Principios de

Fertilizacin Foliar

3 systems composing leaves

1- Epidermal cells 2 - Mesophyl 3- Transportation vessels

Scheme of the outer wall of a leaf epidermal cell

Wax Cuticle proper
Pectin layer (negative charge)

Cuticle layer (capa) Primary wall

Secondary wall

Plasma membrane Cytoplasm

Penetration through cuticle and epidermal cell wall

SURFACE WAX Hydrophobic layer

CUTIN + WAX

+ CUTIN + WAX

EXTERNAL LAYER Cutin (weak negative charge) Semi-hydrophilic

Pectin CELLULOSE

Cuticle

Cutin + Wax + Polysaccharides Pectin (negative charge) Cellulose

can absorb water

Penetration through cuticle and epidermal cell wall by diffusion

Wax - Hydrophobic layer External layer - Cutin (weak negative charge) - Semi-hydrophilic Cuticle - Pectin (negative charge) and cellulose - can absorb water Uptake preference to cation + in direction toward cells membranes (low concentration) Anions - only small quantity penetrates, due to rejected by cells membranes (negatively charged) +

PECTIN CELLULOSE

SURFACE HAIR

SURFACE WAX CUTIN + WAX

EPIDERMAL CELL

CUTIN + WAX + POLYSACCHARIDES

Passive diffusion is responsible for most of the penetration

The rate of diffusion across a membrane is proportional to the concentration gradient across it

The higher concentration of solute which can be applied to leaf surface without causing damage and the longer the time it remains active state on the leaf surface

Schematic representation of cell-to-cell type transport processes

DIFFUSION OR MASS FLOW DIFFUSSION

DIFFUSION VIA PLASMODESMATA

ACTIVE TRANSPORT INVOLVING ATP

The plants cuticle is nonliving, noncellular, lipoidal biopolymer cutin with embedded wax Penetration through cuticle and epidermal cell wall by diffusion 1) Uptake preference to cation (Cutin - negative charge)
+

2) Anions - only small quantity penetrates, because rejected by cells membranes (negatively charged) 3) Movement in direction toward cells membranes (low concentration)

Uptake steps by Leaves

1) Penetration through cuticle and epidermal cell wall by

passive diffusion:
Influenced by temperature and gradient of concentration

2)

Absorption of ions by the cytoplasms membrane surface

3) Active penetration into protoplast requires energy.

Energy is supplied by metabolic respiration or photosynthesis process of the plant

Solute penetration across the cuticular layer of leaf epidermal cells

ECTODESMATA

Leaf surface Cuticle Cell wall

STOMATA Guard cell Guard cell

Most solutes do not penetrate through open stomata Ion uptake is higher at night (closed stomata) than during day-time

Passive diffusion
is responsible for most of the penetration
The rate of diffusion across a membrane is proportional to the concentration gradient across it

Achieve better uptake

1) the higher the concentration of solute without causing damage 2) as longer the time it remains active on the leaf surface The higher KNO3 spray concentration the higher the uptake

Disadvantages of soil pathway

1. Production of insoluble precipitates
2. Irreversible fixation onto soil particles 3. Leaching by rain or irrigation below plant root network 4. The physical and chemical heterogeneity of the soil makes it unsuitable pathway for supplying low dosages 5. Competitive (antagonistic) uptake

Ventajas de la

Fertilizacion Foliar

1. Uptake commences within hours after application

and can continue for several days thereafter

2. Effectiveness of the uptake of applied solution can be

very high (in trials recovery reached > 70%)

3. Several compounds can be applied in single spray

4. Many problems associated with soil applications are

avoided.

To prevent and cure deficiencies

Decrease in root activity during the reproductive stage as a result of sink competition for carbohydrates. Thus, nutrient uptake by the roots decline.

Effective foliar feeding when the roots are unable to provide the plant with adequate nutrients at critical stages of growth

FOLIAR SPRAY CAN BE USED TO

SUPPLEMENT
SOIL APPLIED FERTILIZERS

UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES FOLIAR

FEEDING CAN LARGELY

REPLACE SOIL APPLICATION

Possible disadvantages with leaf application pathway

1. Spray drift on non-targeted sites (deriva) 2. Limited available leaf area (seedlings) 3. Sensitivity to burn damage limit the amount applied - costly and time consuming repeat applications

4. Penetrability of leaf cuticles may vary considerably with leaf age, environment and plant variety
5. Wetting (rain, dew, irrigation) may leach applied spray

PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS AFFECTING EFFICIENT UPTAKE OF FOLIAR FEEDING

Spray drifts away from target plants

Spray when wind speeds are low. Increase droplet size

Poor coverage of leaves inside plant canopy

Optimize spray technology: Use larger spray volumes and higher pressure

Poor wetting of individual leaves

Add surfactant adjuvants

Surfactants
Adding a suitable surfactant to the spray solution, may improve the uptake by the plant in the following ways:
* Lowering surface tension.

