Timmy Mann from Ben Hill Griffin, Inc. presented on foliar fertilizers. He discussed that foliar fertilizers provide a practical approach to plant nutrition and increase disease resistance and production. Proper foliar fertilizers are soluble and compatible with other products. Nutrient deficiencies can weaken plant defenses and increase susceptibility to disease, while maintaining optimal nutrient levels through foliar applications supports both plant health and higher yields. Studies show that foliar applications of nutrients like potassium nitrate and monoammonium phosphate can increase orange production and quality.

1. Presented by
Timmy Mann
Ben Hill Griffin, Inc.

2. Timmy Mann
Ben Hill Griffin, Inc.

4. Today we’re addressing…
Foliar Fertilizers
 A Practical Approach
 Assessing Foliar Products
 The Effects of Foliar Nutrition on Plant
Disease
 The Effects of Foliar Nutrition on
Production
 Enhancing the Effects of Good Nutrition
with products from ALLTECH

5. Why Use Foliar Fertilizers?
N
Zn P
Mo K
Mn Ca
Fe Mg
Cu S
B

6. The Foliar Option
Per acre Product
2.25 lbs Serenade Max WP
2 qts Di-Oxy Solv organic
8 gal *14-8-7 w/K-phite (1-pt/gal)
8.5 lbs Epsom Salts (MgSO4)
8.5 lbs Techmangam (MnSO4)
2.8 lbs Zinc Sulfate
0.85 oz Sodium Molybdate
8.5 lbs 13-0-44 spray grade (KNO3)
1 qt Saver w/ammonium salicylate
5 gal 435 Oil

7. The GRIFFIN Foliar Option
Apply ONE Product
Griffin 408 Foliar
Fertilizer with Agro-Mos
4 lbs Nitrogen
8 lbs Potash
1 lb Magnesium
.5 lbs Sulfur
.03 lbs Boron
.05 lbs Copper
.05 lbs Iron
.5 lbs Manganese
.001 lbs Molybdenum
.5 lbs Zinc
16 oz Agro-Mos by ALLTECH

12. Foliar Fertilizers by
Griffin Fertilizer Company

13. What Makes a Quality Foliar Fertilizer?

14. Tim’s Two Rules of Solubility
• Rule #1:
if it ain’t soluble, it ain’t
effective.
• Rule #2:
if it was soluble, but you
tank mixed with an
incompatible tank mix
partner, it ain’t soluble
and it ain’t effective.

15. The Importance of Solubility
Different magnesium compounds were absorbed at
different rates by apple leaves (Fisher & Walker, 1955).
After a 24 hour absorption period, leaf absorption of
magnesium was observed as follows:
Material Solubility % Uptake
Magnesium Nitrate: 125 g / 100 ml 71%
Magnesium Chloride: 54.3 g / 100 ml 32%
Magnesium Sulfate: 25.5 g / 100 ml 8%
Magnesium Phosphate: Only Slightly Soluble 4%

16. Foliar Fertilizers are SOLUBLE
Solubility Chart
DKP 14.1
Urea 8.35
Ammonium Phosphate 3.8
MKP 2.8
Potassium Nitrate 2.7
Potassium Sulfate 0.6
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
Lbs per Gallon

17. Soluble & SAFE
Salt Index of Various Fertilizers
DKP 7.60
MKP 8.40
Calcium Nitrate 29.90
Potassium Nitrate 73.60
Urea 75.40
Ammonium Nitrate 104.70
Potassium Chloride 106.30
- 20.00 40.00 60.00 80.00 100.00 120.00

18. Compatibility Concerns

19. The Importance of Solubility
Different magnesium compounds were absorbed at
different rates by apple leaves (Fisher & Walker, 1955).
After a 24 hour absorption period, leaf absorption of
magnesium was observed as follows:
Material Solubility % Uptake
Magnesium Nitrate: 125 g / 100 ml 71%
Magnesium Chloride: 54.3 g / 100 ml 32%
Magnesium Sulfate: 25.5 g / 100 ml 8%
Magnesium Phosphate: Only Slightly Soluble 4%

20. • Rule #1:
if it ain’t soluble, it ain’t
effective.
• Rule #2:
if it was soluble, but you
tank mixed with an
incompatible tank mix
partner, it ain’t soluble
and it ain’t effective.

