2. “These are some amazing numbers. Very hard
to believe this is from 4 drops per gallon of
spray water! ”
David Holden
Holden Research and Consulting
3. Who is David Holden?
•Consultant to growers, manufacturers, crop commissions and
distribution.
•Holden Research & Consulting specializes in production related
field research in traditional and organic farming with nutrients
and pest management.
•Over 35 years of experience as an agronomist and Pest Control
Advisor (PCA).
•Has completed over 1,000 field research projects on over 100
crops for a variety of agricultural manufacturers.
•Currently consulting on approximately 10,000 acres for growers
of avocados, berries citrus, field grown vegetables, and wine
grapes.
4. Significant Increase in Marketable Yields
Grower’s Secret PROFESSIONAL (GSP)
Data Indicates Significant Increase in Tomato Yields
Summary from David Holden….
•Standard Practice = 0%
•Standard Practice + GSP drench at planting = 39% increase
•Standard Practice + GSP drench and single post transplant spray = 26%
increase
•Standard Practice + GSP drench and four post transplant sprays = 44%
increase
•Standard Practice + GSP drench and four post transplant sprays with 3-18-
18 = 52% increase
Preliminary report
5. TEST PARAMETERS
• CROP: Summer tomatoes (Transplants)
• LOCATION: Ventura County, California
• DESIGN: Randomized complete block
• PRODUCT: Grower’s Secret Professional (1 fl. oz./a)
• WATER VOLUME: Foliar, 25 to 100 gal/acre
(depending on plant size)
• PLOT SIZE: 100 sq. ft.
6. TREATMENTS
9/4/2012 (12gstoms01 Growers Secret 2012 Tomato Trial.PRT) Protocol Treatments Page 2 of 11
Holden Research and Consulting
Field Testing for Grower's Secret Pro Plant Growth Enhancer on Tomatoes Summer
2012
Protocol ID: 12gstoms01
Location: Oxnard, CA Study Director: Chuck Schiller
Investigator: David Holden
Applica
Trt Treatment Rate Other Other Application Spray Volume Comment Comment
tion
No. Name Unit Rate Rate Unit Code Description Volume Unit 1 2
1 Standard Fertility
2 Standard Fertility
Grower's Secret drops/gallon 1 gal/tray (app 250
4 A Drench transplants
Professional drench plant
3 Standard Fertility
Grower's Secret drops/gallon 1 gal/tray (app 250
4 A Drench transplants
Professional drench plant
Grower's Secret
4 drops/gallon spray B 2 weeks post plant 25 GAL/AC
Professional
4 Standard Fertility
Grower's Secret drops/gallon 1 gal/tray (app 250
4 A Drench transplants
Professional drench plant
Grower's Secret 2 weeks post plant, 30 day Later treats at 50-100
4 drops/gallon spray BCDE 25 GAL/AC monthly after B
Professional interval gpa
5 Standard Fertility
Grower's Secret drops/gallon 1 gal/tray (app 250
4 A Drench transplants
Professional drench plant
Grower's Secret 2 weeks post plant, 30 day Later treats at 50-100
4 drops/gallon spray BCDE 25 GAL/AC monthly after B
Professional interval gpa
2 weeks post plant, 30 day Later treats at 50-100
3-18-18 1 gal/ac BCDE 25 GAL/AC monthly after B
interval gpa
7. CONDUCTANCE
(A measure of chlorophyll in leaves)
Preliminary report
* Data with the same letter are not statistically different.
11. ECONOMICS
• INVESTMENT
– Cost of Grower’s Secret PROFESSIONAL (GSP) = $17.50 / fl. oz.
(wholesale)
– Number of applications in test = 5
– Cost of Grower’s Secret PROFESSIONAL = $87.50 / acre (plus fertilizer)
• RETURN
– Assumed value of one ton of tomatoes = $69.40*
– Yield Standard Fertility = 23 Tons = $1,596.20 /a
– Yield Standard Fertility + Grower’s Secret PROFESSIONAL = 35.1 Tons =
$2,435.94 /a
• TRANSLATION
– Approximately 52.6% increase in yield and profit (minus fertilizer
expenses)
* California Tomato Growers Association - 2011 value
12. ECONOMICS
• Translated * to 2011 California average yield (46.3 Tons /a)
• 46.3 Tons /a @ 69.40 /Ton = $3,213.22
• 52.6% possible increase from Grower’s Secret PROFESSIONAL
= 70.65 Tons /a @ $69.40 = $4,903.37
• INCREASE = $1,690.15 - $87.50 (minus fertilizer costs)
• Translated profit per acre = approximately $1,602.65 (minus fertilizer costs)
• Investment $87.50 + fertilizer cost
• Return on Investment over cost of Grower’s Secret
PROFESSIONAL (not including fertilizer ) = as high as 1,840%.
* Based on translation from small plot data
13. SUMMARY
“These are some amazing numbers. Very hard to believe
this is from 4 drops per gallon of spray water! ”
David Holden
Why did David say this? Grower’s Secret treated plots had:
- Statistically higher level of chlorophyll in plants
- Statistically larger fruit
- Numerically higher percent of marketable fruit
- Statistically higher yields
Editor's Notes
Conductance is a term given t o the measure of light being absorbed by the leaf. The higher numbers indicate more light is trapped which equates to more chlorophyll. More chlorophyll should translate into more energy produced by the plant and more growth. On all of the Data slides, look a the trends and not the exact numbers. Small plot error ( the extrapolation from small plot to acre) can sometimes distort the view .
Remember to point out to people that these are all small plot tests that have been extrapolated to one acre. What is important is to look at he larger trends and not the fact that one earlier bar may be equal or slightly larger than the end bar.
