Foliar Fertilizers: Legislative Aspects in Europe

C. Ciavatta Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agroambientali, Universit di Bologna Bologna, Italy A. Benedetti Istituto Sperimentale per la Nutrizione delle Piante Ministero delle Politiche Agricole e Forestali, Roma, Italy

Keywords: fertilizers, solubility, chelates, amino acids, electrical conductivity, racemisation, foliar-application Abstract Foliar application of mineral nutrients using sprays supplies nutrients to plants more rapidly than soil/root applications. However, this new method has transient effects and may cause leaf damage (necrosis and burning). Although root and foliar fertilisation are totally different, laws regulating fertiliser production and commercialisation in the European Union (EU) and its Member States are mainly addressed to the addition of nutrients via the soil-root system. Indications on the use of fertilisers for foliar sprays are available only in a few cases (liquid products). It is not currently mandatory to list important chemical parameters of foliar sprays, such as their electrical conductivity, sodium and chloride contents. Generally, fertilisers are divided into four main categories: 1) mineral fertilisers; 2) organic fertilisers; 3) organic-mineral fertilisers and 4) soil amendments and improvers. In the European Union only the category of mineral fertilisers (solids and liquids) is subjected to a common EU legislation (ECC 76/116 Directive). This category includes fertilisers i) N, P, K, NP, PK and NPK; ii) CaO, MgO, S and SO3; iii) B, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo and Zn and iv) chelating agents, including EDTA, DTPA, EDDHA, HEDTA, EDDHMA and EDDCHA. This paper discusses general and specific aspects of foliar fertiliser application to perennial fruit plants in different European Countries, and suggests future lines of action in this important issue. INTRODUCTION Generally, the soil is the main source of nutrients for micro-organisms and plants. On the other hand, all cycles of nutrients start from the soil and end in the soil (Sequi and Benedetti, 1995).Turnover of organic matter is naturally concluded in the soil, where nutrients become available to microbial biomass and plant uptake by mineralization processes. Farmers fertilise crops by adding organic and mineral fertilizers to the soil, since roots can easily absorb nutrients. Nevertheless, increased NH3, N2O and SO2 emissions from agricultural and industrial activities can favour mineral nutrition via uptake by leaves and other aerial plant parts (Marschner, 1997). In terrestrial plants, including perennial fruit plants, the uptake of solutes by leaf surfaces and other aerial parts is severely restricted by the outer wall of epidermal cells. Gases, mineral and organic molecules penetrate into leaves mainly through stomata and pores. Several physical and chemical barriers limit the access of mineral nutrients and organic molecules. Pores are readily permeable to solutes such as urea (radii 0.44 nm) but not to larger molecules such as synthetic chelates (e.g. Me-EDTA, Me-DTPA, MeEDDHA, Me-HEDTA, Me-EDDHMA, Me-EDDCHA, Me-EDDSHA), polysaccharides, peptides and humic acids. The presence of fixed negative charges (mainly from polygalacturonic acids) with different distribution along the pores greatly influence cation permeation. Leaf cation uptake is thus faster than anion uptake, whereas the uptake of small, uncharged molecules such as urea is particularly rapid (Marschner, 1997). Different cations and anions have different leaf penetrating capacity. These and other minor aspects should be considered in the preparation of mineral and organic foliar fertilizers for perennial fruit plants.

