Daymsa presents the new applications of EFICAL WSP via irrigation on strawberries

Daymsa presents the new applications of EFICAL WSP via irrigation on strawberries

May 23, 2022 | Technical articles

Daymsa continues its commitment with EFICAL WSP, a nutritional solution to address calcium deficiencies on crop quality and post-harvest life in strawberries.

Calcium deficiency in berries can cause crop reduction and quality loss. DAYMSA presents the new applications of EFICALWSP via irrigation for a nutritional solution that facilitates a better absorption of calcium in the plant.

EFICALWSP is a biostimulant with high assimilable calcium richness that manages to increase the quality and post-harvest durability of fruit and vegetables. To improve the life of the harvest, it is essential to increase the level of calcium in the cell wall or “bound calcium”. This can be quantified by specific analysis of calcium pectate molecules. “The main difference that EFICALWSP provides us, is achieves a significant increase in “bound calcium” or calcium in the cell wall, achieving a substantial improvement in the shelf life of our fruit and vegetables”, comments José Carlos Amor, Sales Director of Daymsa.

Application of EFICAL WSP

The trial of EFICALWSP on strawberry via irrigation has been carried out in Moguer (Huelva) on the Strawberry Rábida variety, one of the most common varieties grown in Andalusia. It was carried out by technicians from the testing company ANADIAG.

The objective was to evaluate the content of total calcium and bound calcium in the fruit to see its influence on the quality of the fruit at harvest and post-harvest. The polytunnels in the trial were 85 m long with 800 plants. A total of 9.5 plants per square metre. Four applications of 4kg of EFICAWSP via irrigation were made every 15 days starting on 1 February.

Similar results would have been expected when spreading the doses of these applications on a weekly basis, for those farms where weekly applications are preferred.

Results

Total and bound calcium content was measured in specialised laboratories on fruit samples at different dates during the trial. On the of 16 February results received their last application of EficalWSP on 1 February, in 15 days earlier. An increase in the content of bound calcium was measured in the fruit compared to the control, corresponding to an increase of 17%. This is very interesting because the applicatio

 This data is very interesting because the application of Efical WSP was done 15 days before the sampling, which means that the extra calcium supply from Efical WSP has been long lasting.

The next sampling for calcium analysis was done on the 4 of March (harvest three days after having received an application of Efical WSP). It is possible to see an increase in the calcium content bound in the fruit compared to the control, corresponding to an increase of 21%. This is a very positive figure which reflects the fact that the calcium supplied with Efical WSP reaches the fruit quickly.

Conclusions

The applications of EFICALWSP via irrigation carried out in this trial on strawberry crops show that the effect after application was rapid and maintained over time, with an increase in total calcium and bound calcium content being observed. This resulted in a higher fruit consistency at harvest and a higher strawberry weight (+3 grams on average). In the post-harvest period, a slowing of weight loss of between 17% and 30% was observed, as well as an increase in healthy fruit without rotting.

Calcium and quality increase in grapes after application of EficalWSP

Calcium and quality increase in grapes after application of EficalWSP

Mar 25, 2022 | Technical articles

DAYMSA presents the benefits of using EficalWSP in the cultivation in grapes after its study carried out in Blanca, in the province of Murcia with Flame seedless variety.

DAYMSA, European leader in the production of biostimulants with a clear commitment to offer natural solutions for the agriculture of tomorrow, reaffirms its commitment to EficalWSP, a nutritional product with a great wealth of assimilable calcium, formulated with free amino-acids and organic complexes that achieve a better absorption and translocation of calcium through the tissues of the plant.

It is also a product that can be used in Organic Agriculture according to EC Regulation 834/2007 and 889/2008, NOP and JAS regulations. Control ECOCERT SA F-32600

Benefits of EficalWSP

The formulation of EficalWSP is designed to facilitate the absorption and distribution of calcium within the plant as it is complexed with organic substances, in addition to stimulating the growth of new roots that will be points of greater calcium absorption. It increases the concentration of calcium in the fruit and green parts, improving firmness and post-harvest quality by being a source of organic calcium that is highly assimilable by the plant.

In this sense, EficalWSP also stands out for its easy handling that it can be used both via foliar and root application in a wide variety of crops with a fast and high solubility in water.

Proper fertilisation with EficalWSP improves plant tissue and reduces the risk of disease penetration. This will be reflected in a better post-harvest life.

Trials carried out on grapes

Daymsa has recently carried out several trials on grapes to study the benefits of EficalWSP.

This was carried out in Blanca, Murcia by the testing company GOES. The objective was to evaluate the increase of calcium in fruit, harvest quality and post-harvest life with EficalWSP application and another source of inorganic calcium via foliar.

The trial was carried out on the Flame seedless variety, the first application was made at the same time as the gibberellic treatment with an application volume of 800 L/ha and the second application 7 days later.

Results

The results at harvest showed increases in size and weight of +5% and +12% respectively after treatments with EficalWSP. This effect on weight and size was not seen with the inorganic calcium (calcium chloride) treatment.

The grapes with the highest calcium content at harvest were those treated with Efical WSP 3kg/ha (+25% bound Ca and +12% total Ca than the control) with significant differences. The treatment with inorganic calcium at 5L/ha resulted in a lower assimilated calcium content despite applying more grams of calcium per hectare.

Berry shatter resistance was measured with a texturometer. It increased with the EficalWSP treatments (result of the structural function of calcium bound in the cell wall).

Post-harvest, after a period of cold storage and shelf life, the percentage of rotten berries was counted. The results showed a 35% reduction in rot compared to the control after the application of Efical WSP.

Conclusion

EficalWSP is suitable for grapes as no stains were observed after foliar applications. 

The foliar application of EficalWSP resulted in more assimilated calcium by the plant. Moreover, the organic molecules of the formulation stimulated the growth of the fruit leading to a larger harvest, with increases in grape size and weight of +5% and +12% respectively. Considering an average of 80-120 grapes per bunch on the Flame Seedless variety, this leads to an increase of +56 to +84 grams per bunch, which is a good result.”

Post-harvest, EficalWSP managed to reduce damage by botrytis compared to the untreated control thanks to the calcium strengthening of the cell walls, therefore preventing the pathogens to penetrate the fruits.