Application of Agro.Bio leonardite-based fertilizers in viticulture in southern Ukraine
The effects of leonardite-humic fertilizers on grapevines have been extensively studied by modern researchers in various regions, including specialists in the Kherson region. Despite their demonstrated high effectiveness, these innovative humic preparations did not immediately find widespread use in viticulture in southern Ukraine.
Our laboratory's specialists set the goal of expanding their research and developing methods for using fertilizers prepared using leonardite from high-quality deposits, which would increase grape yields in this region. To this end, a series of trials were conducted at leading winegrowing farms in southern Ukraine from 2012 to 2018. These trials utilized leonardite, composts, leonardite-mineral mixtures, mineral fertilizers, as well as modern, highly purified products such as Agro.Bio Potassium Humate and powerful stimulants with a comprehensive effect on plants. The trials were conducted in the left-bank zone of the Lower Dnieper sands and on the chestnut soils of the right-bank Dnieper. They were conducted using methods adopted for research institutions. The experiments covered all stages of grape growth, from soaking the vines before grafting or rooting to the start of fruiting.
The results and conditions of the experiments are set out in the internal research protocols; only their results are presented here.
1. APPLICATION OF LEONARDITE FERTILIZERS IN GROWING GRAPE PLANTING MATERIAL
A series of experiments were conducted in greenhouses at specialized nurseries (on chestnut soils). Rootstock vines (a popular modern rootstock) and scions (high-yielding white and red grape hybrids) were soaked in large batches in a solution of the Mind Agro.Bio rooting stimulant (at a rate of 2 l/ha) or in water (rootstocks for 3 days and scions for 12 hours). The grafts were stratified for two weeks at a temperature of 27-28°C and a relative humidity of 80-85%, followed by hardening. Observations were made of callus formation, rootlet emergence, the resorption of the insulating layer, and the formation of blood vessels at the graft sites.
The data in Table 1 show that soaking vines activates callus formation in grafts, accelerates the formation of new vessels, and ultimately promotes graft union. All of this has been shown to have a positive effect on graft growth and seedling yield in the nursery. Soaking vines with Mind Agro.Bio increased seedling yield (average across four trials, chestnut soil) by 10.3%, while with additional spraying in the nursery, it increased by 13.0-13.6%. Seedlings treated with this biostimulant showed improved aboveground growth and root system development.
Soaking the vines with Mind Agro.Bio for 24 hours before rooting the cuttings also produces positive results.
Table 1. The effect of treating grapevines with Mind Agro.Bio on callus formation in greenhouses and the emergence of seedlings from nurseries
| Experience options | Callus (%), hybrid Red | Callus (%), hybrid White | Yield of grade I (%) | Shoot growth (cm³) | Growth of shoots (%) | Yield of first grade (sand, %) | Growth (sand, cm³) | Increase (sand, %) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vine soaked in water before grafting (control) | 64.9 | 38.5 | 36.6 | 7.65 | 100.0 | 49.6 | 2.91 | 100.0 |
| Vines soaked before grafting with Mind Agro.Bio (2 l/ha) | 81.9 | 60.3 | 46.9 | 8.23 | 109.0 | the experiment was not conducted | ||
| Vines soaked in Mind Agro.Bio + spraying in the nursery | 81.9 | 60.3 | 50.2 | 8.32 | 110.2 | 62.6 | 3.38 | 116.1 |
Graftings with full or partial formation of vessels accounted for 63.5% in the control, and 95.0% when the vines were soaked with Mind Agro.Bio.
On sandy soils of modern agricultural enterprises, leonardite, leonardite-mineral mixtures, and composts were used in addition to Agro.Bio's Potassium Humate. In all cases where the fertilizers were used, the survival rate increased, the yield of first-grade seedlings increased, and their quality improved.