Proc. IS on Foliar Nutrition Eds. M.Tagliavini et al. Acta Hort. 594, ISHS 2002

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FOLIAR FERTILISATION Foliar application of mineral nutrients using sprays is able to supply nutrients to plants and this method is more rapid than soil/root applications. Recently, foliar application of products other than mineral nutrients, such as seaweed extracts, hydrolysed proteins, amino acids and organic acids has been adopted. However, using this new method of supplying nutrients may lead to several problems, e.g.: i) low penetration rates, particularly in leaves with thick cuticles; ii) run-off from hydrophobic surfaces; iii) washing off by rain; iv) rapid drying of spray solutions; v) limited re-translocation rates of certain mineral nutrients (such as Ca) from sites of uptake (mainly the mature leaves) to other plant parts; vi) limited amounts of macronutrients supplied by foliar sprays; vii) leaf damage (necrosis and burning) (Marschner, 1997). Despite its drawbacks, foliar application aimed at supplying nutrients to plants is very useful in: 1) soils with low nutrient availability (Fe deficiency in calcareous soils, B deficiency); 2) semiarid regions; 3) the reproductive stage, where a decrease in root activity occurs; 4) increasing cereal grain protein content; 5) raising fruit Ca content (Marschner, 1997). Nonetheless, it must be kept in mind that this method is mainly used to control unexpected deficiencies of mineral nutrients, such as those of Fe and other micronutrients. LEGISLATIVE ASPECTS Fertilizers are generally divided into four main categories: 1) mineral fertilizers; 2) organic fertilizers; 3) organic-mineral fertilizers and 4) soil amendments and improvers. However, most of the products used for foliar fertilisation belong to the mineral and organic fertilizers category. In the European Union (EU) only the category of mineral fertilizers (solids and liquids) is subjected to a common EU legislation (ECC Directive 76/116). This category includes: i) N, P, K, NP, PK and NPK; ii) CaO, MgO, S and SO3; iii) B, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo and Zn; and iv) fertilizers and synthetic chelating agents (EDTA, DTPA, EDDHA, HEDTA, EDDHMA and EDDCHA). In each EU Member State, organic fertilizers, organic-mineral fertilizers and natural organic amendments and improvers are regulated only by national laws and so far only a draft of a EU directive on organic and organicmineral fertilizers has been discussed. Art. 8 of the ECC 89/530 established that a product can be used in agriculture as fertiliser if it satisfies the two following conditions: i) the fertiliser supplies effective fertilising elements based on the requirements of a given crop or on crop growth conditions; ii) the fertiliser is not hazardous for humans, animals or the environment. If one of these conditions is not met the product cannot be used as a fertiliser. Recently, for instance (Regulation EC No 999/2001), preventive measures have prohibited the use of some organic residues (i.e. meat meals) for soil fertilisation to avoid any risk of TSE/BSE (Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies/Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy). The risks of these products are even larger when the fertiliser is applied to the aerial apparatus (leaves/fruits) than to the soil. A list of the important physical and chemical parameters that should be declared on the label, depending on the specific fertiliser, to ensure proper use of the fertiliser in the form of foliar applications, is reported in Table 1. Obviously, parameters such as pH of the solution, electrical conductivity and chloride content are extremely important for foliar fertilisation and of lesser importance for soil applications. Although soil/root and foliar fertilisation are totally different, current laws regulating fertiliser production and commercialisation worldwide, and in particular the European (EU) laws and those in each EU Member States, are mainly addressed to the addition of nutrients to the soil via the soil-root system (Tables 2 and 3). In fact, according to the EC law only in three cases label must indicate that the fertilizers can also be used for foliar applications(calcium nitrate solution and suspension, and calcium chloride solution, Table 2). Many of the fertilizers suitable and useful for foliar applications do not require labeling. The lack of label indications in EU (Table 2, left

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column, all fertilizers not including number 1). The situation is analogous in some EU Countries (e.g. Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom) regarding laws on fertilizers not included in the ECC Directive 76/116 (Table 3). In Spain, for instance, some organic chelating agents, such as lignin sulphonates and hydrolysed proteins, have already been included in the Real Decreto 72/1988. Recently, organic chelating agents (i.e. lignin sulphonic acid, fractions of humic substances) and hydrolysed proteins of animal (collagens) and vegetable origin (alfalfa, Medicago sativa L.) characterised by natural hormone-like activity (e.g. amino acids) have been included in the Italian law of 19 October 1984, n. 748. In the case of products containing amino acids, some characterising parameters such as i) total and ii) free amino acids, iii) specific amino acids ratios (i.e., alanine, glycine, proline, hydroxyproline, glutammic acid) and the degree of racemisation (RD %) of alanine are now mandatory. Some of these products, especially those originating from hydrolysed proteins and characterised by natural hormone-like activity are of interest for foliar applications on perennial fruit plants. Many fluid fertilizers (mineral, organic and organic-mineral) in the market and regulated by the EU law (ECC Directive 76/116) or by laws of each Member State declare that they are suitable for use as foliar fertilizers (Table 4). Recently, we have estimated that at least 185 different products currently available on the market in Italy carry this declaration on the label (Benedetti et al., 1999). Even those fertilizers containing only humic acids (it must be kept in mind that humic acids are characterized by a nominal molecular weight exceeding 30 kDa and a size of some hundred nm!) can be used for foliar fertilization. Many compound fertilizers (NP, NK, PK and NPK) containing numerous micronutrients are also recommended for foliar applications (Table 4), although many doubts on their real effectiveness still persist. CONCLUSIONS In many climatic and agronomical conditions the use of fertilizers for aerial application to supply nutrients in perennial fruit plants is an useful practice which is utilised increasingly. Although in the market there are many kinds of fertilizers potentially available to supply nutrients, important physical and chemical parameters are usually not reported on the label of the fertilizer bag. Laws regulating fertiliser production and commercialisation in the European Union and in the single Member States are completely inadequate. Nowadays, only mineral fertilizers are subject to a common EU legislation, whereas organic and organicmineral fertilizers and organic amendments are subject only to those of each EU Member State. This type of fragmentary legislation increase confusion among producers, traders and farmers, since in the EU there is free movement of goods, including fertilizers. Besides, this problem involves all those Countries in which foliar fertilization is a common practice. A new Annex on classes of fertilizers should ad hoc be included in the EU law on fertilisers (ECC Directive 76/116), based on the fact that soil and foliar fertilisation are totally different, and foliar application of mineral and organic nutrients needs public information of specific physical and chemical parameters. The preparation of this Annex should be made by a task force of scientists and adviser experts in foliar fertilization. After the ECC Directive 76/116 and the introduction of the , a common legislation for all fertilizers, including those for foliar application, should be prepared as soon as possible. However, the worldwide increase of goods exchange suggests to involve in this project those Countries in which foliar fertilization is a common practice. Literature Cited Benedetti, A., de Bertoldi, S., DellOrco, S. and Sequi, P. 1999. Catalogazione dei concimi minerali ai sensi della legge 748/84. LInformatore Agrario, 14:7-65.

