMax is an excellent source of calcium for plant nutrition, and its application reduced the number of flower buds being shed and the incidence of Blossom End Rot, therefore, resulting in higher tomato yield.
- Applying more OMEX CalMax does not necessarily result in increased plant growth and yield because it disrupts the cation balance within the plant (and soil). Therefore, it is important to apply OMEX CalMax in a balanced nutrient regime together with other nutrients.
- It is recommended that OMEX CalMax can be registered as a foliar fertilizer supplying calcium, and its use should be recommended for use for example in situations where the fruits and vegetable crops are likely to face fluctuating soil moisture during fruiting.
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