BBCH- LITHOVIT

1
BBCH- LITHOVIT Recommended Applications on
Different Crops

• B. A. Bilal
• Scientific advisor to ZEOVITA GmbH
• profdrabilal_at_aol.com, prof.abdel.bilal_at_zeovita.de
• Presented at the 3rd e-Conference on Agricultural
  BioSciences
• (IeCAB 2010), held online from1st -15th June
  2010 at
• http//www.m.elewa.org/econferenceIeCAB.php

2
The BBCH- File and its use

• The BBCH- recommendations for Lithovit
  application on different crops is written by a
  number of distinguished Agro Scientists and
  Biologists after long periods of trials.
• The file provides information in the form of a
  table with plant name, number of applications,
  amount of lithovit per application (kg/hectare),
  total amount per growth period (kg/hectare)
  codes referring to text and pictures at the BBCH
  growth stage of the plant at each application.

3
Preparation of the suspension and dosage

• Lithovit is natural limestone which is almost
  insoluble in water.
• In order to use it as foliar fertilizer, it must
  be suspended as 0.5 aqueous suspension (500
  grams in 100 liters water) and sprayed normally.
• The suspension must be stirred to keep it stable.
  Sprayer carried on the back should be shaken from
  time to time.
• Dosage 1.5 kg (300 liters of suspension) /
  application and hectare

4
Selected examples of Lithovit application on
different crops

• Few examples are selected and presented here to
  comply with maximum number of slides for this
  presentation. More details are available from
  author.

5
Citrus fruits

• 3 Applications Begin with the vegetation period
  in spring time after cutting
• 1st application when leaves become visible and
  the first leaf is fully expanded.
• 2nd application when the side shoots become 20
  of the final length, that is after begin the
  flowering.
• 3rd application when the green fruit becomes
  surrounded by sepal crown (see picture). Normally
  45 day after flowering.

6
Pome fruits (apple, pear)

• 3 applications
• 1st application more leaves are unfolded, but
  not yet in full size.
• 2nd application shoots about 20 of final
  length.
• 3rd application fruit size up to 10 mm.

Stage of 2nd application
Stage of 3rd application
7
Wheat

• 2 applications
• 1st application 2 3 tillers are detectable
• 2nd application flag leaf fully unrolled,
• ligule just visible

Stage of 1st application
Stage of 2nd application
8
Bulb Vegetables (onion, leek, garlic, shallot)

• 2 applications
• 1st application Third leaf gt 3 cm
• 2nd application leaf basis begins to thicken or
  extend (see picture)

9
Root and stem vegetables (carrot, chicory,
radish,...)

• 2 applications
• 1st application Third leaf totally unfolded gt 3
  cm,
• 2nd application 20 of expected root diameter is
  reached (20 days later)

Stage of 1st application
Stage of 2nd application
10
Leaf vegetables forming head (e.g. cabbage,
lettuce)

• 2 applications
• 1st application Third leaf totally unfolded.
• 2nd application head begins to for. The two
  youngest leaves do not unfold

Stage of 1st application
Stage of 2nd application
11
Cucurbits (e.g. cucumber, melon, pumpkin)

• 2 applications
• 1st application third true leaf of main stem
  unfolded
• 2nd application first flower open in main stem,
  3(-4) application every 28 days.

Stage of 1st application
Stage of 2nd application
12
Solanaceous fruits (e.g. tomato, Egg plant,
paprika)

• 3-5 applications
• 1st application 3rd to
• 9th leaf on main stem unfolded (see picture).
• 2nd application 2nd primary apical side shoot
  visible
• 3rd 5th application. Further every 21 days

13
Grapevine

• 3 applications
• 1st application beginning of flowering 10 of
  flowers fallen.
• 2nd application Fruit set, young fruits begin to
  swell
• 3rd application Berries beginning to touch

Stage of 2nd application
Stage of 3rd application
14
Rice

• 2 applications
• 1st application 2 3 tiller detectable,
• 2nd application flag leaf unfolded collar
  regions of flag leaf and penultimate leaf aligned

Stage of 1st application
Stage of 2nd application
15
Cotton

• 2 applications
• 1st application 9 true leaves are unfolded, no
  side shoots are visible
• 2nd application 9 vegetative side shoots (2nd
  order) are visible.