Eco-friendly farming:
The collective environmental consciousness is growing, with society’s heightened awareness of major ecological challenges like soil, water, and air pollution. A key focus is on safeguarding both people and the environment while maintaining productivity and agricultural performance. While plant protection products and fertilisers play a pivotal role in boosting food production efficiency and improving yields on existing arable land, their detrimental effects on the environment, including water pollution and rising greenhouse gas emissions, are concerning. The demand for eco-friendly agricultural solutions will continue to drive a robust growth market.
Plant protection products are widely used in agriculture to manage pests and curb weed proliferation. The pH value significantly impacts the efficiency of liquid plant protection products. As the solubility and stability of various plant protection agents decline notably at an alkaline pH, most products perform optimally when dissolved in slightly acidic water. Therefore, ensuring the correct pH balance in the solution is crucial for the effective application of plant protection substances. Citric acid, a widely used organic acid and pH-control agent in various sectors, including foods, beverages, and agriculture, is an ideal candidate for acidifying liquid plant protection products.
Water hardness is another critical factor influencing the effectiveness of plant protection products. Citric acid not only exhibits favourable pH-regulating properties but also excels as a remarkable chelating agent. It captures cations in water, preventing them from reacting with the plant protection agents. The addition of citric acid to spray liquids enhances their performance by optimising both pH levels and water hardness, presenting a safe and eco-friendly additive.
Chelation is a valuable technique in agriculture for improving plant nutrient uptake, especially in nutrient-deficient soils. Micronutrients are commonly integrated into fertiliser applications in a chelated form to enhance efficacy. Citric acid functions as an efficient chelating agentfor micronutrients like iron, copper, zinc, and manganese, enhancing their solubility and accessibility for plant uptake. This process can improve plant growth, development, and crop yield and quality. Chelated micronutrients are also suitable for foliar application, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional chelating agents associated with environmental issues like heavy metal mobilisation and the water eutrophication.
Furthermore, using citric acid as a biostimulant and plant strengthener enhances the quality of cut and live plants by extending vase life, flowering time, and other parameters. These applications enhance nutrient use efficiency, increase disease resistance, and improve plant resilience against environmental stress. Numerous publications and internal tests by Jungbunzlauer have demonstrated the positive impact of citric acid on cut flowers and live plants. For instance, pre-harvest application of citric acid as biostimulant foliar spray at approximately 0.15 % significantly prolongs the post-harvest vase life of cut flowers. Similarly, foliar application of citric acid within the range of 0.1 % to 0.3 % produces multiple positive effects on live plants, such as extending flower display time, increasing plant height, and enhancing disease resistance. Moreover, adding citric acid as plant strengthener to vase water extends the post-harvest vase life of various cut flowers.
In conclusion, incorporating citric acidinto agricultural practices provides an environmentally friendly opportunity to reduce reliance on traditional fertilisation or plant protection agents while promoting sustainable and eco-conscious farming practices.
