Crops & Use Cases

 

Our geothermal diatomite-based soil improver has been used for several years across a range of crops in different growing systems. This page shows typical use cases and where growers choose to trial it as part of their soil and crop management programmes. Outcomes always depend on soil type, seasonal conditions and overall agronomic management. The product is positioned as a soil improver to support soil structure and water behaviour, not as a fertiliser or pesticide.

Crops at a Glance

Crop Group	Typical Challenges	How the Soil Improver is Used	What Growers Hope to Achieve
Arable cereals & maize	Light or degraded soils, surface crusting, irregular rainfall, lodging risk	Granular application in the seedbed or row zone; optional seed coating where regulations allow	Growers are looking for more stable soil moisture, better root development and improved canopy resilience under stress
Oil & fibre crops	Drought stress, heat, salinity in some regions, variable soil structure	Granular soil improver at drilling; optional foliar suspensions integrated into nutrition sprays	Growers aim to support root development and canopy resilience under abiotic stress
Sugar beet & root crops	Soil crusting, compaction, irregular water supply, quality targets	Granular application in the root zone at drilling or transplanting	Growers hope to improve soil physical condition around the root zone and support more uniform crop development
Potatoes & tuber crops	Soil structure in the ridge, moisture stress, tuber quality and size distribution	Granular soil improver incorporated into the ridge or root zone at planting	Growers aim to improve the proportion of marketable yield and support more stable tuber development
Vines & tree fruit	Water stress, heat, soil degradation in established plantings, fruit quality targets	Granular application around the root zone; optional foliar use during key growth stages	Growers are looking to support canopy resilience, fruit firmness and quality under stress conditions
Vegetables & protected cropping	High-value crops with strict quality standards, intensive production, substrate or soil-based systems	Granular soil improver in the planting zone or substrate; optional foliar suspensions in integrated programmes	Growers hope to support root development, plant resilience and marketable yield quality

Detailed Use Cases by Crop Group

Arable Cereals & Maize

Arable cereals and maize are often grown on light or structurally degraded soils where surface crusting, irregular rainfall and lodging can limit yield and quality. A soil improver may be considered as part of the establishment programme to support soil physical condition and root development in the critical early stages.

How growers use a diatomite-based soil improver

• Granular application in the seedbed or row zone at drilling, often integrated with base fertiliser
• Typical rates are determined by soil type, target crop and field history
• In some systems, optional seed coating is used where local regulations and equipment allow
• Optional foliar suspensions may be integrated into existing nutrition or crop protection sprays during stem extension or grain fill
• Application timing is adjusted to match the crop's root development and stress exposure windows

Field experience so far

• Growers have reported more extensive root systems in treated strips compared with their usual practice, particularly in seasons with irregular rainfall
• In some trials, treated areas have shown more uniform stand establishment and canopy development
• Field observations have indicated that, under drought or heat stress, treated areas can maintain green leaf area and grain fill better than untreated strips, although results vary by site, season and variety
• Some growers have observed improvements in lodging resistance and stem strength in cereals, which they attribute to better root anchorage and silicon deposition in plant tissues
• In maize, growers have noted more consistent cob development and kernel fill in treated zones during water-limited periods
• These are case-based observations from growers' own fields and trials, not guaranteed outcomes

Results are not guaranteed and depend on soil type, climate, variety and overall management. Almina is placed on the market as a soil improver, not as a fertiliser or crop protection product.

Oil & Fibre Crops (Sunflower, Cotton)

Oil and fibre crops such as sunflower and cotton are frequently exposed to drought, heat and salinity stress, particularly in Mediterranean and semi-arid regions. Soil structure and water-holding capacity are critical for root development and canopy resilience. A diatomite-based soil improver may be used to support these soil functions as part of a broader agronomic programme.

How growers use a diatomite-based soil improver

• Granular application at drilling or planting, typically incorporated into the seedbed or row zone
• Integration with base fertiliser or organic amendments where appropriate
• Optional foliar suspensions applied during vegetative growth or flowering, integrated into existing nutrition or stress-mitigation sprays
• Application rates and timing are adjusted based on soil type, water regime and expected stress periods

Field experience so far

• Growers have reported deeper and more branched root systems in treated areas, particularly in light or sandy soils
• In some seasons, treated sunflower crops have shown more uniform head development and seed fill under water-limited conditions
• Cotton growers have observed more stable canopy development and boll retention in treated strips during heat and drought stress periods
• Field trials have indicated that treated areas can maintain photosynthetic activity and canopy health better than untreated controls under abiotic stress, although responses vary by site and season
• Some growers have noted improvements in oil content or fibre quality parameters in their own trials, which they attribute to more stable plant water status and nutrient uptake
• These observations are based on growers' field experience and are not guaranteed outcomes

Results are not guaranteed and depend on soil type, climate, variety and overall management. Almina is placed on the market as a soil improver, not as a fertiliser or crop protection product.

Sugar Beet & Other Root Crops

Sugar beet and other root crops require good soil physical condition around the root zone to achieve uniform emergence, root development and quality targets. Surface crusting, compaction and irregular water supply are common constraints. A soil improver may be used to support soil structure and moisture dynamics in the critical establishment and root expansion phases.

