Choosing the Best Fertilizer, Not the Cheapest

*Model scenarios based on a combination of reduced losses and a larger share of A grade quality. Actual results depend on the crop, the business and the growing conditions.

Worked example: Prunus 2 litre

A grower produces 10,000 plants, the high quality CRF costs € 1.00 per kg more and the dosage is 8 grams per plant. The additional investment comes to € 80.

Now suppose that, thanks to a better overall growing strategy, losses drop from 5% to 3%, more plants reach the required size and the share of A grade quality rises from 70% to 82%. In this scenario the additional sales value rises to roughly € 1,100 per 10,000 plants, against € 80 in extra fertilizer costs.

The ratio between investment and potential return is therefore very favourable.

Vitality counts just as much

Good nutrition goes beyond centimetres of growth. A well fed crop has the right nutrients available for root development, strong cell and plant structure, leaf colour, recovery after stress, new shoot formation, uniform development and reaching the required saleable quality. A vigorous and uniform crop also needs fewer corrective treatments.

One principle always applies: optimal nutrition is not the same as maximum nutrition. Both deficiencies and over fertilization must be avoided. It comes down to the right formulation, the right dosage, the right longevity and availability at the right moment.

CRF plus WSF: investing in control over the crop

A high quality nutrition strategy combines two elements.

CRF provides a controlled base supply over an extended period.

WSF provides immediate availability and allows precise adjustment based on crop demand, growth stage, season and water quality.

It is the combination that gives the grower control. CRF lays the foundation, WSF makes targeted correction possible. Cutting back on either one often means correcting later, when the plant has already lost growth or quality.

The calculation that matters most

If fertilizer represents only a few percent of your cost price, selecting on price per kilogram is economically unwise. Do not save € 0.01 on nutrition when € 0.10 to € 0.50 in plant value is at stake.

A plant is not sold on the purchase price of the fertilizer used to grow it. It is sold on size, colour, uniformity, vitality, quality and saleability. And that is exactly where nutrition has a major influence.

So do not choose the cheapest fertilizer. Choose the best fertilizer for the crop.

With high quality CRF and WSF from Mivena, growers invest not only in nutrition but in the end result of the crop.

Frequently asked questions

How much more expensive is a high quality CRF per plant? At a price difference of € 1.00 per kg and a dosage of 4 kg/m³, it is around 0.4 cents per litre of pot volume. For a 2 litre plant that is 0.8 cents.

What does a better WSF cost per m²? At an application rate of 10 grams per m² per week and a price difference of € 0.50 per kg, it is half a cent per m² per week, or € 0.10 per m² over a 20 week crop cycle.

Can CRF and WSF be combined? Yes, and in many crops that is the strongest approach. CRF supplies the base nutrition over a longer period, while WSF allows targeted adjustment.

Is more fertilizer always better? No. Over fertilization can be just as damaging as a deficiency. What matters is the right formulation, dosage, longevity and availability at the right moment.