Field-Cote SMART® for Open Field Nursery

Comparable growth with over 30% less nitrogen

in Prunus laurocerasus

The demo trial shows how controlled-release fertilization in the planting hole can improve nitrogen efficiency in open field nursery production. Compared with conventional row fertilization, growers achieved similar end results with fewer fertilizer applications, lower nitrogen input, and fuller plant development.

Trial Partner
Delphy Boomteelt
Duration
October - November
Location
Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands
Crop
Prunus laurocerasus ‘Herbergii’
Treatments
2 total
LESS NITROGEN IN YEAR 1
- 0 %
LESS NITROGEN OVER 2 GROWING SEASONS
- 0 %
COMPARABLE GROWTH AND QUALITY
0 %

Trial summary

This practical nursery trial was set up to compare Field-Cote SMART® plant-hole fertilization with a standard row fertilization program in open field production of Prunus laurocerasus ‘Herbergii’. The goal was clear: improve nutrient uptake efficiency, support establishment and growth, and evaluate whether comparable plant quality could be achieved with less nitrogen input.

The outcome was commercially relevant. After two growing seasons, plants fertilized with Fieldcote SMART® in the planting hole showed comparable height, comparable crop stand, and slightly stronger branching, while receiving over 30% less nitrogen than the standard row-fertilized treatment. In the first growing season, the trial already showed an even stronger nitrogen saving of 38%, with the Fieldcote SMART® treatment rated better overall for crop appearance and branching.

Fieldcote SMART® enabled growers to produce full, well-branched Prunus plants with substantially lower nitrogen input, showing how controlled-release plant-hole fertilization can improve nitrogen efficiency in open field nursery crops.

Trial objective

In open field nursery production, efficient fertilization is becoming increasingly important. Growers need reliable plant establishment, strong branching, and saleable crop quality — while also reducing nutrient losses and working toward lower nitrogen input.

The objective of this trial was to evaluate whether plant-hole fertilization with controlled-release fertilizer could deliver a more efficient alternative to standard row fertilization in Prunus laurocerasus ‘Herbergii’. Special focus was placed on nitrogen efficiency, crop quality, branching, and comparable growth over two growing seasons.

Trial setup

The demo field was established in practice conditions in Hilvarenbeek, the Netherlands, with Prunus laurocerasus ‘Herbergii’ planted in double rows on a 1.6 m bed system and a spacing of 80 x 50 cm, equal to approximately 20,000 plants per hectare.

CROP

Prunus laurocerasus ‘Herbergii’

Open field nursery production

DURATION

2 Years: October – October

2 full growing seasons

LOCATION

Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands

Practical commercial nursery conditions

TREATMENTS

2 total

Plant-hole fertilization vs. standard row fertilization

TRIAL DESIGN

Field comparison in practice

Crop monitored across 2 seasons

PARTNERS

Delphy Boomteelt / Mivena

Practical trial setup and evaluation

Fertilizers Compared

TRIAL PRODUCT — MIVENA TREATMENT 1

Field-Cote SMART® 16-6-10-2 | 20 months

Plant-hole fertilization at 37.5 g per planting hole.
Total nitrogen input: 60 kg N/ha/year.
No additional fertilization applied to this treatment.

TREATMENT 2

Competitor D Minigran 16-2-10

Standard row fertilization at 2 x 300 kg/ha/year.
Total nitrogen input: 96 kg N/ha/year.
This program was repeated in both years.

Results

During the first growing season, the Field-Cote SMART® treatment showed a visibly darker green crop colour, stronger branching, and a slightly better overall crop appearance than the standard row-fertilized treatment. Final assessment recorded 71 cm average plant length for Fieldcote SMART® versus 69 cm for the standard treatment, with the Fieldcote SMART® crop rated “very good” for crop stand and branching.

The second growing season confirmed the efficiency story. By October, both treatments reached a comparable final plant height of 150–160 cm, with no visible difference in general crop stand or root ball quality. However, the Fieldcote SMART® plants remained slightly heavier in branching and fuller in structure, despite receiving substantially less nitrogen over the full trial period.

FINAL HEIGHT, CROP STAND & BRANCHING
Field-Cote SMART® 20 mnd ★ Best result for branching
Final height 150–160 cm Crop stand: Good Branching: Very good
Very good branching
Standard row fertilization competitor (D)
Final height 150–160 cm Crop stand: Good Branching: Good
Good branching
Source: Delphy Boomteelt practical trial in Prunus laurocerasus ‘Herbergii’, Hilvarenbeek, NL. Comparison of Field-Cote SMART® plant-hole fertilization versus standard row fertilization under open field nursery conditions.

Field-Cote SMART® supports efficient open field nursery production

Field-Cote SMART® combined comparable crop performance with substantially lower nitrogen input. After two growing seasons, plant height and crop stand were equal to the standard fertilization program, while branching was stronger in the Field-Cote SMART® treatment. For growers, that means a fuller plant, fewer fertilizer applications, and a more efficient fertilization strategy from planting onward.

Conclusion

One practical two-year nursery trial points in a clear commercial direction: plant-hole fertilization with Field-Cote SMART® can improve nitrogen efficiency in open field nursery crops without compromising crop quality. In Prunus laurocerasus ‘Herbergii’, the Field-Cote SMART® treatment delivered comparable final growth and overall crop stand with over 30% less nitrogen, while also producing a slightly fuller, better-branched plant.

More Efficient Nitrogen Use

Field-Cote SMART® reduced nitrogen input from 192 kg to 120 kg over two years, while maintaining comparable crop performance.

Comparable End Result

Final plant height and crop stand were equal to the standard row-fertilized treatment after two growing seasons.

Stronger Branching

Plants fertilized in the planting hole were rated better for branching, resulting in a fuller plant structure.

Less Labour, Fewer Applications

The Field-Cote SMART® treatment was applied once in the planting hole, while the standard program required repeated row fertilization.

Recommendation

For growers in open field nursery production, Field-Cote SMART® offers a compelling route toward lower nitrogen input, efficient controlled release, and reliable crop quality. Especially in crops where uniform establishment, branching, and nutrient efficiency matter, plant-hole fertilization provides a practical and future-oriented fertilization strategy.

Interested in improving nitrogen efficiency in open field nursery crops?

Learn more about Field-Cote SMART® or contact Mivena for advice on the right controlled-release fertilization strategy for plant-hole application, open field shrubs, and efficient nitrogen management.

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Trial conducted under practical nursery conditions in Hilvarenbeek, the Netherlands, in Prunus laurocerasus ‘Herbergii’. Results reflect one field demonstration comparing plant-hole fertilization with standard row fertilization across two growing seasons. Local soil conditions, weather, irrigation, and crop management may influence field performance.

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