Foliar Nutrition:

an Extra Bonus for the Rice Grower

Yoav Ronen, Joshua Golovaty and Eran Barak, Haifa group
Foliar Nutrition- an extra Bonus for the rice grower

About 80 million ha of irrigated lowland rice is mainly

cultivated as flooded fields.
The unique properties of flooded soils make rice nutrient
management different from any other crop.
Foliar Nutrition- an extra Bonus for the rice grower

When the soil is flooded, major chemical changes occur.

These changes influence nutrients availability to plants.

a) Chemical reduction of soil.

b) Decrease in concentrations of water-soluble Zn and Cu.
Foliar Nutrition- an extra Bonus for the rice grower
+600
Oxidized soil O2  O2-

Redox potential (mV)

+400

NO3-  NO2- ,N2O, NH4+, N2

Moderately reduced soil
+200 MnO2  Mn2+

Reduced soil 0 Fe2O3 Fe2+

-200 SO42- S2-

Highly reduced soil
CO2  CH4
How Foliar Nutrition can improve nutrient
management in flooded soils?

Foliar feeding is an effective method for overcoming the

flooded soil special condition:

increases the rate of the stimulate nutrient

Nutrients are
photosynthesis in the leaves absorption by plant
absorbed directly roots
where they are needed

Foliar nutrition applied at critical times correct deficiencies

immediately and help maximizing yields and quality.
Crop stages and spray schedule

Sowing Transplanting Active tillering Panicle initiation Heading Harvest

Example:
0 DAS 30 DAS 45-50 DAS 60-65 DAS
What Foliar Fertilizer is good for rice ?
Available in various N-P-K ratios.
Enriched with secondary (Mg) or micro (Zn) plant nutrients.
Has good physical properties, to improve adhesion of the
fertilizer to the leaf surface and to release nutrients over a
prolonged period of time.
Free of chloride.
Haifa’s offer: Haifa Bonus
Haifa Bonus: How it Works

1. Haifa Bonus is applied by foliar spray 2. A portion of the fertilizer is absorbed

and forms droplets on the leaf immediately.

3. When the air gets hot and dry, the 4. At night, the dew re-dissolves the
fertilizer droplets dry and nutrient uptake fertilizer and nutrient uptake is renewed.
temporarily stops.
Field Trials and Economical analysis
of Foliar Nutrition in rice
Haifa Bonus trials

Haifa conducted Foliar Nutrition trials in various

geographical sites, aiming:
To optimize rate and timing of Haifa Bonus
application.
To evaluate the economical benefits of various
foliar treatments.
Haifa Bonus trials: Vietnam trial 1
The Effect of Foliar Sprays with Haifa Bonus at 3%
on yield and the economical return.

Spring crop
kg/Ha Diff % US$/Ha Net income Diff from control
US$/Ha $/Ha
control 5900 100% 1639 1342
Haifa Bonus x2 6270 106% 1742 1422 79
Haifa Bonus x3 6440 109% 1789 1457 115
Summer crop
kg/Ha Diff % US$/Ha Net income Diff from control
US$/Ha $/Ha
control 4320 100% 1200 903
Haifa Bonus x2 5040 117% 1400 1080 177
Haifa Bonus x3 5030 116% 1397 1066 162

Conclusion: 3 sprays with Haifa Bonus at 3% concentration, resulted

in highest grain yields while 2 spray resulted with most profitable
return.
Haifa Bonus trials: Vietnam trial 2
The Effect of Foliar Sprays with Haifa Bonus+Mg at 3%
on yield and the economical return.