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ECC Directive 76/116 concerning the approach of the fertilizer legislation of the European Countries. O.J.N.L. 24/21 from 31/01/76. ECC Directive 89/530 regarding boron, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum and zinc oligoelements in fertilizers. O.J.N.L. 281/116 from 30/06/89. Legge 19 ottobre 1984 n. 748. Nuove norme per la disciplina dei fertilizzanti. Normativa coordinata e aggiornata, V edizione, 2000, Federchimica-Assofertilizzanti, Roma, Italy, pp. 202. Marschner, H. 1997. Uptake and release of mineral elements by leaves and other aerial plant parts. In: Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants, 2nd Edition, pp. 116-130, Academic Press Ltd., London. Real Decreto 72/1988 de 5 de febrero. Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentacion. 19679 Orden de 14 de julio de 1988 sobre productos fertilizantes y afines. BOE n. 191. Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Official Journal of the European Communities L 147 of the 31.05.2001. Sequi, P. and Benedetti, A. 1995. Management techniques of organic materials in sustainable agriculture. In: Integrated plant nutrition Systems, report of an expert consultation. R. Dudal and R.N. Roy (Eds.), Roma, Italy 13-15 December 1993, FAO Fert. Plant Nutrit. Bull. 12:139-154.

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Tables

Table 1. Parameters to be label declared, suggested or recommended for foliar application of fertilisers.

Parameters and declarations 1. Label declaration if the fertilizer can be used for foliar fertilization 2. Content of one or more nutrients (percentage by weight) 3. Chemical form of the nutrients 4. Solubility of the nutrients 5. pH of the solution/suspension* 6. Electrical conductivity (dS/m)** 7. Chloride content 8. Sodium content 9. Solubility vs. temperature 10. Acid-base properties 11. Physical-chemical properties of the components 12. Miscibility with other fertilizers 13. Presence of complexes and/or chelates 14. Speciation of kind of complexes/chelates 15. pH-stability of complexes and/or chelates 16. Photosensitivity to photochemical degradation 17. Percentage of total amino acids 18. Percentage of free amino acids 19. Degree of racemisation of some amino acids (e.g. R- and S- forms of Alanine) 20. Ratios among amino acids 21. Miscibility with fungicides, insecticides, etc. 22. Other criteria *pH of the solution/suspension of the commercial product or of the dilution requested, required or recommended. **Electrical conductivity of the solution/suspension of the commercial product or of the dilution requested, required or recommended.

N.

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Table 2. Some types of EU fertilizers suitable for foliar applications, label indications should be requested by EU law and other ones suggested. Number and type of designation of fertilizer Indications on Other indications and kind and content criteria to be label of nutrients declared by a proper use (declaration) foliar application requested by law All numbers reported below refer to those listed in Table 1 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4 1, 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4, 5 1, 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4, 7 2, 3, 4, 7 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4, 7 2, 3, 4, 7 2, 3, 4, 7 2, 3, 4, 7 1, 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4, 13, 14, 15 2, 3, 4, 13, 14, 15 2, 3, 4, 13, 14, 15 2, 3, 4, 13, 14, 15 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4, 13, 14, 15 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16

3. Fluid fertilizers 3.1. Nitrogen Fertilizers 3.1.1. Solution of N fertilizers 3.1.2. Solution of NH4NO3 and urea 3.1.3. Solution of calcium nitrate 3.1.4. Solution of magnesium nitrate 3.1.5. Suspension of calcium nitrate 3.1.6. Solution of N fertilizer and urea formaldehyde 3.1.7. Suspension of N fertilizer and urea formaldehyde 3.2. Mineral compounds fertilizers 3.2.1. Solution of NPK fertiliser 3.2.2. Suspension of NPK fertilisers 3.2.3. Solution of NP fertiliser 3.2.4. Suspension of NP fertilisers 3.2.5. Solution of NK fertiliser 3.2.6. Suspension of NK fertilisers 3.2.7. Solution of PK fertiliser 3.2.8. Suspension of PK fertilisers 4. Ca, Mg or S fertilizers 4.2 Solution of calcium chloride 4.5.1. Solution of magnesium sulphate 4.5.3. Suspension of magnesium hydroxide 4.6. Solution of magnesium chlorine 5. Fertilizers containing micronutrients 5.1.1e Solution of borate (B) fertilizer 5.1.1f Suspension of borate (B) fertilizer 5.1.2c Solution of cobalt (Co) fertilizer 5.1.3f Solution of copper (Cu) fertilizer 5.1.4c Solution of iron (Fe) fertilizer 5.1.5e Solution of manganese (Mn) fertilizer 5.1.6d Solution of molybdenum(Mo) fertiliz. 5.1.7e Solution of zinc (Zn) fertilizer

