FROM ROOTS TO FRUIT!

COMPLETE AGRONOMIC CONSULTING SUPPORT PROVIDED BY PEST CONTROL ADVISORS, QUALIFIED APPLICATORS, CERTIFIED CROP ADVISORS,

CERTIFIED IRRIGATION SPECIALIST!

Nualgi Foliar Fertilizer Fresh Market Grape

Trial

Kingsburg, CA

May-­­August 2015

9th Leaf Crop Commissioned by Nualgi America, Inc. 100 E San Marcos Boulevard, Suite 400, San Marcos, CA 92069

Field Trial Performed by Jeff Hill, PCA, CCA, QAL. President, ATP AGRICULTURE & IRRIGATION CONSULTANTS using

research parameters per ARM reporting software

Analytical Laboratory: A&L Western Laboratory, DellaValle Labs

PCA: J. Hill

Grower: Sweeney Family Farms

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction

2. Objective

3. Methodology

3.1 Trial Location

3.2 Weather, timing

3.3 Soils

3.4 Test protocol

4. Trial Milestones

4.1 Growth and output

4.2 Nutrient Assessment

4.3 Color

4.4 Plant stress assessment

4.5 Pest and disease resistance

5. Return on Investment

6. Trial Comments

1. Introduction

Nualgi America, Inc. has engaged JTP Agriculture and Irrigation Consultants to conduct

field trials of its foliar fertilizer product, Nualgi Foliar Spray. Nualgi America also markets

water treatment products such as Nualgi Ponds and Nualgi Aquarium. Nualgi America is

based in San Marcos, CA.

Nualgi Foliar Spray is an advanced nano scale foliar spray, which combines a balanced

mix of 13 plant nutrients in a single formulation. It contains primary nutrients (P, K);

secondary nutrients (Ca, Mg, S); Micro Nutrients (Fe, MN, Zn, Cu, B, Mo) and in addition

Silica and Cobalt. The particle size is between 1 and 30 nano meters. It is unlike other

foliar agents, which comprise of limited nutrients in the formulation. All nutrients are at

nano scale allowing for easier fluming in the tank and smaller micro droplets during

application.

This report covers detailed data and commentary on the trial of Nualgi Foliar Spray

applied to a processing tomatoes crop in Firebaugh, CA from planting to harvest during

May-­­August 2015

2. Objective

The objective of the trial is to prove or disprove the efficacy of Nualgi Foliar Spray on

fresh market grapes based on grower standard with a minimal approach of including

Nualgi Foliar.

3. Methodology

3.1 Trial Location

Trial was performed in Kingsburg, CA on a 2.5 acres section located in 60-­­acre

block. Kingsburg was chosen, as it is an ideal location within the fresh market

grape production area of California.

3.2 Weather, timing

The climate of the Kingsburg area is relatively cool and moist in the winter and

warm and dry in the summer. Relative humidity readings of 15 percent are common

on summer afternoons, and readings as low as 8 percent have been recorded. In

contrast to this, humidity readings average 90 percent during the morning hours of

December and January. Average monthly temperatures range from 45.3°F in

January to 80.6°F in July. Summer weather is typically at or above 90°F over 100

days per year. Temperatures of 32°F and below occur only about 27 days per year.

Central California’s weather is mainly influenced by the North Pacific High Pressure

system. During the summer, a high-­­pressure ridge develops over the Pacific Ocean

blocking the penetration of moist air from the Pacific. This high-­­pressure system

tends to weaken during the winter months thereby opening the door to Pacific

storms. Nearly 90 percent of Firebaugh’s annual precipitation falls in the six months

between November and April. The mean annual rainfall is 8.27 inches.

Air movement through the San Joaquin Valley is usually in a northwest to southeast

direction. Wind enters the Valley over the passes east of the San Francisco Bay and

exits through mountain passes at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley,

principally Tehachapi.

3.3 Soils

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-­­loamy, mixed, super active, nonacid, thermic Xeric

Torriorthents

TYPICAL PEDON: Hesperia fine sandy loam-­­-­­disturbed site. (Colors are for dry

soil unless otherwise stated).

Ap-­­-­­0 to 4 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) fine sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 4/3)

moist; weak medium sub angular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable,

nonstick and nonplastic; common very fine roots; common very fine interstitial

and few very fine tubular pores; slightly acid (pH 6.3); abrupt smooth boundary.

(4 to 10 inches thick).

C1-­­-­­4 to 22 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) fine sandy loam, dark brown (10YR

4/3) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common

very fine and few fine roots; common very fine interstitial and few very fine

tubular pores; slightly alkaline (pH 7.5); gradual smooth boundary. (16 to 20

inches thick).

C2-­­-­­22 to 54 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) fine sandy loam, dark brown (10YR

4/3) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common

very fine and few fine roots; common very fine interstitial, and few very fine

tubular pores; slightly effervescent with disseminated lime moderately alkaline

(pH 8.0); gradual smooth boundary. (30 to 34 inches thick).

C3-­­-­­54 to 77 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 4/3)

moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very

fine, few fine roots; common very fine interstitial, few very fine tubular pores;

strongly effervescent with disseminated lime; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0).