Table 2. Effect of fertilizers on the yield and quality of seedlings (sandy soils)
| Experience options | Agrofirm 1 (2015, 1st grade %) | Agrofirm 1 (2016, 1st grade %) | Agricultural firm 1 (average 2 years, %) | Shoot growth (cm³) | Growth (%) | Agrofirm 2 (2017, 1st grade %) | Growth (sand, cm³) | Growth (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control (without fertilizers) | 49.6 | 41.3 | 45.5 | 3.13 | 100.0 | 58.0 | 2.48 | 100.0 |
| Potassium humate Agro.Bio (2 l/ha) | 59.5 | 49.3 | 54.4 | 5.65 | 180.6 | 67.3 | 3.30 | 133.2 |
| Agro.Bio Potassium Humate (3 l/ha, overestimated) | 57.0 | 46.0 | 51.2 | 4.40 | 140.6 | the experiment was not conducted | ||
| Leonardite-mineral mixture | 52.8 | 52.3 | 52.5 | 5.55 | 175.7 | the experiment was not conducted | ||
| Leonardite (45 t/ha) | the experiment was not conducted | the experiment was not conducted | 67.0 | 3.21 | 129.4 | |||
| Leonardite-manure compost | the experiment was not conducted | the experiment was not conducted | 63.3 | 3.89 | 157.0 | |||
Accuracy of experiments: 3.18% - 2.98% - 2.21%. HSR₀₅: 5.066 - 4.752 - 2.400.
Of the fertilizers we used, Agro.Bio Potassium Humate proved to be the most effective at the optimal application rate of 2 l/ha. Increasing the dose beyond the recommended rate resulted in a slight decrease in seedling yield and reduced aboveground growth. Apparently, excessive fertilizer application inhibits seedling growth. The leonardite-mineral mixture also had a positive effect on seedling growth and yield. However, applying large physical volumes of this fertilizer is less cost-effective than using a liquid concentrate.
Cost-effectiveness calculations also showed that the use of Agro.Bio Potassium Humate is the most efficient. This approach resulted in an additional yield of first-grade seedlings of 8,340–13,800 units/ha on chestnut soils and 10,740 units/ha on sandy soils. This allows farms to significantly increase their cash income, especially when growing grafted seedlings. Using the product on sandy soils resulted in a high return on investment. Mineral fertilizers also increase the yield of first-grade seedlings, but the net income per hectare is significantly higher with the Agro.Bio complex.
2. AGRO.BIO PREPARATIONS AS A PRE-PLANTATION FERTILIZER FOR GRAPES
To grow strong plants capable of producing high yields, the soil at vineyard establishment must be well-nourished with organic and mineral nutrients, and the soil microflora activated. Totem Agro.Bio (2 l/ha) is ideal for this purpose . From 2012 to 2017, we conducted a stationary trial on chestnut soils. We tested the effects of Totem Agro.Bio and mineral fertilizers on vine growth and grape yield. The final results are presented in Table 3.
Table 3. Effect of pre-plantation fertilization on vine growth and grape yield
| Experience options | Vine growth 2013 (cm/bush) | Growth 2013 (cm³/bush) | Growth 2014 (cm/bush) | Growth 2014 (cm³/bush) | Harvest 2017 (kg/bush) | Yield (c/ha) | Harvest (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control (without fertilizers) | 72.8 | 6.37 | 187.4 | 35.21 | 5.91 | 153.8 | 100.0 |
| Totem Agro.Bio (2 l/ha) | 88.5 | 7.50 | 231.3 | 44.00 | 7.27 | 189.3 | 123.1 |
| Mineral fertilizers (equivalent) | 86.4 | 8.47 | 253.3 | 47.33 | 6.72 | 174.7 | 113.6 |
| Totem Agro.Bio (overdose) | 68.6 | 6.83 | 203.9 | 37.90 | 6.62 | 172.2 | 112.0 |
They show that the biopreparation and mineral fertilizers had a positive effect on vine growth and grape yield. For example, when Totem Agro.Bio was applied, vine growth was 231.3 cm per plant, or 23.4% greater than the control. Increasing the dosage above the recommended dose did not produce a corresponding positive effect.
