What is it?
A formulation of the AMEC® molecule, patented by Codiagro®, which is a blend of low molecular weight carboxylic acids, paired with Potassium. The AMEC® molecule can acidify cell walls and improve the transport mechanisms of the plant, which promotes its absorption, together with the Potassium element it is paired with.
With an elevated intake of Potassium, the electrical conductivity of the plant rises, which stimulates its ability to take water, allowing the plant to take water even in conditions of stress by salinity or unfavorable weather. As such, it is a very effective sizing stimulant, used in soil applications.
In action
In addition to it being a well known product in Europe (where it is manufactured by Codiagro), Latin America and the Middle east, a trial eva
luating it’s sizing stimulant capabilities has been performed in a citrus farm in Florida in January 2024. By the research firm Glades Crop Care, Inc.
Trial information
| Crop | Orange (Citrus × sinensis) |
|---|---|
| Variety | Valencia |
| Setup | 2 treatments with 6 replications. 10 year old trees, with 8 ft row spacing and 22 ft between rows. |
| Evaluations | Fruit weight Degrees Brix |
| Application method | Hand gun spray (single nozzle), approximately 2 hours before scheduled irrigation |
Protocol
| Date of application | Notes | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 17/01/2024 | 4 weeks before harvest | 0.5 gal per acre |
| 24/01/2024 | 3 weeks before harvest | 0.5 gal per acre |
| 31/01/2024 | 2 weeks before harvest | 0.5 gal per acre |
| 07/02/2024 | 1 week before harvest | 0.5 gal per acre |
4 weekly applications of 0.5 gal per acre, concluding 1 week before harvest.
Results[1]
The product sucessfully elevated the electrical conductivity inside the citrus trees, which boosted their ability to uptake water and fill its fruits. Since water that the plants absorbed also had the usual fertilization dissolved in it, the plants were also able to synthesize more carbohydrates. Thus, the degrees brix remained unaffected by the treatment.
Yield | Sample size Number of fruits | 100 | Degrees Brix | Sample size Number of fruits | 5 |
| Control group Lbs | 38.31 | Control group Results | 9.77 | ||
| Treatment Lbs | 41.33 | Treatment Results | 9.70 | ||
| Difference Lbs | 3.02 | Difference Interpretation | Not statistically significant | ||
| Difference Percentage | 8% | ||||
Economic evaluation
| Average yield per acre in 90 lb boxes [2] | 163 |
| Price per box [3] | $12.2 USD |
| Yield USD | $1,988.6 |
| Yield increase percentage | 8% |
| Yield increase USD | $159.08 |
| Treatment cost (estimate) | $91 |
| Profit per acre | $68.08 |
Due to time, logistical and manpower constraints, the applications were made in a less than ideal way. During the 2 hours between the application of the product and the scheduled irrigation, some of the product might have been degraded by the sun, temperature changes, or it may have dried up.. It is the opinion of the LekkerBio team that if Agroxilato-K is applied via the irrigation system, along with the regular irrigation schedule, these results can be beaten.
1.- View the full report from Glades Crop Care and its raw data following this link.
2.- Data taken from the National Agricultural Statistics Service report on Florida Citrus for 2021-2022, averaging yields from the 4 most recent production cycles (page 17).
3.- Data taken from the National Agricultural Statistics Service report on Florida Citrus for 2021-2022 (page 9).