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Table 3. Fertilizers suitable for foliar application and label indications requested by laws(*) in some EU Member States. Type of designation of fertilizer Indications Other indications and concerning kind criteria to be label and content of declared by a proper nutrients use for foliar (declaration) application requested by law All numbers reported below refer to those listed in Table 1. 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4, 7 2, 3, 4 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12

Mineral fertilizers Nitrogen fluid fertilizers Suspension of ammonium sulphate Solution of ammonium thiosulphate Phosphate fluid fertilizers Phosphoric acid (28 % of P2O5) Potassic fluid Fertilizers Solution of K salts with low Cl content Solution of KCl Organic fertilizers Nitrogen fluid fertilizers Distillery washes Suspension of shred Blood meal Hydrolyzed animal epithelium Organic-mineral fertilizers Suspension of N organic-mineral fertilizer Suspension of NP organic-mineral fertilizer Suspension of NK organic-mineral fertilizer Suspension of NPK organic-mineral fertilizer Natural organic amendments Humic extracts Hydrolyzed animal amendment Soluble humates Humic extract from olive wastes

2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4 2, 3, 4

1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Hydrolyzed proteins from Medicago sativa L. 2, 3, 4, 17, 18, 20 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 19 (*) This table has mainly been prepared by consulting the Italian and Spanish Laws on fertilizers, respectively (Italian law 19 October 1984 n. 748 and Spanish Real Decreto 72/1988, 5 February ).

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Table 4. List of fertilizers that carries the label recommendation: for foliar application. Commodity (*) Commodity Solid fertilizers Liquid fertilizers Nitrogen (N) 4 NK +Mg +S + B + Mn + Fe-EDTA N + Ca 2 NK + Ca + Mg + B N + Mg 2 NK + micronutrients N + micronutrients(**) 1 NK + S + Mn + Zn + Fe-EDTA N + Ca + Mg + micronutrients 1 NP (different N:P ratios) N + Mg + micronutrients 1 NP + B N + Mg + chelate micronutrients 1 NP + Mg Potassium (K) 1 NP + Zn NP Mono Ammonium Phosphate 3 NPK (different N:P:K ratios) NK (different N:K ratios) 4 NPK + B NK + micronutrients 2 NPK + Cu NK + Ca + S + micronutrients 1 NPK + B + Fe-EDTA NK + Mg + micronutrients 1 NPK + micronutrients NK + micronutrients-EDTA 1 NPK + Fe + Mn PK (different P:K ratios) 6 PK PK + Mg + micronutrients 1 PK + B NPK (different N:P:K ratios) 13 PK + Cu NPK + Mg 1 PK + micronutrients NPK + Mg + micronutrients 7 Calcium (Ca) NPK + Mg + Mn 1 Ca + ligninsulphonate acid NPK + Mg + S + micronutrients 2 Ca + B NPK + micronutrients 20 Ca-EDTA NPK + micronutrients-EDTA 12 Ca + Mg Liquid fertilizers Magnesium (Mg) Nitrogen (N) 5 Mg + B (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn)-EDTA N + B + Mo 1 Mg + micronutrients N + Ca + Mg 2 Mg + S + micronutrients N + Ca + Mg + B 1 Mg + S +B + micronutrients-DTPA N + Cu + Mn 2 Mg + S + Fe N + Mg 1 Iron (Fe) N + Mg + micronutrients 1 Fe-DTPA N + Mg + Mn 2 Manganese (Mn)-EDTA N + Mn + Zn 1 Zinc (Zn)-EDTA 3 Boron (B) NH4NO3 + urea 1 B + Zn NH4NO3 + urea + B 1 Fe + Mn NO3 + Ca + Mg + micronutrients Potassium (K) 2 Micronutrients NK 3 Micronutrients-EDTA+DTPA NK + Fe-EDTA 1 Micronutrients-EDTA NK + Mg + Ca 1 Micronutrients + Mg + S + EDTA (*) Number of cases found. (**) B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Zn (*) 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 1 1 1 13 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10 1 2 6 1 1 4 1 1 1

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