Page 17 - Vol.36-No.9 issue

CROP PROTECTION

Anything which prevents smooth pas-
sage through this inherently difficult
period may produce plants with weak-
ened growth and low metabolism to be
carried right through the crop cycle and
reflected in poor yield and crop quality.
What’s more crop maturation and harvest
date may be delayed with growers miss-
ing out on crucially important marketing
opportunities when fresh fruit and vege-
table prices are at their highest. I asked
Peter Prentis if Omex Agrifluids had
any products designed to deliver young
plants safely through this unpredictable
period of growth and development. “In-
deed we do, as Omex Nami, containing Courgette (Zucchini) is one of
a complete profile of macronutrients and the cucurbit crops frequently
micronutrients. Omex Nami, is boosted grown under protection and
by humic acid which has a dual role and benef tting for foliar feeding
function as a soil amelioration product (Picture courtesy Omex)
and plant bio-stimulatory product acting
Given the correct nutrient in the root zone and via the plant’s me- under warm conditions and on light san-
provision by foliar feeding lettuce tabolism,” says Peter Prentis. dy soils, which facilitate movement of the
under protection will grow and Omex Nami is applied as a foliar spray free living juvenile nematodes, are ‘wide
mature in a matter of weeks at the seedling establishment stage to open’ to nematode invasion and devel-
(Picture Dr Terry Mabbett) promote root growth and development, opment and suffer correspondingly high
thus maximising uptake and utilisation crop damage levels.
“The specific Omex products sold by of water and nutrients. “Root systems are Peter points out how the loose, friable
Al-Yaseen Agricultural Company in Sau- the very foundation of plant anchorage and sandy soils typical of Saudi Arabia
di Arabia reflect a focus on greenhouse and stability for uptake of water-solu- is key to success of these pests by allow-
growing and the specific requirements ble nutrients via the root hair complex. ing ‘unimpeded’ movement of free-liv-
of the mainly salad crop vegetables The uniquely effective nutrient-supply/ ing, motile juveniles into the root zone.
which are grown in Saudi Arabia,” says biostimulant-boost format provided “Rapid establishment of strong and se-
managing director Peter Prentis. The by Omex Nami ensures that the crop, cure root systems from the use of Omex
four products are: Omex Nami, Omex whether tomato, cucumber or lettuce, Nami will go a long way to counteract
Combi (Micromax), Omex Calmax and gets off to a flying start. This assistance the effects of these microscopic round
Omex DP98. is especially important for seed germi- worms,” says Peter.
nation and seedling establishment. Ear- Another ubiquitous problem for seed-
Secure seedling ly stage crops will invariably encounter lings irrespective of plant species is fun-
establishment with Omex stress from abiotic environmental factors
Nami such as high temperature and low mois-
ture or biotic factors in the form of pests
Seed germination and seedling estab- and pathogens”, says Peter.
lishment in crowded seed beds followed Disease dimensions to
by transplanting out and ensuing ‘trans-
plant shock’ are the times when salad crop nutrition
crops like tomato are at their most vul- I asked Peter Prentis about the range
nerable. of pest and pathogen problems of seed-
ling plants which confront greenhouse
crops like tomato in Saudi Arabia and
elsewhere in the region. “Ubiquitous
and terminally damaging in this respect
are plant parasitic nematodes which in-
habit the soil, move into the rhizosphere
(root zone) and from there invade plant
root systems. Meloidogyne (root knot
nematode) is by far the most frequent
and damaging nematode in Saudi Ara-
bia,” says Peter Prentis.
There are over sixty different spe-
cies of Meloidogyne (root knot nem- Uniform growth, maturation and
Uniformity of crop growth as atode) worldwide but for tomato and ripening of cherry tomato and
with the cucumber shown here other greenhouse crops in Saudi Arabia only achieved under protection
is a major benef t of greenhouse Meloidogyne javanica and to a lesser with soluble nutrient provision by
cultivation with foliar feeding extent M. incognita are most damaging. foliar feeding (Picture courtesy
(Picture courtesy Omex) Highly susceptible tomato crops grown Omex)

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