Page 16 - Vol.36-No.9 issue

CROP PROTECTION

CROP NUTRITION UNDER PROTECTION

FOR FAST GROWTH AND TOP QUALITY

Greenhouse growing in the Middle
East started in earnest almost half a cen-
tury ago and since then has gone from
strength to strength. Industry pioneers
soon realised how the high-sand, low
DR. TERRY MABBETT
organic matter soils in Saudi Arabia and
Cultivation under glass or plastic is a elsewhere were unable to carry and
game-changer for fruit and vegetables. maintain the range and amounts of es-
Plants establish more securely, grow sential nutrients in plant available form
more rapidly and develop stronger to for continuous, high intensity cultivation
give quicker maturing and better quality and cropping.
produce. These benefits are essential for Foliar feeding allows growers to ‘pick Newly germinated cucumber
growers supplying overseas out-of-sea- and mix’ which nutrients are applied, seedlings benef t with fast
son markets which many horticultural the concentrations and amounts used growth and secure establishment
producers in the Middle East and North and exact timings in relation to specif- from foliar feeding with Omex
Africa now do. ic stages in the crop cycle. It becomes Nami (Picture courtesy Dr Terry
less important what happens at soil lev- Mabbett)
el because foliar feeding secures rapid
and unimpeded entry of nutrients in a with Managing Director Peter Prentis’
completely water-soluble form via the whose remit and responsibility encom-
leaves, and into the plant for cellular passes research & development and
utilisation of nutrient ions. Foliar feeding marketing of Omex’s entire and exten-
effectively ‘short-circuits’ soil related nu- sive range of soluble nutrient products
trient availability problems. across Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Quick and accurate identification of Omex Agrifluids has a particularly
nutrient needs at specific stages of crop long and well established business re-
development such as flowering and fruit cord in Saudi Arabia supplying green-
formation, and an ability to predict po- house growers with their crop nutrition
tential nutrient ‘bottlenecks’, which may needs. “We have been working in Saudi
Tomato and aubergine seen here individually impact on the entire crop Arabia for many years through our dis-
together give outstanding crop cycle, is the secret to success for foliar tributor Al-Yaseen Agricultural Compa-
performance when grown under feeding. ny. Latterly we have expanded the com-
protection with foliar feeding pany’s interests into the wider Middle
(Picture courtesy Omex) This clearly requires a full-gambit of Eastern, North African and Mediterra-
essential plant nutrients to secure ger- nean arena. We now supply top-quality,
mination and seedling establishment liquid formulations of high-purity, wa-
Close control of the growing environ- and take rooted plants through the veg-
ment makes multiple cropping a reality etative growth stage as rapidly and as ter-soluble nutrients for foliar spraying
allowing growers to capitalise and ‘cash healthily as possible. And to ‘finely-tune’ to farmers and growers throughout this
in’ on export markets especially when and ‘finish’ the mature crop for harvest entire region, which is increasingly be-
fresh food prices are high. Middle East- of the produce – leaves (lettuce), flowers coming a world hub for the production
ern growers have quickly learnt this les- (broccoli), fruit (tomato and cucumber) of fruit and vegetables, outdoors and
son to concentrate on salad crops such or root (onion) – and in high quality con- indoors under various levels of protec-
as tomato, cucumber, pepper, aubergine dition to withstand the rigours of stor- tion,” says Peter Prentis.
and lettuce. These relatively short-cycle age, transit and marketing.
crops are ideal for continuous cropping
and there is always a ready market. Omex a global force in
Whether the goal is higher yields, bet- crop nutrition
ter quality or earlier harvests, neither
the near perfect conditions inside en- Omex Agrifluids designs, manufac-
vironmentally controlled greenhouses, tures and markets high-quality plant
nor protection provided by plastic-clad nutrients in both soluble-liquid and sol-
poly-tunnels, can achieve this without a uble-powder formulations and is one
comprehensive and custom-designed of very few companies in a position to
programme of plant nutrition. Use of provide greenhouse growers with a
top-quality soluble nutrient products ap- complete portfolio for foliar feeding.
plied by foliar feeding when crops are To learn more I visited this globally-ac-
sown, grown and harvested will ensure tive, research and development based Well-planned and executed
growers gain the full potential benefits company at its corporate headquarters, nutrient provision is vital at the
and rewards of environmentally con- research facilities and manufacturing ca- vulnerable seedling stage for the
trolled and protected cropping systems. pacity located at Kings Lynn in eastern sweet capsicum pepper shown
England, United Kingdom. There I spoke here (Picture Dr Terry Mabbett)

14 Vol. 36 No. 9