A Science-Based Nutrient Strategy to Overcome Quality and Yield Challenges in Winter Tomato Production Tomato is one of the most widely cultivated and highly commercialized vegetable crops worldwide. Combining high nutritional value with stable market demand, it plays a central role in protected agriculture and off-season production systems. In relatively warm regions such as subtropical and tropical areas, winter tomato production benefits from off-season market windows and

Potassium hydroxide (chemical formula: KOH) is a strong inorganic alkali. Under ambient conditions, a 0.1 mol/L potassium hydroxide solution exhibits strong alkalinity, with a pH typically above 13. KOH appears as a white, uniform granular, powdery, or flake solid and is highly soluble in water, forming strongly alkaline solutions. I. Applications and Industrial Landscape of Potassium Hydroxide (1) Industrial-Grade Potassium Hydroxide: A Pillar of Basic Chemical Industry (App

I. The Overlooked “Soil Condition”: Why Is Fertilization Becoming Less Effective? In many agricultural regions, farmers are not lacking in fertilization experience. Decisions such as when to apply nitrogen, when to supplement potassium, or when to add micronutrients are often based on long-established practices. However, in reality, many fields show no corresponding improvement in crop performance despite increasing fertilizer inputs year after year. Instead, problems such as

I. Why Is Magnesium Essential in Aquaculture? In aquaculture practice, many production problems do not originate directly from diseases, but from more fundamental and often overlooked factors—imbalances in waterborne minerals. Issues such as failed molting in crustaceans, increased mortality after stress events, unstable water quality, and disrupted algal communities are frequently linked to deficiencies or improper ratios of basic ions such as magnesium in the culture water.

Urea and calcium ammonium nitrate (can) are both nitrogen fertilizers. How do their nitrogen supply effects differ, and how should they be chosen in practice? In today’s agricultural input market, an increasing number of distributors and growers are paying close attention to Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) . In certain application scenarios, CAN is even being used to partially replace traditional urea for topdressing. So, what are the fundamental differences between urea and

In agricultural production, potassium nitrate stands out as a key fertilizer for fruit enlargement, quality improvement, stress resistance, and yield enhancement due to its unique dual supply of nitrogen and potassium. It provides crops with readily available nitrate nitrogen, promoting photosynthate formation and nutrient transport, while also supplying potassium, which enhances cellular structural stability and improves overall resistance to lodging, environmental stress, a

Ferrous sulfate is one of the essential care materials for flower and ornamental plant enthusiasts. Especially for evergreen foliage plants grown in warm regions, proper application of ferrous sulfate can effectively address soil alkalization and iron deficiency, supporting healthy plant growth. So, under what conditions do plants need ferrous sulfate, and how should it be applied correctly? Ferrous sulfate appears as fine crystalline powder and is readily soluble in water. I

Potassium nitrate is a widely used binary compound fertilizer in agriculture, containing approximately 13% nitrogen (N)  and 46% potassium oxide (K₂O) . It combines the functions of both nitrogen and potassium fertilizers, offering a balanced nutrient profile and excellent water solubility, allowing rapid uptake by crop roots. It is chloride-free , making it especially suitable for chloride-sensitive crops such as tobacco, potatoes, and citrus . Potassium nitrate effectively

We have previously provided a detailed introduction to boron as an element and its related products. Please refer back to the following article: https://www.kelewell.de/en/post/a-comprehensive-overview-of-boron-products-from-borax-pentahydrate-to-dot-exploring-agriculture-a In addition to the boron fertilizers we have already discussed—such as boric acid and disodium octaborate tetrahydrate—there is another emerging form of boron fertilizer: liquid boron , which can serve as

As modern agriculture places increasing emphasis on crop health and quality, nutrient imbalance has become a central concern in crop management. Among various nutritional disorders, iron chlorosis is one of the most widespread and impactful problems affecting a wide range of crops, directly constraining growth, yield, and quality. Among the available iron supplementation solutions, EDDHA-Fe, as a highly stable chelated iron fertilizer, has gradually emerged as a preferred opt

