Strawberries are a high value crop and fruit quality is absolutely paramount as growers know. What happens pre-flowering has a large influence on crop yield and quality so the importance of pre-plant & early crop nutrient management cannot be understated.

Pre-planting – Before planting you need to ensure your soil pH and calcium levels are optimal. Low pH will reduce availability of phosphorous and molybdenum and has potential to cause toxicity issues (eg. aluminium). Ideally aim for a pH (water) of 6.0-6.5 which provides good availability of most nutrients. On heavier poorly structured soils you may want to apply gypsum if not applying lime. Calcium is the most important nutrient for berry quality so you simply cannot skimp in this area otherwise you will pay the price (literally) come harvest time. Lime or gypsum should be applied well before planting (at least 3 months) though the full benefit will likely not be seen for at least 12 months following application.

On lighter soils the application of compost or animal manures can be most advantageous as they provide nutrients as well as organic carbon, that will enhance nutrient and moisture retention during the season. Organic nutrient forms are released more slowly than conventional mineral fertilizers so manures/composts will still need to be supplemented with mineral sources in most situations. Pre-plant rates of 50 kg/ha of each major nutrient (NPK) should be sufficient on most soil types.

Transplanting – This is a critical time and plants often suffer transplant shock during the first week and root uptake of nutrients is usually restricted. This is a good time to foliar feed the bushes to supplement reduced soil nutrient uptake. Complete nutrient sprays such as VLP are ideal in this situation while LIG-POLYPHOS also helps stimulate root development. LIG-KELP contains growth stimulants that also aid recovery from transplant shock.

Early Vegetative Development – This is an important phase where you are preparing the bush for flowering and fruit production. If correct nutrient inputs and balance are not maintained, it is very difficult to rectify once flowering begins. While major nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium are important for vegetative growth (see CR NPKomplete), calcium, magnesium and trace elements are equally important for bush health. New growth requires significant amounts of calcium (for cell walls) and this is one reason why excessive nitrogen causes calcium deficiency in fruit. Calcium is also critical for reproduction/flowering so levels need to be maintained right through the growing season, but it is essential to push hard with calcium pre-flowering to build robust bushes that can maintain good levels of fruit production. Calcium nitrate is a good option and can be used in conjunction with our control release equivalent (see CR CAL-NIT + Boron). Also be mindful of nutrient balance as calcium is immobile in the soil and excessive levels of nitrogen, potassium and magnesium can induce deficiencies.

Trace elements are essential for growth (photosynthesis) and plant health (low levels can reduce disease resistance). Zinc is especially important for early growth & deficient plants will be stunted and weak. LIG-TRACE is a fully chelated foliar trace spray ideally suited for crop establishment. Boron is another critical nutrient for strawberry production due to its role in flowering, calcium uptake and sugar transport. A combination of both soil (Calcium + Boron PLEX) and foliar (LIGNO-BORON) application will provide the best results.

On lighter soil types the addition of humates can aid fertilizer efficiency and stimulate microbial activity in the soil. LIG-HUMATES is extensively used in strawberry production in South East Queensland with excellent results & contains high levels of organic carbon (16%). With regard to nitrogen management, humates slow down nitrate release from urea leading to a better soil nutrient balance, controlled vigour and reduced leaching losses.

Here is some information on the role of essential nutrients in strawberry production.

They say ‘imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’, & at SJB we know all about that! In recent times we have had 3 or 4 opposition companies coming out with ‘identical’ products/ranges (ie. same analysis, lignosulphonate based) & of course always cheaper than the SJB original.

Firstly, this is a testament to the quality & success of SJB products in the market. We’ve been around since 1989 & established a strong brand & reputation in the Australian industry, so it’s not surprising that our competitors are trying to take advantage of that by producing cheaper copycat products. The usual sales pitch to growers is “Yeah it’s as good as SJB but cheaper”, and while this is incorrect, it’s still an admission by our competitors that SJB products are the benchmark when it comes to lignosulphonate (LS) chelates.

So are all lignosulphonate products created equal? Are the claims by our competitors actually true?

Over the years we have put these claims to the test (literally) comparing pH, nutrient analysis, specific gravity, colour, HPLC, viscosity & lignin content & funnily enough we’ve never found a product that’s the same as ours. In fact for several products we’ve found they contained no LS at all, but had substituted LS for inferior humic or fulvic acids.

In terms of the source of the LS, it’s important to realise that there are literally hundreds of different types available, most of which are not suitable for foliar absorption. The LS used in our products is exclusive to SJB & not available to other companies.

We also use significantly more chelate per unit of nutrient than our competitors. The difference in performance (& safety) between a partially chelated & fully chelated product is significant. The real value of a chelated product is the chelating agent (to state the obvious), not the nutrient. The higher the percentage of active chelating agent, the more effective & efficient the product will be at delivering nutrients into the plant. This is why SJB chelates have comparatively low nutrient analysis compared to many other ‘chelated’ products on the market. For example, the highest zinc sulphate liquid (non-chelated) available contains about 16% Zn, any higher and this solution will drop out. LIG-ZINC contains 8% Zn but this leaves us room in the solution to add significant amounts of active chelating agent. The reality is as you increase zinc concentration you have to reduce the percentage of chelate (it’s a fact of chemistry). So a ‘chelated’ product with 15% zinc for example is going to have very low levels of chelating agent & therefore a low level of nutrient chelation (eg. <10%).

There is also the important matter of formulation technology & the specific IP involved in this process. The complex nature of the LS compound & its interactions with various nutrients is a science all itself. The manufacturing process is a vital component of product quality to optimise efficacy & shelf life.

But the greatest value in SJB products is not actually the product, but rather the people behind the products! Yes we know we have great products, but so do other companies. We firmly believe chelates offer growers greater flexibility, safety & results, but non-chelated nutrients can also be quite effective & have their place in the market. Good products on their own don’t guarantee results, however the combination of good products with knowledge, experience & service does & that’s what SJB provides for all their growers.