In a trial that was conducted during 2019-2020 in an onion field in Moshav Revaya, Beit Shean valley, Israel, we explored agronomic and economic benefits of Multicote™ Agri (N coated) in single application (at sowing) and nutritional program Multicote™ Agri as base fertilizer plus side dressing with Multi-K prills. These two treatments where compared to the farmer's practice.
The combined treatment of Multicote™ Agri & Multi-K™ resulted in superior yield, offering benefit/cost ratio of 6.8.
Trial information:
Sowing date: 1.11.2019
Harvest: 16.4.2020
Crop: onion
Variety: Volkaana
Fertilization method: soil application & Nutrigation
Trial treatments
Treatment | Rate and timing | N rate |
Multicote™ Agri | Base dressing: 360 kg/ha 42-0-0 | 150 kg/ha |
Multicote™ Agri + Multi-K™ | Base dressing: 360 kg/ha 42-0-0 Top dressing: 150 kg/ha potassium nitrate | 170 kg/ha |
Farmer's practice | 4 applications of urea, total of 390 kg/ha | 180 kg/ha |
Yield results were measured during the commercial harvest. 6 repetitions were taken from each treatment, each comprised of a row section 6m long. Bulbs were weighed after removing the leaves and the roots.
Results
Conclusions
- Results proved that a combined fertilization program of Multicote™ Agri (pre sowing) and (PNP) potassium nitrate prill (top dressing) increase the bulb size / weight and yield and proved to be cost-effective, compared with Farmer’s practice.
- The higher revenue obtained at the Multicote™ Agri + (PNP) treatment was mainly as a result of the increase in the bulb size / weight, this due to the higher price ($/mt) paid for the big bulbs compare to the smaller bulbs (850 and 425 respectively). / which gain hiher due to the The benefit / cost ratio for the 20% reduction from the farmer’s practice was 3.27 (better income with little extra investment).
- The significant reduction in the fertilizers application only 2 at the Multicote™ Agri based fertilization programs compare to 5 application at the farmer practice is very much valuable and appreciated by the farmers, this due to the fact that the onion growing period is along the winter/rainy season in which no irrigation is required and the soil condition (too muddy) make soil application very complicated.