Brix readings, which are a measurement of a crop’s nutrient density, were taken on Tuesday, 23rd January & averaged 6 in all fields, as can be seen in the photo, the Brix line was very sharp and defined, indicating a generalised mineral deficiency, which is often linked to high nitrate levels in a plant.

Brix reading of 6

Cotton pre Foliar application

Following the application of Best Foliar Fertiliser; Booster pack (Zinc, Molybdenum, Boron); TM Ag and Fulvic Plus on Wednesday, 24th January, Brix readings were taken from the fields again on Saturday, 27th January. Despite the cloud cover at the time the Brix readings were taken – which would have lowered the reading by at least two points, the Brix readings from all fields had increased to 10, and the reading was less defined with a more fuzzy line indicating an increase in mineral density. The inclusion of the Fulvic Plus (Fulvic Acid and Seaweed) product in the foliar application would have also assisted in the increase in the Brix level – particularly during cloud cover as Fulvic Acid substitutes for a lack of sunlight by assisting the plant to maintain it’s photosynthetic rate and seaweed is a primary Brix building tool.

Brix Reading of 10

Cotton post Foliar application

When extracting a plant from one of the fields (note that the plant was pulled out – not dug out which removed a lot of the soil on the root system), further stimulation of the native soil microbes delivering nutrients to the plants via the root systems was evident by the rhizosheathing (dreadlock appearance) on the roots of the cotton plants indicating a higher presence of soil microbiology and microbes’ glues that are allowing the soil to adhere to the roots to solubilise the soil nutrients efficiently while also improving the development of the soil structure, soil aeration and drainage. The root systems were also healthy and disease free which is a result of improved water movement through the soil and a high population of beneficial microbes that control disease pathogens in the soil profile. The long vertical root structure of the cotton plant extracted indicates good soil structure and rooting depth – the greater the rooting depth, the greater the water holding capacity of the soil and the greater the availability of soil nutrients this was also evident by the Penetrometer readings taken in all fields which averaged 300psi which is good.

Vertical root system with Rhizosheathing

Penetrometer reading of 300psi

Overall, the cotton fields all consist of large, healthy plants that are fruiting with big bolls, which are being fuelled and fed nutrients via the huge leaves of the crop that are efficiently photosynthesising, which in turn is feeding the large microbial population in the soil that has been activated by the TM Ag and Fulvic Plus applications at planting and in-crop. The active native microbes readily supply the required nutrition to the cotton plants.

The soil and the cotton plants are responding well to consistent stimulation of the native soil microbiome via the TM Ag applications, which is greatly assisting the plants to access more of the vital soil nutrients on demand. As a result, the plants have an increased nutrient density which is reflected in the Brix increase. The supporting Best products, such as the Fulvic Plus, Booster pack and Foliar Fertiliser that are chelated, meaning they are enhancing the health and quality of the cotton plants and the fibre they will produce by efficiently providing nutrition to the plant in a neutral charge form that does not require the plant to utilise vital energy to access it or convert it from a negative charge.

Following on from the recent TM, Fulvic Plus and Foliar Fert application and the resulting escalation in Brix levels, I would expect to see an increase in plant retention due to the cotton plants having a heightened ability via the support from the indigenous soil microbiome, to produce antioxidant compounds for protection against environmental shocks such as sudden high or low temperature changes, excessive moisture or insect and disease pressure.

The cotton is on track to produce consistently good yields with high quality grades.