Lettuce and Leafy Salad Fertiliser and Crop Nutrition

Nitrogen

The role of nitrogen in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

Nitrogen is needed in relatively large quantities in lettuce and leafy salad crops as it promotes healthy vigorous foliage. Nitrogen is essential for the formation of lush green foliage in lettuce and other leafy salads. It is a key component of chlorophyll, the pigment responsible for the green colour of leaves. Adequate nitrogen promotes vigorous leaf growth, allowing the plant to produce prolific and healthy foliage.

Identifying Nitrogen Deficiency in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

Pale green or yellow leaves are a common symptom of nitrogen deficiency which typically causes overall yellowing of the leaves, starting from the older leaves and progressing towards the younger ones. The leaves may appear lighter in colour than healthy green leaves.

Utilising Nitrogen in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

Nitrogen can be applied to lettuce and leafy salad crops within the base fertiliser requirement either within the Multiflo liquid NPKS fertiliser or within the Nitroflo liquid nitrogen plus sulphur fertiliser. Liquid nitrogen is an excellent choice for lettuce and leafy salad crop growth as it’s instantly available to the crop, providing consistent responsive nutrition evenly across the field.

Folex K39

Folex K39 is an inorganic emulsion containing potassium and nitrogen, and is an effective way of supplying N&K to the lettuce and leafy salad crop.

Phosphorus

The role of phosphorus in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

Phosphorus is essential for root development, energy transfer, photosynthesis, cellular structure and function and reproductive development in lettuce and leafy salad crops.

Identifying phosphorus deficiency in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

Phosphorus-deficient plants may exhibit dark green or bluish-green foliage, particularly in the older leaves. This dark green coloration may be more pronounced compared to healthy plants and in some cases, phosphorus deficiency can cause purpling or reddening of the leaves, especially along the leaf margins and undersides. This discolouration is often more visible in cooler temperatures or cold soils, where phosphorus availability is often reduced.

Utilising phosphorus in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

Phosphorus can be applied to lettuce and leafy salad crops in a 100% water soluble form utilising the Multiflo grades of NPKS fertilisers. The liquid, soluble formulation aids instant uptake by the crop.

Polymex

Polymex is an additive that can be included with your Multiflo P application to aid the utilisation of phosphorus, it keeps it mobile within the soil for longer.

Vitomex

Vitomex is a unique nitrate free foliar nutrient which supplies plant stimulating phosphite along with potassium and trace elements chelated in a unique way to improve plant health and tolerance of abiotic stress

Potassium

The role of potassium in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

Potassium helps regulate water uptake and transport within plants. It enhances the efficiency of water use, allowing lettuce and leafy salad crops to better withstand periods of drought or water stress. Adequate potassium levels help maintain turgor pressure in plant cells, which is essential for structural support and overall plant health.

Potassium contributes to the development of strong cell walls, which can improve the plant’s resistance to various diseases and pathogens. Lettuce and leafy salad crops with sufficient potassium levels are less susceptible to certain fungal and bacterial diseases, helping to maintain crop health and yield potential.

Identifying potassium deficiency in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

Potassium-deficient plants may exhibit dead tissue along the margins of older leaves. This necrosis often starts as browning or yellowing along the leaf edges and may progress inward, leading to tissue death.

Utilising potassium in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

Potassium can be applied within the Multiflo NPKS range of liquid fertilisers, providing the crop with a healthy dose of liquid nutrition alongside other crucial elements for crop establishment and growth.

DP98

DP98 is potassium phosphite formulated to maximise the benefit of phosphite application on root growth in young plants

Vitomex

Vitomex is a unique nitrate free foliar phosphite containing potassium. It’s used to improve plant health, rooting action, yield and post harvest quality.

Folex K39

Folex K39 is an inorganic emulsion containing potassium and nitrogen, and is an effective way of supplying N&K to the lettuce and leafy salad crop.

K50

K50 is formulation containing potassium carbonate to correct nutrient deficiency or to provide a protective barrier on a leaf surface to help prevent infection.

Sulphur

The role of sulphur in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

Sulphur is a component of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Proteins are essential for various cellular processes in plants, including growth, development, and defence mechanisms. Adequate sulphur availability ensures the synthesis of proteins necessary for overall plant health and function.

Identifying sulphur deficiency in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

Sulphur-deficient plants often show overall chlorosis (yellowing) of the leaves, starting from the younger leaves and progressing toward the older ones. This chlorosis is typically more pronounced in-between the veins of the leaves, leaving the veins themselves relatively green.

Utilising sulphur in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops

Sulphur can be applied within both the Nitroflo and Multiflo base liquid fertilisers. This is to help improve nitrogen use efficiency whilst potentially remedying sulphur deficiency.

Boron

The role of boron (B) in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

Boron plays a crucial role in the formation and integrity of plant cell walls. It cross-links pectic polysaccharides in the cell wall, contributing to its strength and flexibility. Adequate boron levels ensure proper cell wall development, which is essential for structural support and resistance to mechanical stress in lettuce and leafy salad crops.

Identifying boron deficiency in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

Boron-deficient lettuce and leafy salad plants may exhibit abnormal leaf texture, with leaves that are thicker than normal and more brittle, due to impaired cell wall formation – as boron is essential for cross-linking pectic polysaccharides in the cell wall matrix. Boron-deficient lettuce plants may exhibit distorted or misshapen leaves, with irregular margins or curling. This distortion is again a result of impaired cell wall development and can affect the overall appearance of the plant and ultimately it’s marketability.