Treatments Grain Yield Increase Labor Net

Haifa Bonus+Mg
Cost Return
DAS * (T/ha) % (US$/ha) Cost (US$/ha)
US $/ha* US$/ha
Non sprayed 4.56 -- -- -- -- --
40 4.98 9.2 49.2 8.4 6.25 34.5
60 5.17 13.3 71.4 8.4 6.25 56.7
40 & 60 5.22 14.4 77.3 16.8 12.5 47.9
40, 60 & 75 5.29 16.0 85.5 25.3 18.75 41.4
* DAS = Days After Seeding

Conclusion: 3 sprays with Haifa Bonus+Mg at 3% concentration resulted

in highest grain yields while 1 spray resulted was most profitable.
Haifa Bonus trials: Vietnam
Mekong Delta (Vietnam) –’On-farm’ demo plots
Seeing is believing:
100 field demo plots, in four regions were conducted by the local
extension services in growers’ fields, coordinated with the Mekong
Research Institute.

Local rice growers could witness and realize the benefits of

spraying with Haifa Bonus+Mg
Haifa Bonus trials: Vietnam
Mekong Delta (Vietnam) –’On-farm’ demo plots

Average grain yield results obtained from 100 demo plots.

Grain yield (T/Ha) Increase
No. of
Region
demo. Plots Haifa Bonus+Mg Control (T/Ha) (%)

Ave.: 6,57 Ave.: 5,99

AN GIANG 30 0,58 9,68
(5,06 – 8,02) (4,48 – 6,83)
Ave.: 6,70 Ave.:,21
KIEÂN GIANG 20 0,49 7,89
(6,13 – 7,20) (5,53 – 6,80)
Ave.: 6,83 Ave.: 6,39
CAÀN THÔ 30 0,61 6,89
(5,54 – 8,46) (4,90 – 8,00)
Ave.: 6,37 Ave.: 5,70
SOÙC TRAÊNG 20 0,64 11,75
(4,90 – 7,33) (4,20 – 6,36)
Haifa Bonus trials: Thailand
The effect of 3 foliar applications with Haifa Bonus in two cultivars,
on yield and net profit .
Increase / ha Extra net
Haifa Bonus™ Yield Cost
US$/ha* Return
Treatments*** T/ha kg % (US$/ha)
* US$/ha
Cultivar: Photong (100 days)
Unsprayed 6.63 -- -- -- -- --
30, 60 & 75 DAS* 8.35 1720 25.9 294 31.50 262.50
Cultivar: Suphan 1 (120 days)
Unsprayed 7.03 -- -- -- --
30, 60 & 75 DAS* 8.20 1170 16.6 200 31.50 168.50

Conclusion: 3 sprays with Haifa Bonus resulted highest grain

yields and increased the net income per area for both cultivars.
Cultivar Photong had better response to the foliar application.
Haifa Bonus trials: China (AAS, Shanghai)

The effect of 2 Haifa Bonus foliar applications on rice

at about 30 and 60 days after transplanting.

Yield Yield increase / ha Haifa Bonus™ Net Return

Treatment
kg/ha US$/ha* US$/ha*
kg % US $*
Unsprayed 12,930 -- -- -- -- --
Haifa Bonus 14,340 1410 11.46 215.64 21.1 194.4

Conclusion: sprays with Haifa Bonus resulted highest grain yields and
increased the net income per area .
Haifa Bonus trials: India
NARDI research station, Hyderabad

The Effect of Haifa Bonus on Rice.

Grain Yield % Increase Additional Net

Treatment
(t/ha) Over control Income (Rs./ha)
Unsprayed 5.83 - -
Haifa Bonus1%, 3 sprays 6.32 8.4 1305

Conclusion: sprays with Haifa Bonus™, resulted higher grain yields and
increased the net income per area .
The advantages of Haifa Bonus
Enable relatively high spray concentration
without scorching of the foliage.
Consists of pure, fully-soluble nutrients only.
Free of harmful compounds such as chloride,
sodium, excessive sulfate, etc.
Compatible for tank mixing with
a large variety of insecticide
and fungicides.
Contains a special adjuvant for
improved adhesion of the fertilizer
to the leaf surface and prolonged
action.
Thank you for your attention