Inputs and application for strawberry
Case 1 Fertigation stock tanks - 1
Pick the plot first Open a new chat and tap Plots (All) under the question box. Choose the plot you want advice for. ORTH then works from that plot’s crop, variety, soil and documents, and from the farm weather. For strawberry Pick one plot of one variety. We picked Fresas: Fortuna, a short-day strawberry, on 1.50 ha under macrotunnel, 90,000 plants planted in October, sandy soil and drip. Every number below is for that plot. - 2
Split the fertilizers over tanks A and B We listed our six products and asked how to split them. ORTH said the farm files had nothing on this tank setup, so it answered from standard compatibility practice. Tank A takes calcium nitrate and potassium nitrate. Tank B takes monopotassium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, potassium sulfate and the chelated micronutrients, if their label allows concentrated phosphates and sulfates. Never mix the two concentrates undiluted: calcium with phosphate or sulfate forms deposits that block filters, injectors and emitters. - 3
Give the nitric acid its own line The nitric acid goes in a separate tank with its own acid-resistant dosing channel, injected into flowing water before the fertilizer points. With only two channels, inject the acid in a separate cycle, flush, then the fertilizers. The run order: clear water first, then acid, check the pH at a well-mixed point, then A and B through separate pumps and non-return valves, stop the fertilizers first and flush the lines with clear water. ORTH would not set an acid dose from the blueberry water test: that needs the alkalinity of the Fresas water and a titration. - 4
Fill the tanks in order Fill each clean tank about two thirds with water and start agitation. In tank A, dissolve potassium nitrate first, because it is the less soluble one, then calcium nitrate. In tank B, potassium sulfate goes first, then monopotassium phosphate and magnesium sulfate, and the pre-dissolved micronutrients last. Top up and keep agitating. If the solution stays cloudy or forms crystals, the stock is too strong, and changing the order will not fix that. For diluted acid: water first, then acid slowly into the water, never the other way round. Case 2 A spray tank before the rain - 5
Work out the tank for the plot We asked how much Teldor goes in our 1,000 L sprayer at 800 L/ha. At the authorised 0.15%, a full tank takes 1.5 kg and covers 1.25 ha. The remaining 0.25 ha needs 200 L with 0.30 kg, so the plot takes 1,200 L and 1.80 kg in two loads, and the second tank is not filled. Teldor has a one-day pre-harvest interval: spray on 7 November, pick no earlier than 8 November. With the dry spell until 7 November, ORTH set the spray for 6 or 7 November, once the canopy is dry. - 6
Check a product by its registration number In the same question we asked about adding Vaccistar by name, and ORTH could not find it in the Spanish register. When we gave the registration number, ES-00782, ORTH confirmed it is authorised on strawberry against grey mould at 0.075%, which is 0.75 L in a full 1,000 L tank, and corrected its first answer. It still advised spraying the two products separately, because neither label confirms the mixture; if the makers confirm it, do a jar test first.
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