Among the 17 essential nutrients required by plants, magnesium occupies a uniquely critical position . It is not only the only metallic element in the chlorophyll molecule , but also a key activator of plant energy metabolism . For modern agriculture—especially the cultivation of high-value cash crops—understanding the fundamental role of magnesium and mastering its efficient supplementation strategies is indispensable for achieving both high yield and premium quality. The Fi

Many tomato growers have experienced this common challenge: abundant flowering during the blooming stage, yet after a cold snap or strong wind, flowers drop heavily, resulting in poor fruit set. Even when fruits do set, misshapen or undersized fruits are frequent, significantly reducing yield and market quality. In fact, the flowering stage is the critical window that determines final tomato yield. During this period, plant demand for phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) rises sh

I. The Plant’s “Small-Molecule Expressway”: Why Are Amino Acid Fertilizers Becoming a New Trend? Unlike traditional fertilizers that must be converted by soil microorganisms before plants can absorb them, amino acid fertilizers exist in small-molecule form and can be directly absorbed and utilized by plant cells. This enables instant, precise nutrient delivery, perfectly suited to modern efficient and environmentally friendly cultivation practices. In simple terms, amino acid

Plants determine whether an element is essential based on their own physiological and developmental needs. Elements in plant tissues are classified as essential  and non-essential . According to the required amount, essential nutrients are divided into macronutrients — nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K); secondary nutrients — sulfur (S), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg); and micronutrients — boron (B), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), molybdenum

In modern precision viticulture, Monopotassium Phosphate (0-52-34) has evolved from a supplementary foliar fertilizer into a central “physiological regulator”  applied across the entire grape growth cycle. Its value extends far beyond supplying phosphorus and potassium. What truly elevates MKP is its unique scientific profile—high solubility, pure nutrient forms, and synergistic absorption—which allows it to precisely activate photosynthesis, stress resistance, and quality f

As the most fundamental building blocks of living organisms, amino acids play an irreplaceable role in crop growth, physiological metabolism, and stress resistance. They are widely applied as functional nutrients in modern agriculture. Based on raw material sources, amino acids can be categorized into plant-based  and animal-based  types; based on production technology, they can be divided into hydrolyzed amino acids and enzymatically hydrolyzed amino acids . This article pr

Every spring-sowing season, many farmers ask our agronomy team: “We already applied autumn fertilizer. Now that we’re sowing in spring, should the first irrigation also include fertilizer?” Once you clearly understand the timing and purpose of base fertilizer, seed fertilizer, seedling fertilizer, and topdressing , the answer becomes obvious. I. Base Fertilizer: The “Nutrient Foundation” for the Entire Growth Cycle 1. Definition Base fertilizer — also called pre-plant fertili

In recent years, seaweed extract has rapidly become a popular input in green agriculture due to its natural origin, safety profile, and multiple physiological regulatory functions. Its application has expanded continuously—from large-scale grain production bases to fruit orchards, facility vegetable production, and even home gardening. However, in practical use, many growers notice a common issue: although products are all labeled “seaweed extract,” their performance varies d

Last week, we introduced many application scenarios of triacontanol as a plant growth promoter. You can review it here: https://www.kelewell.de/en/post/triacontanol-from-beeswax-to-biotechnology-the-science-of-natural-growth-stimulation Today, several plant growth promoters are commonly used on the market, such as triacontanol , brassinolide , sodium nitrophenolate , and DA-6 (diethyl aminoethyl hexanoate) . All of them help promote plant growth — but how exactly do they dif

Zinc is an indispensable “star micronutrient” in plant growth and development. It participates in chlorophyll synthesis, enzyme activation, nutrient metabolism and other key physiological processes, directly influencing crop yield and quality. However, traditional zinc fertilizers are easily fixed in soil, resulting in low availability. EDTA-ZnNa₂ (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid Zinc Disodium), with its stable chelated structure, provides a more efficient and reliable soluti