Field-Cote® CRF

+50% Higher Nitrogen Efficiency

in Open-field Strawberries (Elsanta)

An independent demo trial by DLV Plant (commissioned by Mivena) compared a Mivena fertilization strategy with common grower practice in commercial open-field strawberry production. Result: comparable yield, but with ~33% less nitrogen and ~33% lower fertilization costs.

 

Trial Partner
DLV Plant
Duration
July – Sept 2012
Location
Etten-Leur, NL
Crop
Strawberry cv. Elsanta
Treatments
2 strategies
HIGHER COST EFFICIENCY
+ 0 %
HIGHER NITROGEN EFFICIENCY
+ 0 %
LOWER FERTILIZATION COSTS
€ 0 /ha

Trial summary

This independent demo trial evaluated whether a modern establishment strategy (CRF at planting, supported by targeted foliar feeding) can improve efficiency versus a typical practice strategy that relies on multiple in-season corrections.

The trial was carried out on a commercial open-field site in Etten-Leur (grower Mario van Meer, De Ruwenberg BV) and was showcased during the Aardbeien Demodag (ADD) 2012. The comparison was set up in 3 replicates using cv. Elsanta (heavy frigo plants).

Onderzoeksverslag Mivena – Aard…

The commercial takeaway is clear: the Mivena strategy delivered comparable yield (22.8 t/ha vs. 21.9 t/ha) with improved crop colour and vitality, while significantly reducing total fertilizer input:

  • ~33% less nitrogen (91.7 vs. 136.6 kg N/ha)

  • ~33% lower fertilization cost (€1,018.50 vs. €1,523.19 per ha)
    That translates into +50% higher nitrogen and cost efficiency per hectare (more output per unit input).

Trial objective

In the first weeks after planting, strawberry plants must rapidly build leaf area and vitality to support stable fruit quality and production later in the season. In practice, growers often respond with additional nitrogen corrections when crop colour or growth lags.

The objective of this trial was to evaluate whether a strategy based on Field-Cote® Easy Summer CRF (4M) at planting, supported by weekly Granusol® WSF foliar applications, could deliver comparable performance with fewer corrections, lower nitrogen input, and lower cost, compared with a common grower practice approach.

Trial setup

The trial was carried out at a commercial grower’s site under real production conditions, ensuring all results are directly applicable to practice.

CROP

Strawberry cv. Elsanta

Heavy frigo waiting-bed plants

DURATION

July – Sept 2012

72-day cycle, 25 harvest days

LOCATION & SOIL

Etten-Leur, Netherlands

Open field (soil analysis by BLGG)

TREATMENTS

2 Main Strategies

Mivena vs. Grower practice (3 reps)

PLANTING DENSITY

35,000 plants per ha

Plot area: 81 m² (3 × 27 m²)

PARTNER

DLV Plant

Execution & reporting (Dec 2012)

Three Treatment Categories Compared

TREATMENT A

Grower Practice

Standard baseline with base fertilization at planting and multiple in-season nitrogen corrections to maintain crop colour and growth.

TREATMENT B

Mivena Strategy

At planting: 14 g/plant Field-Cote® Easy Summer CRF 4M (17-5-13 + 6 MgO + TE). Focused on high efficiency and ease of use.

TREATMENT C

CRF + WSF Foliar

Field-Cote® base + 7× weekly foliar sprays of Granusol® WSF Red (12-7-24 + TE) at 1 g/m² starting from flower truss elongation.

Results

Yield differences were limited, but the route to that outcome was fundamentally different: the Mivena strategy maintained more stable crop colour and vitality while using significantly less nitrogen and delivering a lower total fertilization cost.

CUMULATIVE PRODUCTION PER HECTARE — 2012 SEASON
Grower practice (baseline)
21.9 t/ha
Baseline
Mivena strategy (Field-Cote® CRF + Granusol® WSF)
22.8 t/ha
Comparable yield
Less input, same result — -33% N & -33% cost
22.8 t/ha
+50% efficiency (per ha)
Source: DLV Plant demo trial (ADD 2012), Etten-Leur NL. Crop: Strawberry cv. Elsanta. 3 replicates. Mivena strategy: Field-Cote® Easy Summer CRF + Granusol® WSF Red. Baseline: grower practice strategy with in-season corrections.
higher efficiency with comparable yield
+ 0 %

More output per kilogram of nitrogen and per euro invested

The Mivena strategy delivered comparable production (22.8 t/ha) using 91.7 kg N/ha instead of 136.6 kg N/ha (≈ 33% less). Total fertilization cost decreased from €1,523 to €1,018 per ha (≈ 33% lower).
Less input typically means fewer corrective actions, more control, and a more efficient fertilization program.

Conclusion

This demo trial shows that combining Field-Cote® CRF at planting with targeted Granusol® WSF foliar feeding can stabilize open-field strawberry production and significantly improve efficiency, without sacrificing yield.

Better crop colour & vitality

Plants under the Mivena strategy maintained better crop colour, and overall vitality improved despite increasing crop load later in the cycle.

Less need for nitrogen corrections

With the baseline strategy, additional nitrogen fertilizers were needed 2–3 weeks after planting; the Mivena strategy remained more stable through the cycle.

+50% higher nitrogen efficiency

Total nitrogen: 91.7 kg N/ha (Mivena) vs. 136.6 kg N/ha (baseline) = ~33% less N, resulting in approximately +50% higher nitrogen efficiency per hectare.

+50% higher cost efficiency

Total fertilization cost: €1,018.50/ha (Mivena) vs. €1,523.19/ha (baseline) = ~33% lower cost, providing +50% higher cost efficiency per hectare.

Recommendation

For open-field strawberry growers aiming to improve nitrogen use efficiency, control input costs, and maintain stable crop performance during establishment, this trial supports using Field-Cote® Easy Summer CRF at planting as a foundation, complemented by targeted foliar nutrition via Granusol® WSF. This approach reduces the need for multiple corrective interventions while maintaining yield performance.

Interested in Field-Cote® CRF for your strawberry crop?

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Trial conducted by DLV Plant (December 2012) at a commercial strawberry site in Etten-Leur, The Netherlands. Crop: Strawberry cv. Elsanta. Results reflect data from a single location and season. Individual results may vary depending on soil type, weather, variety, and crop management. © Mivena BV · Sprangseweg 13C · 5144 NV Waalwijk · info@mivena.nl

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