Article nieuwoogst.nl | Plant Care: the green alternative
The liquid organic fertilizer Plant Care has a repellent effect. This is obtained by energetically increasing a number of components that are commonly found in nature.
The product works on two fronts: on the one hand it is an easily absorbable foliar fertilizer and on the other hand it makes the crop naturally less susceptible to (living) threats from outside. These foliar fertilizing properties are obtained by using algae and molasses.
In recent years, the company Vossen Laboratories has carried out successful tests with silicon dioxide and the addition of horsetail. Horsetail is a plant that is naturally rich in silicon. The natural repellent effect is obtained by the addition of menthol, marigolds and imperial crown.
This year further trials will be conducted with the addition of neem oil. Vossen Laboratories tries to work with new additives in the product every year. Investments are always being made in the plant-strengthening and natural repellent properties of the product.
Effects on production loss and virus transmission
The green product Plant Care is a good alternative to pyrethroids in seed potatoes to prevent the transmission of the Y virus by aphids. This is evident from multi-year research by knowledge organization CropSolutions. According to technical advisor Lennart Testers from CZAV, the effect is just as good and sometimes better than that of a pyrethroid.
In addition, most pyrethroids have been shown to have a negative impact on the number of seed potatoes. This negative side effect is not seen when applying Plant Care. The product is not only successfully used in seed potatoes, but also in beets, onions, grains and lilies.
Plant Care has been used for several years in various crops. © Vossen The New Farming
In grains, Plant Care is mainly used against ripening disease. The effects of the plant-strengthening properties are clearly visible in recent hot summers and wet autumn periods. It is noticeable that the treated crops are more resilient to extreme climatic conditions.
This can be explained by strengthening the cell walls and promoting cell division in these crops. This creates a sturdier crop that can breathe better. In addition, Plant Care masks any ethylene emissions, making the crop less attractive to, among other things, aphids. It is not only used in arable farming, but also in horticulture on cold soil and in greenhouses.
Working efficiently
Plant Care contains no chemically active substances and there is demonstrably no toxin or resistance build-up. This also means that the agent does not have to be sprayed separately, but can be included in the (weekly) spray cycle. This saves work, time and money.
The product can be applied with a field sprayer, spray robot or nebulizer. Plant Care spreads a pleasant mint smell and is not dangerous to humans. It is classified as an organic fertilizer and therefore does not require registration.
Vossen The New Farming distinguishes between applications in greenhouses, in arable farming or horticulture on cold soil and in mushroom cultivation. The dosage, depending on the crop, varies between 1 to 5 liters per hectare per week for ten days.
Exact treatment schedules for the different crops are available on the website vossenagriculture.com.
Application and experiences
Plant Care has been used in various crops for several years. Below are a few experiences from the application in lilies and seed potatoes. Watch more on YouTube.
Arable farmer Willem Francis: "I called around for references and I heard about good results with Plant Care. That's when we started using it."
Flower bulb grower Kok Hulsebosch: "We started using Plant Care instead of pyrethroids. The results so far have been good, we have not seen an increase in our virus results."
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