Foliar Fertilization is the most efficient way to increase yield and plant health. Tests have shown that foliar feeding can increases yields from 12% to 25% when compared to conventional fertilization.

Tests, conducted in different locations, under different environmental conditions, have reflected the following;

When fertilizers are foliar applied, more that 90% of the fertilizer is utilized by the plant.  When a similar amount is applied to the soil, only 10 percent of it is utilized. 

In the sandy loam, foliar applied fertilizers are up to  20 times more effective when compared to soil applied fertilizers.

Foliar feeding is an effective method for correcting soil deficiencies and overcoming the soil’s inability to transfer nutrients to the plant under low moisture conditions.

The effectiveness of foliar applied nutrients is determined by (1) The condition of the leaf surface, in particular the waxy cuticle. The cuticle is only partially permeable to water and dissolved nutrients and, as a result, it can limit nutrient uptake. (2) The length of time the nutrient remains dissolved in the solution on the leaf's surface. (3) Diffusion, the movement of elements from a high concentration to a low concentration. For diffusion to occur, the nutrient must dissolve, and (4) The type of formulation. Water-soluble formulations generally work better for foliar applications as they are more easily absorbed when compared to insoluble solutions.

GUIDELINES FOR FOLIAR FEEDING APPLICATIONS

Use a sprayer that produces a fine mist.

Nozzles should be turned to the back of the sprayers so the flow of material approaches the plant at a 90 degree angle to float on the plants.

University of Tennessee - Prof. T.S. Osborne, Agronomist
"... research indicated that only 10 to 12 per cent of phosphorus fertilizers as taken up by plants in the first year; the rest was "locked in" the soil or washed away. Fertilizer applied to soil is largely wasted because it is either bound by soil particles or is washed out of the root zone.  If chemical elements could go directly into leaves and bypass the wastefulness of soils, a tremendous saving would result.”

“... the foliage of plants can take in nutrients much as roots can.  Many nutrients are readily taken up by foliage, including bark of dormant trees; even at temperatures below freezing.  Elements such as phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium move both up and down from the point of application at rates similar to those following root absorption."

 University of Michigan - Drs. Witter and Turkey as quoted in Readers Digest magazine
"... leaves lap up food like blotting paper and it spreads in a few hours from tip to root.  In many cases, as much as 95 percent of the food sprayed on the leaves is used immediately by the plant, where under some conditions, the roots take up no more than 10 percent of the same amount placed in the soil."

 Louisiana State University - Drs. A.L. Bertrand and L. L. Rusoff
"Trader elements were used to ascertain conclusively that plants absorb nutrients through their foliage, fruit, flowers, and twigs as well as their roots."

 Agricultural Chemicals Magazine
"Phosphorus availability studies have given a ratio of 20 to 1 in favor of foliar feeding over soil feeding.  There seems little doubt that where soil fixation exists, foliar applications of nutrients constitute the most efficient method of fertilizer "placement" and with plants of sufficient leaf area, foliar feeding with ALL the elements can make a significant contribution toward the total nutrient requirement."

Ontario Agricultural College - Dr. T.E. Bates
"We increase corn yields 7 bushels per acre at five different locations with liquid fertilizer placed directly with the seed.  The corn also received the recommended amounts of fertilizer in a band.  The most startling difference is in the size.  Some fields were half again as tall two weeks after the core cam up."

Big Farmer Magazine
Dr. S.H. Wittwer of Michigan State
"Farmer should fertilize according to soil test recommendations, follow with 'starter solutions' or 'pop-up' fertilizers and finish the job with foliar applications."