Question 1

What is a Fertil'canne?

Accepted Answer

It is a tool that is used to bring fertilizers or other specific treatments directly to the roots, without waste, with greater efficiency and much less effort!!!   To better understand the process go directly to our section video...

Question 2

What is a fertilizer?

Accepted Answer

A fertilizer comes either in organic form (organic matter in decomposition: compost, manure, etc.), which you can find commercially in various packaging (granules, pastilles, pellets, tablets, etc.), or in mineral form (mineral fertilizers from the agrochemical industry, with recommended packaging in coated granules such as Osmocote). All of these fertilizers contain the nutrients the plant needs to grow. ​ To simplify, there are 3 or 4 major elements necessary for the development of plants: N (Nitrogen), P (Phosphorus) and K (Potassium) and to a lesser extent magnesium (Mg). The other mineral elements called trace elements (copper, boron, iron, zinc, etc.), consumed in smaller quantities are also essential. They are more rarely lacking in the ground. ​ Nitrogen: provided by fertilizers in mineral form (nitrates), it is immediately assimilated by the roots of plants, which will allow rapid growth of all their green parts. For a longer-lasting action, you can either supply organic nitrogen in granules (pellets) for example, or directly assimilable nitrate, but in the form of coated granules with gradual release (Osmocote). ​ NB: Be careful, nitrogen in the form of nitrate is not retained by the soil, it must be added during vegetation so that it is not "leached" and pollutes the water table. . Hence the advantage of using coated fertilizers with programmed release of the Osmocote Exact type which provide the plant with all the nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potash, magnesia and trace elements) necessary for its growth, as it according to its needs, without waste and in an optimal way. For your comfort of use, there are packaging in "cones" of Osmocote Exact called "Tablet". This formulation is particularly easy to use with Fertil'Canne®. ​ Phosphorus, Potash and Magnesium: these 3 elements fixed in the soil do not migrate easily, they need a long time to reach the roots. With Fertil'canne®, they can be made directly available to the roots in the spring, when vegetation starts. ​ If you want to further improve your fruit harvests or give more resistance to plants that seem fragile, you will have to incorporate the fertilizer deeper into the soil (between 15 and 30cm), so that these 3 elements are at the closer to the roots. ​ This remark applies to all fertilizing elements, so a supply of trace elements in the event of a deficiency (Copper, iron, boron, etc.), as close as possible to the roots, can be essential for the proper development of your plants. .Fertil'canne® brings these fertilizers precisely where they will be available and useful for the plant.

Question 3

When should or can you fertilize?

Accepted Answer

Two major fertilization seasons are recommended: ​ Spring fertilization: Now is the time to make the nutrients available to the roots of your plants. If you only need to fertilize once, prefer spring (April to June). Spring is the time to satisfy the appetite of plants at the start of vegetation. You can “time” your fertilizer inputs on the start of vegetation. ​ For your comfort, the use of “Osmocote Exact” type programmed-release fertilizer provides all the nutrients necessary for the proper development of your plants, in proportion to their needs, throughout the growing season, thus limiting pollution by leaching and the waste of natural resources. ​ More Info: Osmocote Exact ​ How to fertilize in the spring? Spring fertilization is also called “maintenance manure”. It applies at the beginning and during vegetation. Liquid fertilizers and soluble powders are faster to assimilate because they are immediately diluted in the soil, and their effect is immediate but short-lived. Fertil'canne can allow you this "boost" contribution without waste, but be careful, avoid overdoses. Solid fertilizers (in the form of granules, pellets, pellets, etc.) will have a more lasting effect (depending on formulation), over the entire vegetation period. Incorporated into the soil with Fertil'canne®, they will be effective immediately and over time. ​ Autumn fertilization: Now is the time to store nutrients in the soil for the following spring. Fall is indeed the time to create “food” reserves in the soil. Nitrogen: provided in organic form (not soluble in water to avoid any risk of leaching), it will remain in the soil while waiting for the heat of the first rays of the spring sun. The micro-organisms (bacteria) will then transform this organic nitrogen into food for the plant (nitrates, etc.), just when it needs it. ​ A supply of Nitrogen in the form of organic granules in autumn prepares the good development of plants for spring. ​ Phosphorus, Potash and Magnesium: these are “basic fertilizers”. During the fall and winter, phosphorus, potash and magnesium will remain stored in the soil, and will be available to the roots of the plant for the resumption of vegetation in the spring. ​ You can add these three elements in the fall if your soil is quite consistent (“heavy” soil), they will remain stored in the soil without the risk of being washed away. If your soil is said to be “light”, prefer adding these elements in the spring. ​ Why fertilize in Autumn? Autumn fertilization is also called “basal fertilizer” or “reserve fertilizer”. It must be buried in the ground. On crops already established but which are weakening, a manure rich in phosphorus, potash and magnesium will improve the fertility of the soil and allow a more vigorous recovery. In poor soil, organic nitrogen will stimulate the microbial life necessary for plant life. Bacteria live thanks to the organic nitrogen that they transform. ​ General note on fertilization. Producing as much or even more with fewer synthetic inputs is a real challenge. If currently, we focus more on the reduction of phytosanitary products, fertilization is no less concerned and this for several reasons. First, the price of fertilizers should tend to increase due to supply and demand and energy cost reasons. Furthermore, P (phosphorus) and K (potash) are not renewable resources and as reserves are frozen, supply will decrease, causing additional pressure on the markets. Finally, there are environmental considerations: eutrophication, greenhouse gas emissions (nitrogen fertilization being the main source of greenhouse gas emissions in crop production)... The optimization of fertilization, even at very small scale is therefore not to be neglected. Playing on the spatial location of the contribution is an answer to these questions: we speak of localized fertilization.

