Nutrition plays an essential role in flowering, however application timing is critical to ensure crop nutrient levels are optimal for reproduction. Nutrition can also have a major impact on plant health, yield & seed quality of beans, peas, lentils & lupins. Key nutrients for pulses include, calcium, sulphur, boron, zinc, manganese, copper & molybdenum.

Early in the season, sulphur, copper, iron & molybdenum are essential for nodulation/nitrogen fixation & so early development can be inhibited if these nutrients are deficient. Other important nutrients for vegetative growth are zinc and manganese. All these need to be addressed well before flowering otherwise crop yields will be significantly reduced. With wet conditions in many growing areas this season, soil availability of sulphur, zinc and iron may be reduced, so crops should respond well to early foliar sprays of these nutrients. A major advantage of SJB Chelates is that every product contains available sulphur (1-4%) which plays a major role in growth, yield & quality of pulse crops.

For flowering & pod set, plants need optimal levels of calcium, boron and zinc. Boron is phloem mobile in most pulse crops so foliar sprays can be effective from early development through to flowering as it can be mobilised within the plant and translocated to reproductive organs. Calcium and zinc are immobile and therefore timing is more critical. Foliar calcium is most effective when applied to buds and flowers as it can be readily absorbed and utilized. Zinc is required early, however on deficient soils (eg. alkaline calcareous clays) pulse crops will usually benefit from multiple applications so a second spray should be applied just prior to flowering.

Pulse crops are also very responsive to manganese & deficiencies cause major quality issues in lupin (split seed). If you are on alkaline soils, include manganese with your early & later zinc sprays (1:1 Zn/Mn ratio will achieve the best results).

An area of nutrition that is less known about & utilised is the application of calcium & trace elements for disease resistance. In wet or humid conditions crops can be quite susceptible to fungal diseases (eg. chocolate spot in beans) & optimal levels of calcium, boron & copper increase structural integrity while copper, zinc & manganese promote the synthesis of antioxidants & phytoalexins that fight disease organisms. Including a multi-trace spray such as LIG-TRACE with your post emergent protectants (eg. mancozeb) can greatly enhance disease tolerance. The excellent binding & wetting properties of SJB Chelates also enhance fungicide efficacy. In some cases, our clients have simply replaced their fungicides with trace sprays as they find the nutrients more effective!

If you are looking for a spray additive to promote flowering, reduce stress, aid crop recovery & enhance cover spray efficacy then our newly released product – GREENA – featuring Awaken & NutriSync D technology is a great all-round solution. At 2-3 L/ha it is also a very cost competitive option for growers.

Foliar nutrient options for Pulse crops

Pre-flowering

Multi-trace options – LIG-GRAIN PLUS, LIG-TRACE, LIG-PENINSULA, LIG-MALLEE @ 2 L/ha

Zinc options – LIG-ZINC + BORON & LIG-ZINC + Mn @ 1-2 L/ha.

Also speak to us about our new zinc, boron, moly product – LIG-ZBM @ 2 L/ha.

Bud development to flowering

Calcium & boron options – LIG-CALCIUM + BORON @ 2 L/ha, PASTURE CAL @ 2-3 L/ha, LIGNO-BORON @ 1 L/ha.

Talk to us about new LIG-CBM (Ca 8%, B 1%, Mo 0.25%).

Enhance Disease Tolerance

LIG-GRAIN PLUS & LIG-TRACE @ 2 L/ha

Reduce Crop Stress, Increase Spray Efficacy, Improve Nutrient Utilization

GREENA @ 2-3 L/ha