Low temperatures may cause significant damage to crop production. It can even be deadly in case of frost.

An adequate fertilization management favours the general health of the plant and the resistance to these adverse climatic conditions. Therefore, crops with proper nutrition will better withstand frost and low temperatures. Numerous studies demonstrate the importance of fertilization in dealing with frost and adverse conditions.

In this respect, potassium has an especially favourable effect, since it regulates the permeability of the cell membrane in addition to the concentration of salts, and therefore reduces damage to freezing plant tissues due to cell dehydration. In this way, it also improves the quality and post-harvest conservation of fruits and vegetables. The following diagram shows the relationship between plants damaged by frost and the contribution of potassium in the cultivation of corn.

Graph: Temperature (ºC) at which crop growth decreases by 50% according to NPK contributed.
Data: Gilbert and Davis (1971)

Likewise, the Nitrogen to Potassium ratio is important. Nitrogen stimulates the growth of new tissues and reduces the level of carbohydrates, thus reducing resistance against frost. Therefore, excessive contributions of nitrogen and a lower N / K ratio can be crucial for plant growth.

In the following graph we can see how temperature affects the growth of a forage crop (Cynodon dactylon) depending on the ratio of NPK provided, measuring the decrease of its growth up to 50% linked to different NPK ratios. At a higher proportion of Potassium for the same amount of Nitrogen, cold resistance is clearly higher.

Graph: Temperature (ºC) at which crop growth decreases by 50% according to NPK contributed. Data: Gilbert and Davis (1971)

On the other hand, winter crops, although they require the same amount of nutrients for their development, reduce their soil absorption due to low temperatures. These conditions affect differently depending on the element studied, their assimilation and translocation within the plant. At that moment, it is advisable to apply foliar fertilizers to ensure that the plant has enough nutrients and continues its development correctly.

As for the requirement of Potassium for the plant, it is increased in the production stage, so it will be necessary to increase its availability for the crop at this time in order not to reduce its yield and final quality of the harvest.

For more information about fertilizers with high content of assimilable potassium formulated by Adler Agro, please do not hesitate to contact our technical team.

Abiotic stress is an important limiting element in agriculture. This kind of stress refers to all those environmental factors that slow down growth and decrease crop productivity, such as extreme temperatures, drought or salinity. The use of seaweed in agriculture considerably helps to counteract this stress in plants and allow their correct development.

Thanks to its high content of fibre, macro and microelements, amino acids, vitamins and plant phytohormones, seaweed act as a soil conditioner and contribute to the optimal functioning of the plant.

In addition, the Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed extract is a natural biostimulant and provides the plant with a natural balance of nutrients, carbohydrates, amino acids and antioxidants. The synthesis capacity of Ascophyllum nodosum provides necessary substances, which are involved in improving cellular metabolism and general plant conditions, acting as a biostimulant. Furthermore, because it is in adequate proportion for plants, it offers an outstanding effectiveness.

Some of the main reasons to use seaweed extract in agriculture:

-They provide an ideal combination that would not be achieved with isolated applications of its elements, achieving excellent advantages for the crop.

-Improves the soil condition due to its high organic matter content, contributing to the better functioning of the Soil-Plant system.

-The amino acids and vitamins contained in the seaweed extract act on the cellular metabolism, improving the enzymatic functions and favouring the assimilation of the mineral elements.

-They act in the plant stimulating cell elongation, activating their division and intervening in physiology in the processes of growth, flowering and fruit setting.

-Increases tolerance against environmental stress.

-Improves soil structure.

– Higher vegetative growth and larger fruits due to the combined action of Cytokinins and Auxins with amino acids and macro and microelements.

– Improvement of the organoleptic qualities of the fruits and their precocity, in addition to increasing the yield.

– It can be used in any crop, and by any method of application, such as fertigation or foliar.

Within the range of Biostimulants, ADLER AGRO has several biostimulants formulated with seaweed extract Ascophyllum nodosum such as ALGA NATURE, BIACTIVE and FRUIT.

Last week, our exclusive distributor in Iran visited Valencia to learn about the management of citrus fertilization with ADLER AGRO products.

During these days in Spain, they had the opportunity to learn more about the products and their use in the field, especially for such an important crop in their country, and of which our region is an international benchmark.

We had the pleasure of receiving our Romanian distributor.

During the visit to our facilities, we presented the innovations of the company and the improvements that are being implemented in our factory. Furthermore, we had the opportunity to study how to adjust our offer to suit the demand of Romanian customers.

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Adler Agro has received a subsidy to improve competitiveness and sustainability, promoted by the Department of Sustainable Economy, Productive Sectors, Commerce and Labor of the Generalitat Valenciana, for € 29,087.70.

This aid will be used to finance part of the company’s investments in machinery and facilities carried out during 2019, in order to expand the productive capacity, as well as to expand the current range of products.

In this way, new and better solutions for the problems of farmers and society in general can be developed, bringing innovative formulated products based on 100% natural products, environmentally sustainable and with high agronomic functionalities.