PROTOCOL FOR STONE FRUITS, APPLES, AND PEARS

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE
A. APPLICATION IN NURSERY:
Mix BioVam into bedding soils at a rate of 8 lbs (one gallon) per cubic yard.  If trees are grown in individual liners, each plant should receive approximately 1 teaspoon.  BioVam can also be applied as a top dressing in container stock. Use 2 teaspoons per container and water it in immediately.

Caution: If you pasteurize your soils, keep in mind that temperatures above 110 F (45 C) may be lethal to the Mycorrhiza in BioVam.

B. APPLICATION IN THE FIELD FOR NEW PLANTINGS OR TRANSPLANTING:
A minimum of 1 tablespoon of BioVam per plant is recommended.  Place BioVam in the planting hole directly under rooted or unrooted cutting, ensuring that physical contact between BioVam and roots or callused end of cutting is established.  There is leeway in this requirement of about an inch.

C. ROOT DIP:
This method is highly recommended when planting unrooted cuttings. Wet end of cuttings with water or a solution of water and cytokinin derived from kelp.  Dip cuttings into dry BioVam powder and roll until thoroughly covered.

D. APPLICATION TO ESTABLISHED PLANTINGS:
We recommend that mature trees and shrubs be treated with BioVam by placing 1/2 teaspoon of BioVam in 6" - 8" deep holes every 8" around the drip line of the plant within the area of the root zone or rhizosphere.

Supplemental post-planting applications of BioVam can be achieved by means of shanking, drilling, digging in around roots, or planting BioVam-treated cover crops that can vector BioVam to the roots of the established plantings.  We recommend supplemental applications of BioVam to established orchards at five year intervals or when cultural conditions dictate.

E. FREQUENCY OF USE OF BIOVAM
Regular and frequent addition of BioVam is more important in clayey soils than sandy, porous soils. Soil around the vines bases should also be top dressed with composted materials rich in bio-control agents.

F. FERTILIZERS:
We recommend the use of well-composted materials added to the fill soil, but not to exceed 10% by volume. Materials high in fulvic and humic acids are the most advantageous to successful union of BioVam and root.

Mycorrhizal inoculation is usually most responsive at low fertility levels. To assure inoculation the University of California recommends that the nutrient levels should be below at least one of the following with the phosphorous level being the most critical:

* Nitrate forms of nitrogen are preferable to ammonium forms especially in peat mixes.

G. FREQUENCY OF USE OF FERTILIZER:
One application of Biosol or another organic fertilizer equivalent to NPK 7-2-1 should be adequate for the first two years of plant development.  A dose of 1/2 lb. of the fertilizer may be applied as a top dressing at the base of the plant.  Third and subsequent fertilizing applications should be increased to one pound per tree each year.

H. MISCELLANY:
All recommendations about dosage represent a minimum amount. Increased dosages will add to speed and effectiveness of BioVam's work on the roots of your plants.  Sulfur treatments should be minimized or replaced by mildew-fighting bacteria.  Insect control should be achieved by using effective integrated pest control measures (IPM) whenever possible.

If cuttings require foliar feeding, our recommendation is to use a cytokinin spray mixed with fish emulsion. This solution can also be applied to roots through a drip system.