Pre-plantation application of Totem Agro.Bio also had a significant impact on grape yield. The most effective application was at a rate of 2 l/ha, increasing yield by 35.5 c/ha, or 23.1%. Mineral fertilizers were less effective, increasing yield by 20.9 c/ha, or 13.6%. Long-term observations, from planting to fruiting, revealed that mineral fertilizers resulted in greater vine growth at the initial stage. However, the prolonged effect of Totem Agro.Bio significantly outperformed the mineral fertilizers in terms of yield.
3. APPLICATION OF AGRO.BIO COMPLEXES FOR FRUITING GRAPES
From 2015 to 2017, a trial was conducted on chestnut soils with a popular modern red variety. Adept Agro.Bio (2 l/ha) was used as the primary specialized fertilizer . Spraying with Amino Energy Agro.Bio stress reliever (2 l/ha) was carried out three times annually during the growing season.
Crop analysis showed that local application of Adept Agro.Bio increased grape yield in the year of application by 15.8 c/ha, or 22.7%. Mineral fertilizers applied in equivalent amounts were slightly inferior to the humic complex in the first year. Subsequently, their effects significantly diminished. While the total yield increase over three years with Adept Agro.Bio was 39.1 c/ha, with mineral fertilizers applied, it was 25.2 c/ha.
Spraying grapes with the Amino Energy Agro.Bio complex yielded significant results: yield increased by 7.7–9.3%, reaching a total of 24.5 c/ha over three years. The fertilizers also altered the structure and quality of the harvest. Specifically, the weight of bunches increased (from 50.7 to 61.3 g) and 100 berries (from 109.1 to 140.2 g), while the sugar content in the juice increased (from 18.78 to 19.27%). The fertilizers had no effect on organic acid content.
In 2016, a trial was conducted with a modern white grape variety. The trial design included mechanized application of fertilizers between rows. Two concentrations of Adept Agro.Bio were used, with 2 l/ha again proving optimal. Table 4 shows that Adept Agro.Bio, both localized and mechanized, had a significant impact on grape yield. Fertilizer application increased berry sugar content by 0.70–1.13%.
Table 4. Effect of fertilizers on the yield of white grape varieties (average over 2 years)
| Experience options | Yield (c/ha) | Harvest (%) | Increase (c/ha) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Control | 95.1 | 100.0 | — |
| Adept Agro.Bio (2 l/ha locally) | 113.2 | 119.0 | 36.3 |
| Adept (overdose) | 105.7 | 111.1 | 21.2 |
| NPK (equivalent to the norm of the biological product) | 104.0 | 109.4 | 17.9 |
| Spraying Amino Energy Agro.Bio (2 l/ha) | 104.1 | 109.4 | 18.1 |
| Adept Agro.Bio (2 l/ha in row spacing, mechanized) | 109.8 | 115.4 | 28.5 |
| Adept Agro.Bio (Concentrated, mechanized) | 115.6 | 121.6 | 40.9 |
The best economic results are achieved with mechanized inter-row application of highly concentrated Agro.Bio products. Costs are minimal, while net income and return on investment are maximized.
CONCLUSIONS
- Soaking grapevines with Mind Agro.Bio activates callus formation on grafts, accelerates the formation of new vessels, which promotes the fusion of the rootstock and scion and increases the yield of high-quality seedlings.
- The most optimal and cost-effective application rate for Agro.Bio humic preparations is 2 l/ha ; exceeding the dosage may lead to reduced effectiveness.
- The Totem Agro.Bio preparation , applied under plantation plowing, improves plant growth and significantly increases the yield of the first grape harvests.
- Spraying and mechanized application of Adept Agro.Bio and Amino Energy Agro.Bio yield significant yield increases, surpassing the effectiveness of traditional mineral fertilizers, and improve berry quality and sugar accumulation.
Agro.Bio Expert Note: Today, Agro.Bio continues to deepen these fundamental approaches, introducing next-generation products to the Ukrainian agricultural market. Using our premium products (Potassium Humate, Adept, Amino Energy, Mind, and Totem) at an optimal application rate of 2 l/ha allows Ukrainian winegrowers to produce the highest-quality vines with minimal operating costs, guarantee increased berry sugar content, and ensure exceptional plantation stress resistance.