BOOSTER-Mag improves plant resistance to insect damage at Goulburn Valley, Australia.
case study summary
Challenges
When the chief of Goulburn Valley field tomato needed to improve plant resistance to insect damage, it contacted Calix to conduct a trial of its BOOSTER-Mag technology. The successful trial demonstrated how the technology can dramatically improve the resistance of tomatoes to insect damage.
Objective
- Demonstrate improvement in plant resistance to insect damage.
Solution
Download Success story
BOOSTER-Mag improves plant resistance at GOULBURN VALLEY, Australia.
Introduction
With support from the Australian Processing Tomato Research Council (APTRC) and local growers, a rigorous evaluation of BOOSTER–Mag was undertaken across 3 farms.
The crops were grown using conventional methods with selected areas treated with a 1% v/v mix of BOOSTER–Mag using spray booms at a rate equivalent to 1.5 kg/ha. 3 treatments were made; 1st week January, 3rd week January, 3rd week February.
The crop was assessed by hand harvesting and quantifying fruit quality; degree of fruit ripening – (red and green fruit); extent of insect damage (wormholes, deep entries and stings); extent of blossom end-rot; micro-nutrients (by pediole analysis) and fruit BRIX.
Farmed Conventionally
In one case, 11 different insecticides were applied over 16 insecticide spray events for control of insect pests. Insect related fruit damage at harvest was low for all farms indicating effective pest control.
Farmed with BOOSTER-Mag
Insect related fruit damage was consistently reduced within all three farms. In addition, the yield of ripe and unblemished fruit increased by an average of 6%.
BOOSTER-Mag is a safe, low cost, environmentally sustainable and easy-to-apply foliar spray that can improve productivity and natural resistance to pests and diseases.
BOOSTER-Mag has been manufactured using Calix’s proprietary “mineral honeycomb” magnesium oxide, a novel, nano-active material already demonstrating remarkable results in sewer and waste water, biogas, and aquaculture applications.
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