Borsato Farm, a family-owned enterprise located in Porcellengo (Paese, Treviso), cultivates corn, strawberries, and cherries. While corn is grown primarily to feed the farm’s 50 dairy cows, strawberries and cherries are marketed directly to consumers from the farm itself.
The Challenge
Until recently, crop nutrition at Borsato Farm relied on simple mineral fertilizers and cattle manure, occasionally supplemented with foliar applications of microelements and algae. This conventional approach led to suboptimal results—particularly in cherries, where excessive vegetative growth compromised fruit production and overall quality.
The Haifa Solution
In 2023, the farm implemented Haifa’s comprehensive 360° nutrition approach, combining controlled-release fertilizers, Nutrigation™ (fertigation), and foliar sprays. The program was customized to match the crop’s specific needs and local growing conditions—delivering both precision and performance.
Controlled Release Nutrition
- Product: Multicote Agri™ 16-8-16+2.5MgO (with 46-0-0% coated nitrogen, 2-month release)
- Application: 200 kg/ha at BBCH 51 stage
Nutrigation™ Program
Phase (BBCH) | No of applications | Intervals | Products | Rate |
51 – 56 | 2 | Every 15 days | 30 lt/ha | |
| HaiFer Max 60 | 6 kg/ha | |||
57 - 65 | 2 | Every 5 days | Poly-Feed™ GG | 25 kg/ha |
67 - 69 | 1 | - | 60 kg/ha | |
71 - 72 | 1 | - | 25 kg/ha | |
| HaifaStim™ Vigor | 30 kg/ha | |||
| HaiFer Max 60 | 6 kg/ha | |||
73 - 75 | 2 | Weekly | Poly-Feed™ GG | 22.5 kg/ha |
76 - 79 | 5 | Every 4-5 days | Poly-Feed™ GG | 27.5 kg/ha |
81 - 87 | 2 | Every 7-10 days | 25 kg/ha |
Post-Harvest Nutrition: To restore nutrient reserves and support dormancy break for the next season, two post-harvest applications of Poly-Feed™ 20-20-20+ME were made at 25 kg/ha each—two weeks after harvest, and then 12 days later.
Foliar Nutrition Trial: Haifa vs Traditional Practice
To enhance fruit set and size, foliar applications of HaifaStim™ Force and Poly-Feed™ Foliar were introduced and compared directly with the farmer's usual products on the same plot.
Phase (BBCH) | Farmer’s practice | Haifa protocol |
67 |
|
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69 |
|
|
72 |
|
|
77 |
|
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81 | gibberellic acid, 15 tabs/Ha |
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Results (as seen on April 22): Haifa’s foliar protocol delivered visibly superior results—boosting leaf development, promoting fruit set, and improving fruit size and uniformity (right picture) compared to the farmer's practice (left).
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Farmer's Testimonial
“In the six years since I planted these cherry trees, I have never seen such abundant and high-quality production, with truly remarkable fruit sizes,” said Mr. Borsato. “For the first time, the plants showed no signs of stress or microelement deficiencies—issues I always encountered before despite regular foliar applications. The vegetation is now balanced, which will also help with targeted pruning for the next season.”
He proudly shared some photos, showcasing the impressive transformation:
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Growth partners, from left to right: Haifa agronomist Enrico Mantovani, Francesca Borsato, Gianluca Borsato, Enrico Spinacè, agronomist of Haifa distributor “La Cerealtecnica” from Mereto di Tomba (UD).
About the Project
This case study is part of the Haifa Deciduous Trees Crop Expert Team’s ongoing efforts to gather and analyze real-field data, optimizing plant nutrition for consistent, high-quality yields.
Want similar results? Contact a Haifa agronomist to tailor the perfect nutrition program for your crops and growing conditions.
