Plant Health Insights

In the heart of the Granite Belt, Nutrien Ag Solutions agronomist Michael Bednarz has been recommending Foundation LM in the horticulture market for the past few years because of the consistently strong results he has seen, both in his first-hand trialling and in the results of the growers he consults with. 

This season, Michael designed a two-block trial of Foundation LM for a strawberry grower, confident the grower would see a great return on his investment.

The first block consisted of the grower's standard fertility practice plus 10 L/ha of Foundation LM applied through fertigation. In the second block, the same treatment was applied along with a subsequent 10 L/ha application of Foundation LM through fertigation three months after the initial treatment. Both blocks were compared to the grower's standard practice alone. 

As the growing season progressed, Michael and the grower noted increased plant coverage in the raised beds treated with Foundation LM, as well as an increase in berry uniformity.  

Treated side shows a section of block two, which had a total of 20 L/ha of Foundation LM applied.

As the harvest was recorded, the increase in plant coverage and uniformity led to both an increase in yield, shown below, and a decrease in wastage per hectare. Together, these factors determine the total marketable kilograms, which is what will be sold to the end consumer.

With the ease of application and the dramatic return on investment with Foundation LM, the grower will use Foundation LM on his strawberries again this year.  

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Learn more about using Foundation LM on your operation by visiting your local Nutrien Ag Solutions branch or downloading the Foundation LM horticulture crop booklet.

 See more Foundation LM featured studies here.