Top Tips for Best Results with BioGuano™ Liquid Fertilisers

Here are some tips and advice to help you make the most of your BioGuano™ Liquid Fertiliser applications.

1. Read the product label:
   Follow manufacturers recommendations and advice before handling, mixing and applying BioGuano™ liquid fertilisers.
   
   
2. Determine the Correct Application Rate and Frequency:
   Please consult the product label before applying any product to your crop. BioGuano™ application rates and frequencies are a guide only and they may be adjusted according to farm practices. Consult your agronomist and/or recent soil and plant tissue tests to determine an appropriate application rate and frequency that suits the nutritional requirements of your crop.
   
   Do NOT exceed the recommended label application rates unless you have first contacted your agronomist or WHG for advice. 
   
   
3. Agitate while Applying:
   When diluted with water in spray or fertigation tanks, the liquid must remain agitated and circulating during the entire application process. Do NOT leave diluted product in tanks without agitation to avoid settling and loss of suspension. Do NOT store product in a diluted form.
   
   
4. Clean Equipment: Recommended dilutions will pass through 200µm filters under ideal conditions, however a 500µm (35 mesh) in-line filter is recommended as good practice when applying micronized mineral fertilisers. Prior to mixing BioGuano™ clean filters and flush tanks and lines to remove any sediment and particle contaminants from other sources.
    
5. Mixing Directions:
   Pre-Mixing:
   After transit or prolonged storage, some settling of BioGuano™ liquid fertilisers may occur. For best results, thoroughly stir BioGuano™ liquid with an electric stirrer before dilution.
   
   Under cold conditions, it is advisable to pre-mix BioGuano™ liquids by diluting 1 part of the concentrate product with 3 parts water before adding to spray tank.
   
   General Mixing Directions:
   Direct Addition to Spray Tanks
   When tank is about ¾ full of water, add the BioGuano™ liquid through the top screen filter mixing the flow of the filling water to wash the product through the top screen filter. This is also an ideal way to mix the BioGuano™ 6000 UFP ultra-fine powder to avoid the possibility of clumping in the tank. Maintain constant agitation while topping the tank with water. For uniform spray coverage or fertigation dosage, maintain agitation throughout application.
   
   Mixing BioGuano in Fertigation Tanks:
   BioGuano™ liquids are dense, high viscosity suspension concentrates of ultra-fine, micronized seabird guano powder and bio-stimulants. Pre-mixing with water combined with careful addition to the fertigation tank while maintaining constant agitation and circulation is good practice.
   
   Do NOT leave diluted product in tanks without agitation to avoid settling and loss of suspension.
   
   Please read the sequence of addition information in the next section.

6. Sequence of Addition and Compatibility for Fertigation and Foliar Applications:
   Mixing a range of soluble fertiliser inputs and crop protection chemicals reduces the need for multiple applications saving time and money. Compatibility and/or performance cannot be guaranteed when combined with other products. Jar test for compatibility with other additions and the water source you are using and spray test on a small area before full scale application.
   
   We recommend these general rules are followed when mixing BioGuano™ liquid fertilisers with other inputs:

• Check your water quality by sending a sample to a laboratory for analysis and recommendations. Even if we are using a proven mix of chemicals incompatibility might occur due to water quality. Some waters may contain iron, calcium and other elements that inhibit compatibility. Prior knowledge of the quality of various water sources around the property and how to treat the problem can save money and frustration with wasted product and poor efficacy.
• If using kelp powder, humic acid or any other material with a relatively high pH (>7.5), mix this into your tank water first, agitating until completely mixed. Pre-mixing powders before adding to the tank is good practice and recommended.
• Add BioGuano™ liquids next, continuing to agitate the contents of the tank while filling and during the entire application operation. In cold conditions, we recommend that BioGuano™ liquid fertilisers are pre-mixed 1-part BioGuano™ to 3 parts water BEFORE adding to the tank.
• Add soluble fertilisers after BioGuano™ liquids. Some crystalline soluble fertilisers may also require pre-mixing or slow addition to the tank while agitation is running.
• Check pH of water before adding pesticides last. Solution pH is important when adding chemicals such as insecticides and fungicides to the spray-tank-mix. The first step in mixing pesticides and fertilizers would be reading the pesticide label. Tank mixing without checking compatibility of chemicals may cause serious problems such as loss of efficacy of some of the active ingredients, physical incompatibility between different compounds, separation, blocking of spray systems, foaming, crystallisation and most importantly phytotoxicity.
  
  As a general rule, pesticides should be mixed and applied in slightly acidic to acidic pH water conditions. This reduces the effects of alkaline hydrolysis and enhances the half-life and efficacy of applied pesticides. If pH is neutral or above 7.0, use an acidifying agent (like citric acid or proprietary brands) to lower the pH to the optimal range. Read the pesticide label or seek advice from the manufacturer, distributor or your agronomist regarding optimal water pH for the pesticides you are using in tank mixtures.

7. BioGuano™ Foliar Treatments:
   When using higher water rates for good foliar coverage, do NOT exceed the maximum product rate per hectare. For boom spraying, use a   minimum nozzle size of 05-08 or wide-angle flat fan or flood jet nozzles. Flood jet nozzles, working at relatively low in-line pressures and large droplet sizes, are particularly useful on rough or hilly terrain, where trees or other obstacles make boom-spraying impractical or when microbes are being applied with the BioGuano™ liquid fertilisers.
   
   For uniform application maintain agitation throughout application. Ensure suitable spray conditions (e.g. temperature, humidity, wind speed), prior to foliar application. Compatibility and/or performance cannot be guaranteed when combined with other products. Jar test for compatibility and if unsure spray test on a small area before full scale application.

8. Product Residue Caution:
   BioGuano™ and BioGuano™ KMS foliar sprays may leave a slight visible residue on leaves and fruit. If produce is susceptible to staining, avoid spraying close to harvest. Any crop with sensitive foliage should be test sprayed prior to full application.
   
   
9. Liquid Inject:

   Apply BioGuano™ Commercial or BioGuano™ KMS at 2-5 L/ha. Use a minimum dilution rate of 1 part product to 3 parts water. Application rate will depend on crop, row spacing and soil type. Always consider current soil test results when selecting a crop starter application rate. Natural plant hormone bio-stimulants in BioGuano™ formulations will help to improve germination time and stand uniformity.

10. Fertigation
    The general fertigation rate is 10 L/ha per application and the frequency of application is determined by the crop requirements and monitored by soil or plant tissue testing. Lower application rates, applied more frequently, is also a valid option for correcting a deficiency or enhancing crop performance.
    
    
11. Storage and Handling:
    Store out of direct sunlight in a cool, dry area. After transit or extended storage, BioGuano™ liquid fertiliser may require vigorous stirring and/or filtering before tank mixing. Do not store in diluted form.

DISCLAIMER: Any recommendations provided by WHOLESALE HORTICULTURAL GROUP PTY LTD and or its Distributors are advice only; as no control can be exercised over storage, handling, mixing, application, use, weather, plant or soil conditions before, during and or after application (all of which may affect the performance of our program). No responsibility for, or liability for any failure in performance, losses, damages, or injuries (consequential or otherwise), arising from such storage, mixing, application or use will be accepted under any circumstances whatsoever. WHOLESALE HORTICULTURAL GROUP PTY LTD recommends you contact an Agronomist prior to product application. The Buyer assumes all responsibility for the use of any WHOLESALE HORTICULTURAL GROUP PTY LTD products.