How growers use a diatomite-based soil improver

• Granular application in the root zone at drilling or transplanting, often incorporated with base fertiliser
• Placement is targeted to the zone where root development and water uptake are most critical
• Application rates are adjusted based on soil texture, organic matter content and field history
• Optional foliar use during canopy development or stress periods, integrated into existing spray programmes

Field experience so far

• Growers have reported more uniform emergence and stand establishment in treated areas, particularly on soils prone to crusting
• In some trials, treated sugar beet crops have shown more extensive root systems and better canopy development during dry periods
• Field observations have indicated that treated areas can maintain root expansion and sugar accumulation better than untreated strips under water stress, although results vary by site and season
• Some growers have observed improvements in root size distribution and sugar content in their own fields, which they attribute to more stable soil moisture and nutrient availability in the root zone
• In other root crops such as carrots and parsnips, growers have noted more uniform root shape and marketable yield in treated zones
• These are case-based observations from growers' trials, not guaranteed outcomes

Results are not guaranteed and depend on soil type, climate, variety and overall management. Almina is placed on the market as a soil improver, not as a fertiliser or crop protection product.

Potatoes & Tuber Crops

Potatoes and other tuber crops are sensitive to soil structure in the ridge or planting zone, where moisture stress, compaction and poor aeration can limit tuber development and quality. A diatomite-based soil improver may be incorporated into the ridge to support soil physical condition and water behaviour during the critical tuber initiation and bulking phases.

How growers use a diatomite-based soil improver

• Granular application incorporated into the ridge or root zone at planting
• Integration with base fertiliser or organic amendments where appropriate
• Application rates are adjusted based on soil type, ridge structure and target tuber quality
• Optional foliar use during canopy development or tuber bulking, integrated into existing nutrition or stress-mitigation sprays

Field experience so far

• Growers have reported more uniform tuber development and size distribution in treated ridges compared with their usual practice
• In some trials, treated areas have shown better tuber set and bulking under water-limited conditions
• Field observations have indicated that treated ridges can maintain soil moisture and aeration better than untreated controls, which growers associate with more stable tuber growth and reduced incidence of growth cracks or secondary tubers
• Some growers have observed improvements in the proportion of marketable yield and tuber quality parameters such as specific gravity, dry matter content and skin finish in their own trials
• In other tuber crops such as sweet potatoes, growers have noted more consistent root shape and storage quality in treated zones
• These observations are based on growers' field experience and are not guaranteed outcomes

Results are not guaranteed and depend on soil type, climate, variety and overall management. Almina is placed on the market as a soil improver, not as a fertiliser or crop protection product.

Vines & Tree Fruit

Vines and tree fruit are long-term crops where soil degradation, water stress and heat can accumulate over many seasons, affecting canopy health, fruit quality and yield stability. A diatomite-based soil improver may be used around the root zone to support soil structure and water behaviour, and as a foliar supplement during key growth stages to support plant resilience and fruit quality.

How growers use a diatomite-based soil improver

• Granular application around the root zone, typically incorporated into the soil surface or mulch layer
• Application timing is often aligned with root activity periods (spring, post-harvest)
• Optional foliar suspensions applied during flowering, fruit set or veraison, integrated into existing nutrition or stress-mitigation sprays
• Application rates and frequency are adjusted based on soil type, water regime, crop age and fruit quality targets

Field experience so far

• Growers have reported more stable canopy health and leaf retention in treated vines and trees during drought and heat stress periods
• In some trials, treated areas have shown more uniform fruit set and development, particularly in seasons with irregular water supply
• Field observations have indicated that treated vines can maintain photosynthetic activity and berry development better than untreated controls under abiotic stress, although results vary by site, variety and season
• Some growers have observed improvements in fruit firmness, skin quality and post-harvest storage life in grapes, apples and olives, which they attribute to more stable plant water status and silicon deposition in fruit tissues
• In citrus and stone fruit, growers have noted more consistent fruit size and reduced incidence of stress-related disorders in treated zones
• These are case-based observations from growers' own orchards and vineyards, not guaranteed outcomes

Results are not guaranteed and depend on soil type, climate, variety and overall management. Almina is placed on the market as a soil improver, not as a fertiliser or crop protection product.

Vegetables & Protected Cropping

High-value vegetable crops, whether grown in open fields, tunnels or glasshouses, face strict quality standards and intensive production pressures. Soil or substrate physical condition, water behaviour and plant resilience are critical for achieving marketable yield and quality targets. A diatomite-based soil improver may be used in the planting zone or substrate, and as a foliar supplement in integrated crop management programmes.

How growers use a diatomite-based soil improver

• Granular application in the planting zone or substrate at transplanting or direct seeding
• Integration with base fertiliser, organic amendments or substrate components where appropriate
• Optional foliar suspensions applied during vegetative growth, flowering or fruit development, integrated into existing nutrition or stress-mitigation sprays
• Application rates and timing are adjusted based on crop type, production system (soil-based, substrate, hydroponic) and quality targets

Field experience so far

• Growers have reported more extensive root systems and better plant establishment in treated areas, particularly in substrate-based systems
• In some trials, treated tomato, pepper and cucumber crops have shown more uniform fruit set and development under stress conditions
• Field observations have indicated that treated areas can maintain canopy health and fruit quality better than untreated controls during heat stress or irregular irrigation, although results vary by crop, system and season
• Some growers have observed improvements in the proportion of marketable yield and fruit quality parameters such as firmness, shelf life and brix content in their own trials
• In leafy vegetables and brassicas, growers have noted more consistent head formation and reduced incidence of stress-related disorders in treated zones
• These observations are based on growers' field and glasshouse experience and are not guaranteed outcomes

Results are not guaranteed and depend on soil type, climate, variety and overall management. Almina is placed on the market as a soil improver, not as a fertiliser or crop protection product.