The addition of wetting agent is necessary to ensure the adherence of droplets on difficult-to-wet leaves + * Increasing the penetration capacity of nutrients through the cuticle

* pH control of the solution.

pH
Usually, at pH below 4 -5, damage is noted.
Better penetration of P fertilizers at low pH, related mainly to improved solubility, moisture retention and degree of crystallization of salts on leaf surface.

When tank mixed with pesticides is prepared, to avoid alkaline hydrolysis of pesticides, it is recommended to prepare a spray solution of pH: 5.5 -6.5.

pH - less leaf damage when spray solution is low no alkaline hydrolysis Surfactant - silicon-based decreases leaf damage and increases efficiency of sprays

Decrease in root activity during the reproductive stage As a result of sink competition for carbohydrates, root and thus nutrient uptake by the roots decline with the onset of the reproductive stage.

PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS AFFECTING EFFICIENT UPTAKE OF FOLIAR SPRAY

Poor retention of spray by leaf surfaces
Decrease spray droplet size (desprendimiento gotas) Increase solution viscosity by adding polymeric stickers

Rapid drying of solution on leaf surface

initially increases effective concentrations and accelerate penetration, subsequent: drying (inactivated) inhibits further penetration

Spray when lowered temperature, windspeed, and high relative humidity are prevalent Add oils to spray solution in order to inhibit drying

PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS AFFECTING EFFICIENT UPTAKE OF FOLIAR SPRAY

Poor cuticular penetration
Add low surface tension surfactant to encourage penetration via stomatal openings
(increased run-off, more rapid drying and increased penetration leading to burn damage - such as: L77)

Effective concentration causes unacceptable

burn damage
Pretest to determine threshold concentration of burn damage. Apply lower concentration at frequent intervals

Effect of concentration on the foliar uptake of potassium from KNO3 by lettuce over 20 hr.*
Uptake (%)

20

10

500 1000 concentration ( mM )

* - Peter M. Neumann - 1988

Translocation of K Potassium applied to leaves is quickly translocated to young parts of the plant
TYPICAL DISTRIBUTION OF 42K IN YOUNG MAIZE PLANT 24 h AFTER KNO3 APPLICATION TO THE SECOND LEAF
Distribution % Treated leaf

Middle
Top 5.1 (treated) 39.0 Base 11.3

(vaina)
Sheath 12.2

Aerial parts 23.0 Roots 9.3

Same leaf can both export and import

Flux through the xylem is regulated by root output and driven by water potential differences between soil, leaf, and atmosphere.

Little importance to the

Lignin reinforcement

transport of foliar applied plant nutrients

Xylem vessel

from sprayed leaves to

growing organs with low transpiration rates

Xylem

(buds, flowers, fruits).

Composed of living cells with plasma membranes and cytoplasm Phloem transport is
Companion cell Phloem sieve tube

extremely important for distribution from mature leaves to

Sieve plate

growing regions in
the roots and shoots.

Phloem

Potassium Translocation with and without soil supply

Influence of potassium nutrition of the roots on translocation of 42KNO3 ( 3rd leaf of maize plants)
42KNO 3

applied at 14 days

7 days Days without potassium % 42K translocated in 22 hr 0 32.2 7 0

5 21.2

9 13.3

14 7.0

9.1 27.3

The export of 42K from treated leaf decreases when grown without K in the soil.
Foliar translocation depends on the condition of the roots and nutritive status of the plant

Mobility of plant nutrients within the phloem

Divided into three groups*

Mobile Partially mobile Not mobile

K Zn Ca

P Cu Mg

S Mn

Cl Fe

Na Mo

* Bukovac & Wittwer (1957), Kunnan (1980)

Summary
K+ SURFACE WAX Hydrophobic layer

STOMATA

Cuticle Cell wall

Cutin (Semi-hydrophilic) Pectin (negative charge) - - Cellulose

Guard cell

Guard cell

passive diffusion

Movement toward cells membranes (from high to low concentration)

Absorption by cytoplasms membrane penetration into protoplast: ACTIVE = energy involved

1. Uptake commences within hours of application

and can continue for several days thereafter

Decrease in root activity during the reproductive stag as a result of sink competition for carbohydrates. Thus, nutrient uptake by the roots decline. * Foliar applied plant nutrients move within phloem system