Trial sites were established on a large commercial vegetable and salad enterprise in California, USA. The initial contact came through the collaborative work between Citadel Environmental Solutions Ltd (cb-biostimulant) and the John Innes Centre in Norfolk.
Biocat+ was used at different stages of planting and growth span on tomatoes, carrots and lettuces.
TOMATOES:
Biocat+ was applied at planting and again at flowering, through drip lines.
Throughout the growing process there were no significant differences in vigor and NDRE (normalised difference red edge) and NDVI (normalised difference vegetative index) were uniform between the treated and untreated plants.
Yields were also similar in both sets of plants.
The final phase of the trial was post harvest where tomatoes from the treated and untreated site were stored and monitored for their quality rating. After 4 days the quality of the treated tomatoes was the same as when harvested, the untreated fruit had diminished in quality. This trial was carried out over 4 harvest cycles with the same results for quality in each instance.
As we have seen in trials with indoor flower growers in the UK, the extended shelf life is a hugely important factor with commercial crops.
CARROTS:
Biocat+ was applied after seeding as a bed top spray, and again 30 days later with drip feed.
Crop responses were uniformly good.
Post harvest the yields were checked for the treated and untreated, with the Biocat+ treated carrots yielded significantly higher rates than the untreated.
Samples of tissue were analysed for nutrient content and levels appeared to be uniform.
LETTUCE:
Applications were made to the lettuces at planting and a second application post emergence.
Growth was uniform as were NDRE and NDVI readings.
On harvesting no significant differences in yield were observed.
Note: All the above information has been released by the trials co-ordinator and has not been verified by Citadel Environmental Solutions Ltd
