enhanced frost protection...
The use of Frost Guard as a frost protectant can be regarded as
“limited insurance” against loss due to frost. However, there are
considerable additional benefits of using Frost Guard even if there
are no frosts in the season. It should be remembered that no
strategy is 100% guaranteed to eliminate frost damage and other
cultural procedures such as removing mulch and trash are helpful in
managing frost.
Liquid seaweed is extensively used in the fruit industry both in
Australia and overseas. For frost damage reduction liquid seaweed is
used early in the season. There are additional benefits arising from
the use of frost protectants containing liquid seaweed,
including;
- An increase in chlorophyll production
- Increased nutrient uptake
- Increased tree vigor
- Increased ability to deal with water stress.
These four benefits are thought to arise by a combined action of
plant growth regulators, auxins, betaines and possibly cytokinins.
Plant growth regulators are compounds which, although present at
extremely low levels, have a significant effect on plant growth.
Because they have a function in plants akin to that of hormones in
animals, they are sometimes referred to as plant hormones. Plant
growth regulators do not, in general, act individually but in
conjunction with other plant growth regulators. Increased
chlorophyll production and the ability to deal with water stress are
thought to be due principally by the action of betaines with some
minor influence of auxins, whereas the increased nutrient uptake and
increase tree vigor are thought to be due principally to auxins.
In grapes, early application of liquid seaweed will lead to
increased rachis stretch. It is also possible to increase fruit set
by application of liquid seaweed. The use of liquid seaweeds later
in the season can lead to an array of other benefits, such as
increased yields and better keeping quality of fruit. These appear
to be due to the effect of cytokinins. These two additional effects
are not generally noticed from the application of frost protectant
applied early in the season.
In typical situations Frost Guard can increase frost tolerance by
2-3 degrees C in stone fruit, apples and pears. In grapes the
increase in frost tolerance is similar provided the shoots are less
than 10 cm. At later stages of growth of vines the increase in frost
tolerance is about 1.5 degrees C. For wheat and canola the increase
in frost tolerance is greater but depends on the growth stage of the
crop. Frost Guard is a blend of liquid seaweed and electrolytes
which increases frost resistance in a wide range of crops. It also
can be used, with care, to reduce heat stress.
It should not be used on Australian natives.
Frost Guard contains additional nutrients such as added potassium
and a small amount of phosphorus which have additional beneficial
effects. When potassium and phosphorus are applied as foliar sprays,
they are rapidly absorbed into the foliage therefore phosphorus does
not get locked up and very little potassium is leached out.
Because of its high potassium level, its use may increase fruit set
and there is a possibility that it could cause problems with
fermentation of grapes if applied late in the season to reduce heat
stress.
Analysis
Potassium 9.2%
Phosphorous 2.9%
Filtration 100 mic
(An organic formulation is available also. that differs from above to meet the organic standard).
%W/V is grams per 100ml of product
ppm is parts per million on weight basis
g/l is grams per litre
mic = microns
Product Sizes Available
1 ltr, 5 ltr, 10 ltr, 20 ltr, 200 ltr, 1000 ltr.
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