About Gainer ® Leaf Feeds

Complete water solubility, pH adjustability, and high analysis make the Gainer ® line the most sought after foliar fertilizer product in the world.

About leaf feeding:

Leaf feeding has proven to be a valuable supplement to soil fertilizer programs for top yields. It mainly serves as an alternative method for getting nutrients into plants rapidly when demand exceeds absorption rate. This occurs when there is:

soil or plant nutrient imbalance,
lack of root development due to cold soil temperatures or injury,
stress condition due to disease, severe temperature change, transplanting, or rapid growth within the plant.

Correct balance

It is important that an effective leaf feed contain a balanced formula which enables a plant to develop to its full genetic yield potential. Each of the ingredients in a balanced formula have interacting functions in plant metabolism. For example, the absorption of zinc with phosphorous is more effective than zinc by itself. Therefore, all Gainer ® leaf feeds contain zinc and phosphorous. A deficiency of one or more of these ingredients affects the vigor and productivity of a plant. Balanced formulas .. such as Gainer ® leaf feeds ... are more efficient!

Solubility

Another important criteria of an effective leaf feed is that the ingredients must be in a soluble form for immediate absorption and rapid utilization. Gainer ® leaf feeds contain 100% soluble fertilizer ingredients! Plus, a special manufacturing process produces a very fine, uniform-sized product. This process allows Gainer ® leaf feeds to dissolve rapidly in water.

Proper pH

Gainer ® leaf feeds contain special acidifying agents which bring about the proper pH in the final spray solution. The ability of a leaf to absorb foliar nutrients is affected by the pH of the leaf surface. For example, most plants actively respond to phosphate when the spray solution is between a pH of 3.0 to 5.0. Since Gainer ® leaf feeds contain significant levels of micro-nutrients, these acidifying agents aid in their activation. Also, these acidifying agents may maximize the efficiency of pesticides which may be applied in conjunction with Gainer ® leaf feeds.

Timing of application

The greatest efficiency can be obtained by applying Gainer ® leaf feeds early in the growth cycle of a plant. These early applications stimulate root growth, which in turn increases nutrient uptake in the soil. This is especially important under cold, wet soil conditions. Additional applications at critical stages of growth such as bloom period and fruit setting respond well to Gainer ® leaf feeds. Plants are most receptive to a foliage application under slow drying conditions. This would be either early or late in the day, or on cloudy days. Gainer ® leaf feeds should not be applied when plants are stressed for moisture. Follow label instructions, which are available for each crop, to insure correct application rates.

The nutrients

Boron (B):: Promotes maturity by increased set of fruit and seed, affects water utilization.
Copper (Cu):: Enzyme activator in respiration, seed formation, chlorophyll production and root growth.
Iron (Fe):: Required for formation of chlorophyll, activator for several enzyme systems.
Manganese (Mn):: Enzyme activator for nitrogen metabolism and breakdown of carbohydrates.
Molybdemun (Mo):: Required for utilization of nitrogen.
Nitrogen (N):: Protein builder, synthesizes amino acids.
Phosphorous (P):: Stimulates early growth and root formation, hastens maturity.
Potassium (K):: Increases size and quality of fruit and grains, increases resistance to disease.
Sulfur (S):: Increases protein level, increases efficiency of other nutrients.
Zinc (Zn):: Regulates consumption of sugar, essential for early growth and maturing.

last modified 18 October 1998