Carol Phillips (CP) : Hooshang, I’d like to talk a little bit about RLF products that are coming on stream at the moment. So, we need to keep evolving with our specialty fertilisers. Now, two-phase foliars, firstly the vegetative, and then the reproductive phase, foliars. Can you just explain what the difference is?

Dr Hooshang Nassery (HN) : Yes. Well that’s a good question. Again, it goes back to the physiology of the plant and what it requires at different stages of growth. In the vegetative cycle of the plant, we require a lot of nitrogen and some trace elements – in other words, we need more nitrogen. Whereas, when we go to the reproductive cycle, we need more potassium and phosphorus and of course some trace elements specific for that period, (such as boron, calcium and so on). So, RLF is trying to come up with a more advanced product so that the farmer avoids tank mixing, and has one (product), as we call it Foliar-1 or vegetative foliar for the first cycle of plant growth, and then as soon as the plant moves into reproductive phase – or during fruit development or grain development – then products that have high phosphorus and high potassium, and possibly certain trace element again would be much more relevant (Foliar-2). And the reason is, that during fruit production, or grain production, there’s a lot of requirement for potassium. If it is not there, then phloem transport and sugar transport is limited.