21. The Effects of Foliar
Nutrition on Plant Disease

22. Direct Relationships with
Mineral Nutrition And Fungal Diseases
• Potassium deficiencies cause weaker, thinner cell
walls and high sugar and amino acid concentrations in
the leaf.
• Calcium and boron deficiencies also causes a buildup
of sugars and amino acids of both leaf and stem tissue.
• Thinner, weaker cell walls "leak" nutrient laden fluids
to the plant surface which creates a fertile
environment that stimulates the germination of fungal
spores on leaf and root surfaces.
• Excessive nitrogen supplies bring about higher
amounts of amino acid and amide concentrations.

23. Direct Relationships between
Mineral Nutrition And Disease
• Plants have an Immune System which produces
compounds that hinder disease attacks.
• Boron plays a key role in the syntheses of
defensive compounds.
• Copper deficiencies hinder the production of
these compounds, cause accumulation of soluble
carbohydrates and reduced lignification.

24. “In order for a citrus
tree to become
infected with HLB,
there has to be a large
enough population of
psyllids that live long
enough to become
infected, attack the
tree, and overwhelm
the defense (immune)
system of the tree.”
Dr. Michael Rogers,
University of Florida,
2008

25. Foliar Fertilizers
• A Practical Approach
• What Makes a Good Foliar
Fertilizer
• How Foliar Nutritionals
Increase Disease Resistance
• How Do We Pay for It?

26. What is the relationship between
nutrition, production, and disease
resistance in citrus?
Nutrient levels that tend to be
optimum for production are
optimum for disease resistance,
as well...

27. EFFECTS OF FOLIAR UREA SPRAYS ON
FLOWERING AND YIELDS OF VALENCIA
ORANGE TREES
“Urea applied between the dates of 25
Dec. and 11 Jan. increased flowers.
Winter urea sprays on the same plots
for 4 consecutive years significantly
increased yields. Orange juice soluble
solids per ha were increased when
compared to the control plots.”
Gene Albrigo, IFAS, Lake Alfred, FL

28. KNO3 FOLIAR APPLICATION TO
‘SUNBURST' TANGERINE
“Trees receiving the KNO3 applications
had over 30% more size 100 and larger
fruit during the first spot picks in early
November of each year.
Trees receiving KNO3 applications
averaged $5.00 more per tree
during the first spot pick each
year in gross returns.”
Brian Boman, IFAS, Fort Pierce, FL

29. FOLIAR NUTRIENT SPRAYS INFLUENCE YIELD AND
SIZE OF 'VALENCIA' ORANGE
“Over the 3 years, trees receiving the KNO3 or
MKP applications had 24-29% more fruit per
tree, averaged 28% more boxes per tree, and
had 25% higher total pound solids per tree
than the control treatment. “
24% Higher 28% Higher
Gross Returns Gross Returns
On Processed On Fresh Fruit
Fruit
Brian Boman, IFAS, Fort Pierce, FL

30. We’ve addressed…
Foliar Fertilizer – A Practical Approach
Assessing Foliar Products
The Effects of Foliar Nutrition on Plant
Disease
The Effects of Foliar Nutrition on
Production
Enhancing the Effects of Good
Nutrition with products from
ALLTECH

35. Carbo
hydrates
Alkaloids Lipids
N
Zn P
Mo K
Mn Ca
Glycosides Proteins
Fe Mg
Cu S
B
Nucleic
Terpenes Acids
“I praise You because I am fearfully and
wonderfully made…”

36. Thank you very much!
Foliar Fertilizers by
Griffin Fertilizer Company