General background
This report summarizes the results of a semi-commercial experience of an agricultural company located in the Ñuble Region for two years; in this case, it was about the monitoring of the use of the PERL HUMUS® amendment in the planting of a cherry orchard of the Lapins variety on a Maxma 14 rootstock. PERL HUMUS® is a high-quality humic amendment, specifically developed for use at the time of establishing orchards, since it provides, for a prolonged period of time (≥ 2 years), the German humic extract (the only one guaranteed through the new ISO 19.822 regulation), which allows generating the best possible conditions for the growth and development of plants in the area where the root is growing, while preserving the physical condition of the soil achieved after good preparation. The monitoring considered:
- Shoot length and trunk diameter measurements (1 year after planting)
- Observation and evaluation of roots (2 years after planting)
- Soil compaction assessment (2 years after planting)
Description
Agricultural company located in the Coihueco area, province of Punilla, region of Ñuble; the plantation was carried out in 2017, after an exhaustive preparation of the soil (clay loam type). At the time of planting, PERL HUMUS® is applied in doses of 100 gr/plant, directly to the planting hole, mixing the product with the soil; the product was applied in a section of the orchard, leaving the rest unapplied as a control without treatment. PERL HUMUS® is compatible with controlled release fertilizers, nematicides and rooting agents for conventional use in plantations.
The first evaluation of shoot growth and trunk diameter was carried out one year later, while soil and root development were analysed two years after planting.
Results.
- Vegetative growth
Measurement of shoot length (15 x repetition) and trunk diameter (10 x repetition), one year after planting. Values expressed in centimeters (shoots) and millimeters (trunk).
2. Soil condition and root status
Measurement of soil compaction with a dynamometer; resistance values greater than 100 N (yellow to red coloration) begin to restrict root growth and development, increasing the energy requirement for the plant to be able to take up water and nutrients.
Two years after planting, it can be seen that the untreated soil is returning to its initial condition, with obvious signs of compaction, which shows that mechanized work must be complemented with the application of stabilized organic matter (such as the humic extract in PERL HUMUS®), in order to ensure the correct structuring of the soil and the preservation of the conditions achieved at the time of preparation. The soil treated with PERL HUMUS® appears more flocculated and loose, which facilitates root growth and exploration (as seen in the attached photos), and explains the greater vegetative development of the plants.
Conclusions.
The application of PERL HUMUS® when establishing a garden creates an ideal environment for plant growth and development, helps to recover and improve soil structure and preserves the condition achieved during the preparation stage for longer.