3.4 Irrigation

Irrigation for grapevines are done based on a simplistic approach and usually

focuses on crop appearance and feel. Some growers enlist pressure bomb

readings and irrigate based on the negative bars reaching 11 to 13 bars, which

means that it’s a limited stress irrigation. This is a little different for fresh

market grapes and the crop loads are heavier and therefor need a good amount

of water to keep them moving. Drip irrigation using above ground lines with ½

gal per hour emitters are utilized and irrigation is done at 6 gal per plant per

week through the growing season. Water is slowed during harvest to allow

ripening and avoid swelling with water and lowering sugars (brix). After harvest

is completed a 24-­­hour set is put down to start storage in the plant for the

coming season.

3.5 Test Protocol

This trial consisted of 2 trial segments focusing on the grower standard, as well

as grower standard with the addition of Nualgi Foliar.

Grower Standard: Growers standard consisted of multiple injections and foliar

throughout growing season. At swell an application of 3-­­18-­­18 was applied at

10 gal per acre. Twelve inches of growth a foliar application of evergreen was

applied at 1qt per acre and an injection of Calcium Thiosulfate at 15 gal per acre

followed by 1 gal of AgroBactor. At twenty inches of growth and pre-­­bloom a

foliar of Zinquexx at 1 qt per acre plus Magnet B at 1 pt per acre with 1 gal of

AgroBactor per acre and Fosfi-­­Cal at 2 pounds per acre drip applied. Post bloom

application of potassium thiosulfate at 20 gal per acre was used with a foliar of

Best K at 1 qt per acre. Swelling an additional application of AgroBactor was

applied with Best K and Saeta Gold each at 1 qt per acre.

Grower Standard + Nualgi Foliar: The only difference between this plot and

grower standard was the application of 6 foliar shots at 200ml per application of

Nualgi Foliar.

4 Trial Milestones

4.1 Growth and Output

There was a visible growth difference between the section that was applied with

NF as an add on. We saw a visible increase in size of berries, color of leaves and

overall fullness of clusters.

GS+NF

GS+NF

4.2 Nutrient Assessment

There were no noticeable differences between the grower standard and the

reduced grower standard with the addition of Nualgi. One element not analyzed

in current lab protocol is Si. This will need to be observed in the future as the

overall growth and impact of the plants respiration is driven by Si, a key part of

Nualgi.

4.3 Color

Visually you can see a size comparison of the crimson seedless based on the use

of a quarter as well as the cluster in the center was treated with NF versus

Grower standard. This became fully colored 11 days sooner as you can see the

2 GS clusters in various stages of ripening.

4.4 Plant Stress Assessment

One thing that we needed to consider is the overall impact of water and

environmental stress points and how that affects the plants ability to

continue respiration. When plants come under any stress whether

environmental due to mainly heat or dehydration due to water deficit

irrigations the plant slows and therefore affects yields and quality. We did

not consider the quality of the water as a factor but this should be

considered in the future as wells get lower and heavy metals increase. We

would also look at Na issues in the water and the effects on plant growth

and performance when utilizing Nualgi in the future. The look of the crop

before harvest is a perfect sign of overall stress impact and how the addition

of Nualgi helped.

GS +NF

Canopy appears strong with no major visible issues of stress.

4.5 Pest and Disease Resistance

While the use of Si has been proven to decrease diseases and or pest

pressures we didn’t perform these test, as Nualgi will be utilized as a

nutritional and not as a dual-­­purpose material. We did visually see no visible

issues in the NF blocks but no relationship was established.

5. Return on investment

We calculated the ROI based on boxes picked and the additional cost per

box versus profit.

17910 Gross

Price/Box

GS+NF 20#/Boxes

1194 15240

GS

1016

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000 18000

If you take in consideration of the increase in cost of application of the NF at $200 per acre the

overall impact to the yield and profit improvement was $2470.00. There is no other ROI

consideration needed as the only variation between plots were the additional applications of

NF.

6. Trial Comments

After trial completed it is obvious that the overall impact of Nualgi Foliar as an added

material will increase the plants coloring and yield. We feel a major player for this is the size

of the material as well as the essential nutrients that are often overlooked in a crop cycle.

While we feel that over applications of synthetic based nutrients deplete the soil profile of

the carbon chain molecules and strips bonds therefor causing depletion of nutrients and the

need forever increasing amount of materials the addition of Nualgi Foliar will help sustain

plant growth and overall health. This is due to the active elements inside the materials,

which help increase photosynthesis and enables the plants to absorb more CO2. This in turn

increases liquid based carbons in the plant and allows for more translocation and a healthier

more robust plant.

Quality of Crop: The overall impact of Nualgi on the crop itself is simply undeniable. What

we can see with the addition of NF there is a decrease in plant stress and an increase of

rigidity of the plant. This helps the plant to increase respiration and photosynthesis. NF as

an add it to a program can allow growers to increase the plants ability to grow and therefor

is a beneficial add to a grower based program.

Gross Profit in Dollars

2670 increase profit on NF treated secjon

GS

GS+NF

Effects on Yield: After reviewing the harvest records the GS + NF had an increase in quality

and overall yield of 14.99%. That equated to enough of a revenue increase based on crop

sales alone to cover the price of the applications.