Growth Balancer
Before nitrate nitrogen can be utilised by the plant
and transformed into protein it must be reduced to NH2by an enzyme called nitrate reductase.
Roots and shoots are both capable of nitrate reduction in most plants, and
roots may reduce between 5 and 95% of the nitrate absorbed. As the amount of
nitrate fertiliser increases, however, the capacity for reduction in the roots
becomes a limiting factor and an increasing proportion of this nitrate is
translocated to the shoots.Nitrate reductase
activity decreases as leaves mature and, because the phloem mobility of nitrate
is limited excess nitrate is stored in the cells. This accumulation of
nitrogenous compounds increases susceptibility to disease and also reduces the
synthesis and movement of carbohydrates and sugars.In sugar beet this will also increase levels of amino N.
Molybdenum is essential for good nitrate reductase
activity, whilst Boron ensures efficient nitrogen utilisation.
When plants absorb excessive amounts of nitrogen the
use of Growth Balancer ensures that the production of nitrate reductase is not
limited by deficiency of molybdenum. Boron is also known to affect nitrogen
metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism and is believed to enhance sugar
transport. When crops are at all deficient in boron starch accumulates in the
leaves and can no longer be metabolised. Boron can therefore enhance the sugar
and starch contents of fruit and storage organs such as potato tubers and beet
roots.
The onset of senescence is the plants normal mechanism
to move nutrients, sugars and starches into the storage organs. When nitrogen
levels are high senescence may be delayed and the process may not start early
enough to be completed by harvest.
Growth Balancer can be applied 4-6 weeks before
harvest to potatoes and sugar beet which have not started to senesce in order
to enhance the movement of sugars out of the leaves and into the storage
organs. In beet this application will also reduce the amount of secondary
growth which frequently occurs late in the season and which pulls nutrients
from the roots into the new leaf growth.
Recommendations
When the crop has reached full leaf cover applications
of 2l/ha Growth Balancer will slow vigorous growth, which may render the crop
more susceptible to disease and quality reduction.
10l/ha Growth Balancer should be applied to crops 4-6
weeks before harvest, if they have not already begun the process of senescence.