Ultra Gro Crop Shield and Ultra Gro Game Changer for Frost Protection
In a recent trial conducted by a third party, Ultra Gro Crop Shield and Ultra Gro Game Changer were applied to almonds to evaluate crop response.
Conclusions:
The Full Results
Ultra Gro FOLIAR CROP SHIELD (3-4.5-2) Ultra Gro GAME CHANGER (2.4-11.3-10.2) were applied at 1 gallon per acre of Crop Shield and 2 gallons per acre of Game Changer to mature almonds (cv. Nonpareil) to evaluate crop response. Two applications were made with each product starting at pink bud (Feb 7, 2021) and then 14 days later (Feb 21, 2022). Foliar applications were made with a mist-blower sprayer at 100 gallons per acre. Each of the plots were replicated four times. Yield data was taken by sampling harvested nuts in the window and determining the number of nuts per plot. A 100-nut sample was taken from each plot and cracked out for turnout and meat weights. The application site had two periods of at or near freezing temperatures during bloom.
NUT SET DATA
- The untreated showed an average of 32% of the flowers set nuts.
- Ultra Gro FOLIAR CROP SHIELD (3-4.5-2) showed and average of 36% of the flowers set nuts. This is an 4% increase in set nuts compared to the untreated.
- Ultra Gro GAME CHANGER (2.4-11.3-10.2) showed and average of 40% of the flowers set nuts. This is an 8% increase in set nuts compared to the untreated.
YIELD DATA
- The untreated plots were found to have a population of 13,646 nuts per tree and nut meat weight of 0.97 grams per nut, corresponding to yield of 3161 pounds of nut meats per acre.
- Ultra Gro FOLIAR CROP SHIELD (3-4.5-2) had a nut population of 13.820 nuts per tree and nut weight of 0.99 grams per nut, corresponding to 3227 pounds of nut meats per acre. This is an increase of 174 nuts per tree and an increase of this is a 66 pound per acre increase (2.09%)
- Ultra Gro GAME CHANGER (2.4-11.3-10.2) had a nut population of 14,550 nuts per tree and nut weight of 0.97 grams per nut, corresponding to 3380 pounds of nut meats per acre. This is an increase of 904 nuts per tree and an increase of this is a 219 pound per acre increase (6.91%).
CONCLUSIONS
- The application site had two periods of at or near freezing temperatures during bloom.
- The control plots did have a heavy yield (3161/#ac).
- Ultra Gro FOLIAR CROP SHIELD applied twice had a yield increase of 2% at 3227 #/ac, corresponding to a 66 #/ac increase in yield.
- Ultra Gro GAME CHANGER applied twice had a yield increase of 7% at 3380 #/ac, corresponding to 219 #/ac increase in yield.
Grower Return
The Ultra Gro Crop Shield and Ultra Gro Game Changer program would have increased grower return by $99/acre and $329/acre, using a grower return price of $1.50 per pound. Material costs were $50 per acre for UG Crop Shield and $80 per acre for UG Game Changer.
About Crop Shield
Ultra Gro has been treating plants for heat stress for over 30 years using foliar applications of UG Crop Shield, one of our flagship products. Crop Shield contains a mixture of highly effective nutrients and water-soluble biodegradable material. Macro- and micro-nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potash, zinc, iron, manganese, copper cobalt, and molybdenum are all included. All told, this combination will feed the plant necessary nutrients and protect it from the heat.
