First Fruits Consulting

Month: May 2019

22 May 2019
Citrus Picking
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Agri growth helps SA out of recession

Sabrina Dean
Farmers Weekly

Positive performance in the agriculture sector in the third quarter (Q3) of 2018 has helped lift South Africa’s economy out of a technical recession.Stats SA said in its Q3 GDP release that South Africa’s economy grew 2,2% quarter-on-quarter (q/q), bringing to an end the country’s second recession since 1994.A number of sectors apart from agriculture had contributed to the growth; these included manufacturing (the main driver with growth of 7,5%), transport and finance and business services.

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21 May 2019
Biostimulant activity
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Biostimulant activity of phosphite in horticulture

Fernando C. Gómez-Merinoa
Colegio de Postgraduados Campus Córdoba, Veracruz
Libia I. Trejo-Téllezb
Colegio de Postgraduados Campus Montecillo, Mexico

Phosphite (Phi), a reduced form of phosphate (Pi), is emerging as a novel biostimulator in horticulture. Though there is still no consensus on its physiological function as a P-source for plant nutrition, experimental evidence has shown that Phi can act as a biocide and affect plant production and productivity. Positive effects of Phi on plant metabolism are more evident when applied to the roots in hydroponic systems or to the leaves in the form of foliar sprays in the presence of sufficient Pi. Published research conclusively indicates that Phi functions as an effective pesticide against various species of pathogenic bacteria and Oomycetes. Nonetheless, the use of Phi as a sole P-source for plant nutrition is still at issue.

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