Foliar Nutrition Quick Guide

With the rising cost of land, water, labor and fertilizer, increasing production efficiency is more important than ever. Properly timed and sourced foliar applications will help maximize your fertilizer budget. Below are a few key things to consider when designing foliar application programs:

• The leaf cuticle is the most limiting factor for foliar applications. Your most efficient foliar applications will be while there are young leaves with thin cuticles. Always use an adjuvant!
• Nutrients that are not mobile in the soil will be among the most important for foliar application, especially in young trees with under-developed root systems.
• When determining what nutrients to include in your foliar program, keep their respective uptake efficiencies and ability to move in the plant in mind. The chart above is a quick guide to these properties.

- Chad Lessard, Division Agronomist