Utilising boron in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

Folex B

Folex B can improve crop performance by reducing or preventing boron deficiency.

Calcium

The role of calcium (Ca) in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

Adequate calcium levels ensure proper cell wall formation, which is essential for maintaining cell integrity and structural support in lettuce and leafy salad crops. Calcium helps enhance plant defences against diseases and pathogens.

It strengthens cell walls and promotes the production of antimicrobial compounds, making plants more resistant to fungal and bacterial infections. Calcium-deficient lettuce and leafy salad crops may be more susceptible to diseases and disorders such as tip burn, bacterial diseases and powdery mildew.

Identifying calcium (Ca) deficiency in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

One of the most characteristic symptoms of calcium deficiency in lettuce and leafy salad plants is tip burn. This condition appears as browning or necrosis of the leaf margins, particularly at the tips of the leaves. The affected tissue may become dry, crispy and brown, gradually progressing from the leaf tips inward.

Utilising calcium (Ca) in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

CalMax Ultra

CalMax Ultra is a unique formulation containing calcium nitrate and AXM, formulated for foliar application. CalMax Ultra protects against tip burn in lettuce.

Copper

The role of copper (Cu) in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

Copper serves as a cofactor for many enzymes involved in various physiological processes in salad crops. It plays a crucial role in the activation of enzymes responsible for photosynthesis, respiration and other metabolic pathways.

Adequate copper levels ensure proper enzyme function, contributing to overall plant health and growth

Identifying copper (Cu) deficiency in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

Copper-deficient plants often show yellowing of the leaves, particularly in the younger leaves. This chlorosis may start as a pale green colour and progress to a more pronounced yellow coloration. In severe cases, copper deficiency can lead to necrotic spots or lesions on the leaves. These necrotic areas may appear as brown or darkened patches, particularly along the leaf margins or between veins.

Utilising copper (cu) in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

Folex Cu 6

Folex Cu 6 is an inorganic liquid formulation containing copper and sulphate S used to correct copper deficiency.

Magnesium

The role of magnesium (Mg) in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

Magnesium serves as a cofactor for many enzymes involved in various metabolic processes in plants. It plays a crucial role in enzyme activation and regulation, particularly in energy metabolism, nucleic acid synthesis, and protein synthesis. Adequate magnesium levels ensure optimal enzyme function, contributing to overall health and growth of lettuce and leafy salads.

Identifying magnesium (Mg) deficiency in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

One of the most characteristic symptoms of magnesium deficiency in salad crops is a yellowing of the leaves, typically starting from the margins and interveinal areas of the older leaves. The veins may remain green while the tissue between them turns yellow, giving a characteristic mottled appearance.

Utilising magnesium (Mg) in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

Folex Mg 9

Folex Mg 9 is an inorganic liquid formulation containing magnesium sulphate. Adequate plant Mg is essential for optimum crop performance and yield.

Manganese

The role of manganese (Mn) in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

Manganese serves as a cofactor for several enzymes involved in various metabolic processes in salad plants. It plays a critical role in enzyme activation and regulation, particularly in processes such as photosynthesis, respiration and nitrogen metabolism. Adequate manganese levels ensure optimal enzyme function, contributing to overall plant health and growth.

Manganese is also a component of certain antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), which help plants mitigate oxidative stress. These enzymes scavenge harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated during photosynthesis and other metabolic processes, protecting plant cells from damage. Adequate manganese levels enhance antioxidant defence mechanisms, improving stress tolerance and resilience in lettuce and leafy salad crops.

Identifying manganese (Mn) deficiency in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

One of the most characteristic symptoms of manganese deficiency is interveinal chlorosis, which appears as yellowing between the veins of the leaves while the veins themselves remain green. This chlorosis is typically more pronounced on the younger leaves and may progress as the deficiency worsens

Utilising manganese (Mn) in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

Manganese 17.5

Manganese 17.5 is an inorganic liquid formulation containing manganese sulphate (17.5%).

SuperMn

SuperMn is a high in manganese formulation combined with magnesium, nitrate N and sulphate S.

Zinc

The role of zinc (Zn) in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

Zinc is necessary for the synthesis of proteins, which are essential for various cellular processes in plants. It is involved in the activation of enzymes responsible for protein synthesis, including ribosomal proteins and translation factors. Proper zinc availability supports efficient protein production, ensuring proper growth and development in lettuce and leafy salad crops.

Identifying zinc (Zn) deficiency in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

Greyish or silver-grey discolouration of leaves can be associated with zinc deficiency in lettuce and other leafy salad crops. Zinc deficiency can manifest in various symptoms, including interveinal chlorosis (yellowing between the veins), leaf distortion and sometimes a greyish hue on the leaf surface.

The greyish discolouration is often a secondary symptom and may be caused by the accumulation of anthocyanin, which are pigments responsible for red, purple, or blue colours in plants. In zinc-deficient plants, anthocyanin accumulation may occur in response to stress, leading to a greyish or silver-grey appearance on the affected leaves, particularly on the undersides.

Utilising zinc (Zn) in Lettuce and Leafy Salad crops:

Folex Zn

Folex Zn is an inorganic liquid formulation containing zinc and sulphur.

Zynergy

Zynergy is a combination of copper, zinc and sulphur formulated to optimise nutrient uptake by the plant.