Question 4

How to mycorhize your oaks and other truffle trees?

Accepted Answer

The mycorrhization of oaks and other truffle species (lindens, pines, hazelnuts, etc.) remains quite mysterious. First of all, your soil must be suitable for truffle growing. The cultivation of truffles apparently succeeds best in a draining soil, rich in active limestone, aerated, with good biological activity. ​ If this is the case, it is then a question of inoculating spores from small pieces of truffles which will germinate to produce truffle mycelia (Tuber melanosporum for example), and which after natural association with the young roots of your trees (symbiosis) will become the mycorrhizae carrying your future truffles. We are used to mycorhizing truffle trees as soon as the seed germinates (from the acorn for the oak), which remains the best method for planting a plot. But in the case of trees already in place that are not mycorrhized or whose mycorrhization would not have worked, you still have the option of using Fertil'canne® by perforating the soil 15 to 20 cm deep, always at the plumb with the foliage, where the young roots are located, ready to associate with the truffle mycelium. ​ The mycorrhization method still holds many secrets, yet we now know more about it: ​ The biological cycle of the truffle lasts several months: ​ It begins with the germination of spores contained in large quantities in the truffle itself (more than 1 million spores in 1g of truffle). From the end of winter, these spores will germinate to give a mycelium which after symbiotic association with the very young roots of the tree will produce the famous mycorrhizal filaments on which will be born the future truffles. ​ At the end of spring or even the beginning of summer, two compatible mycelia will mate to form a truffle (this is the sexual reproduction phase). It is only 6 to 8 months later that you can harvest the adult truffle. ​ It is therefore necessary to promote the sexuality of the truffle and for this to inoculate the soil, at the level of the young roots of the tree, with new spores. These will then germinate to produce a mycelium which, if it proves to be compatible with the other mycelia, will allow sexual multiplication to occur, causing the production of truffles, then truffles if these meet the favorable conditions to achieve at maturity. ​ Fertil'canne allows you to carry out this operation by bringing very small pieces of truffles to different points around your tree, just above the foliage, where the young roots are developing. You can also bring these spores in liquid form, in a plastic bottle, after crushing truffles that are unsuitable for sale (too ripe, badly formed, starting to rot, etc.). You can also use frozen truffles, the spores resist freezing temperatures without any problem. ​ Intervene after a good rain in order to fulfill the conditions for a good germination of your spores, and to facilitate the penetration of your fertil’canne in the ground (about 15cm). ​ Happy mycorrhization!

Question 5

Some recommendations

Accepted Answer

Always work on damp ground to facilitate the penetration of Fertil’canne®. Filling the soil perforation hole is not essential, it allows aeration of the root system. Reduce or dilute the doses of fertilizers or treatments to avoid burning the roots. Make split intakes, it's more effective and so simple with Fertil'canne®. In particularly hard or stony ground, do not use a hammer to drive in your Fertil’canne®, a pre-hole with a crowbar can be useful in this case. Your Fertil'canne will then allow you to drive the treatment or fertilizer to the bottom of this pre-hole, effortlessly.

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1475 Chemin de la colline

26160 La Bégude de Mazenc