Granusol® WSF

+32% More Fruit per Container

Substrate Raspberry Production (cv. Kwanza) · Belgium

An independent trial by pcfruit npo, a Belgian fruit research institute, compared Granusol WSF to a standard multi-fertilizer fertigation programme in substrate-grown raspberries. Granusol WSF delivered more fruit per container, a higher Class 1 share and an improved leaf mineral status, using one simplified fertigation solution.

Trial Partner
pcfruit npo
Duration
Full growing season
Location
Sint-Truiden, BE
Crop
Raspberry cv. Kwanza
Treatments
2 total
MORE FRUIT PER CONTAINER
+ 0 %
CLASS 1 FRUIT SHARE
0 %

Improved Leaf Mineral Status

IN THE GRANUSOL OBJECT

Trial summary

This independent trial, conducted by pcfruit npo, a Belgian fruit research institute, evaluated Granusol WSF against a standard single- and multi-nutrient fertigation programme in substrate-grown primocane raspberries, variety Kwanza.

Granusol WSF delivered more fruit per container, a Class 1 share equal to or above the standard programme, and a better leaf mineral status, using one simplified two-component solution instead of a complex mix of single-nutrient fertilizers.

For substrate raspberry growers, fertigation complexity directly affects labour, dosing accuracy and the risk of nutrient imbalance. A single, reliable programme that performs on par with, or better than, a bespoke multi-fertilizer scheme reduces that operational burden.

The Granusol object showed:

  • 2.199 kg of fruit per container, versus 1.672 kg for the standard programme
  • A Class 1 fruit share of 67%, versus 66% for the standard programme
  • A better mineral status in the leaves, based on dry matter analysis, compared to the standard programme

The driver? A simplified two-component Granusol mix, blending two existing Granusol WSF formulations, formulated to closely approximate the full standard fertigation scheme, including trace elements, across both the growth and harvest phases.

Trial objective

Substrate raspberry growers commonly rely on a bespoke combination of single- and multi-nutrient fertilizers to fine-tune their fertigation scheme. This offers flexibility, but it also adds complexity, labour and room for dosing error.

The objective of this trial was to evaluate:

  • Production and yield progress across the season
  • Fruit size, weight and firmness, at picking and after storage
  • Class 1 and Class 2 fruit classification
  • Plant mineral status, through plant sap and leaf dry matter analysis

Because in raspberry production, fertigation reliability is measured in fruit quality and quantity, not just in the number of products on the dosing schedule.

Trial setup

The trial was carried out at pcfruit npo, an independent Belgian fruit research institute, under controlled but commercially representative conditions.

VARIETY

Raspberry cv. Kwanza

Primocane, substrate-grown

SYSTEM

Substrate cultivation

Drip irrigation, 2 drippers per plant

SUBSTRATE

Container substrate

pcfruit npo research site

PLANT SCALE

18 plants per object

3 replicates × 6 plants

DURATION

Full growing season

~5 months, June–November

INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS

pcfruit npo & NovaCropControl

Plant sap and leaf dry matter analysis

Two Treatments Compared

TREATMENT 1

Standard Fertigation (Control)

Reference programme combining single- and multi-nutrient fertilizers, following pcfruit npo's standard raspberry fertigation scheme for growth and harvest phases.

TREATMENT 2

Granusol WSF

A simplified two-component Granusol WSF mix, blended in season-specific ratios to approximate the standard scheme, including trace elements.

Results

Fruit production, quality and plant nutrition were tracked throughout the season and compared between the Granusol and standard fertigation objects.

PRODUCTION · KG PER CONTAINER
Kwanza Control 1.672 kg
Kwanza Granusol 2.199 kg
+32% vs. control

Production was consistently higher in the Granusol object throughout the trial. The difference was not statistically significant.

CLASS 1 FRUIT SHARE
Kwanza Control 66%
Kwanza Granusol 67%

Class 1 fruit share was equal to or slightly above the standard programme, with the percentage of double and rough fruit similar between both objects.

Leaf mineral status

Dry matter analysis of the leaves showed a better mineral status in the Granusol object compared to the standard fertigation object, supporting healthy plant nutrition throughout the season.

Good to know

Fruit weight and firmness at picking showed no difference between objects across the season. A difference in fruit size and in firmness after storage was recorded at one late-season measurement each, not at earlier ones. Plant sap analysis showed a mild, temporary deficiency in trace elements (manganese, iron) in both objects during the growing period, a normal pattern for raspberries on substrate that can be corrected within the fertigation programme.

More fruit, better plant nutrition, one simplified programme

In an independent pcfruit npo trial, raspberries fertigated with Granusol WSF produced more fruit per container and a higher Class 1 share than a bespoke multi-fertilizer reference programme, while also showing an improved leaf mineral status.

For substrate raspberry growers, that means stronger performance without the added complexity of managing multiple single-nutrient products.

Conclusion

The independent pcfruit npo trial demonstrates that Granusol WSF performs as well as, and in several respects better than, a bespoke multi-fertilizer fertigation programme in substrate-grown raspberries, while simplifying the nutrient programme into a single, reliable solution.

More Fruit per Container

Granusol WSF produced 2.199 kg of fruit per container, compared to 1.672 kg for the standard programme, consistently higher throughout the trial.

Comparable to Higher Fruit Quality

Class 1 fruit share reached 67% in the Granusol object, versus 66% for the standard reference programme.

Improved Leaf Mineral Status

Dry matter analysis of the leaves showed a better mineral status in the Granusol object than in the standard fertigation object.

Simplified Fertigation

A two-component Granusol mix replaced a complex combination of single-nutrient fertilizers, while still covering the full standard mineral scheme.

Recommendation

For growers producing raspberries on substrate, Granusol WSF offers a practical, higher-performing alternative to complex multi-fertilizer fertigation programmes. In this independent pcfruit npo trial, that simplification came alongside more fruit per container, a higher Class 1 share and improved leaf mineral status. As with any fertigation programme, trace element status is worth monitoring and can be adjusted within the Granusol mix if needed.

Interested in Granusol® WSF for Your Raspberry Plantation?

Learn more about Granusol WSF or contact our team for advice on fertigation for your crop and substrate.

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Independent trial conducted by pcfruit npo, Sint-Truiden, Belgium · Crop: Raspberry cv. Kwanza (primocane) · Commissioned by Mivena BV · Granusol WSF supplied by Mivena BV. Results reflect independent trial data from a single research institute location. Individual results may vary depending on water quality, substrate type, local climate conditions, variety, and crop management. © Mivena BV · Sprangseweg 13C · 5144 NV Waalwijk

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