Page 8 - Vol.37-No.1 issue

CROP PROTECTION

“Our key products for this aspect
of blueberry crop nutrition are Omex
Calmax (22% wt/vol calcium) and Omex
Calmax Gold containing an extra high
concentration of calcium (24% wt/vol).
Both also contain nitrogen, magnesium
and a range of micronutrients (manga-
nese, iron, zinc, copper, boron and mo-
lybdenum) while Omex Calmax Gold
also features a select range of amino ac-
ids to enhance fruit set,” said Peter.
I asked Peter about the benefits of cal-
cium for berry-fruit in general and spe-
cifically blueberry. “The calcium com-
plement in a combined foliar application Blueberry cultivation under poly-
tunnel netting (net protection) in
of Omex CalMax Gold (applied around Mexico (Picture courtesy Omex)
flowering) and Omex CalMax (applied
post fruit set) will correct any calcium
Applications of Omex Calmax firmness which was still evident after a
Gold enhanced the uniformity deficiency,” said Peter, adding how this six month fruit storage period.
fruit ripening to reduce the programme of treatment will improve I came away from the company’s Kings
number of fruit pickings required fruit set, enhance yield and assist in max-
and thus shorten the harvesting imising fruit firmness, storability, fruit Lynn headquarters in Eastern England
period (Picture courtesy Omex) colour and finish. have learned of super-charged soluble
calcium products fit for the world’s num-
I asked Peter whether there was any
tion I spoke with Peter Prentis managing ber one super-fruit.
director of Omex Agrifluids in the Unit- evidence from Omex research to sup-
ed Kingdom. Omex is a R&D based com- port these claims. “We have evaluated
pany which develops and sells soluble the Omex Calmax range of products
nutrient products as liquid and powder on blueberry in Chile one of the fastest
delivery systems for the widest range growing producers of this berry fruit and
of agricultural and horticultural crops a world-leading exporter of blueber-
worldwide. ries,” said Peter Prentis. Chilean exports
of blueberries for 2019-2020 are confi-
dently expected to weigh in at 115,000
tonnes.
Peter showed me detailed results from
field trials to evaluate Omex CalMax
Gold for yield and quality of blueberry
fruit, and which clearly showed the ben-
efits of foliar feeding with this high-cal-
cium soluble liquid formulation product.
Three applications of Omex Calmax
Gold (300 ml product in 100 litres water)
were applied to the blueberry variety
‘Brigitta’ (Vaccinium corymbosum – high-
bush blueberry), first at the beginning of Blueberry is a ‘super-fruit’ with
blossoming, second at 50 percent bloom high demand from consumers
and the third at full bloom. worldwide (Picture courtesy
Omex)
Compared with the no treatment con-
trol, Omex Calmax Gold showed the fol-
lowing benefits: Circle 5 on enquiry card
Significantly increased the number of
fruits borne on each spur which translat- ADVERTISE IN
ed into a significant increase in yield THE ARAB WORLD
By achieving more uniform fruit ripen-
Omex Calmax Gold provided ing and thus shortening the harvest pe- AGRIBUSINESS
signif cant improvements in fruit riod by some two to three weeks Omex MAGAZINE AND
quality, including fruit f rmness Calmax Gold reduced the number of
and still evident after a six fruit pickings required. PROMOTE YOUR
month storage period Omex Calmax Gold gave significant PRODUCTS
(Picture courtesy Omex)
improvements in fruit quality, including
6 Vol. 37 No. 1