VitaNterra and the Brix Test

VitaNterra is a unique product, derived from a patented, chemical-free process, that can deliver stunning results to your soil and plants quickly. The product is a combination of fulvic acid, humic acid, micro-nutrients and naturally occurring enzymes.

Because many revolutionary products have humates such as fulvic and humic acid in their formulas, VitaNterra is sometimes subject to “label shopping” by savvy growers and agronomists. However, due to the unique source and extraction process, the humates and organic acids in VitaNterra are in a form unlike most others on the market.

We’ve seen the results of VitaNterra close up, including corn yields exceeding 500 bushels per acre.

But in order to demonstrate and quantify that difference on a smaller scale, you might consider a  brix test.

A brix test, essentially, is a way to measure dissolved solids in a liquid. The more particulate matter in the liquid, the more the light will bend as it passes through the fluid. Growers of specialty crops, especially those that need the sugars in their crop to be exactly right like apples and grapes are very familiar with the concept. For generations they have used refractometers to measure the “bend” in that light as it passes through their crops juice or sap. 

More recently, some growers have detected a correlation between the readings in their refractometer and the nutrient density in their plants. In addition, some have also been able to correlate more disease and pest resistance in crops with a high  “brix” reading compared to those with less dissolved solids and sugars present in their sap or juice.

Of course there is some opposition to the use of the refractometer including the following: 

1.) Inconsistency of results from changes in a plants respiration. This can result from anything, such as a cloud passing over the sun, temperatures that are too hot or too cold .

2.) Wishful thinking by the person reading the results on the refractometer. This could result in a personal bias to see the desired results in the readings.

3.) Inconsistent selection of plant samples that are of a different physical maturity.

So why brix testing may not be the perfect tool, most growers find it to be useful for spot checks in the field or in a controlled indoor environment.

We’ve developed a test that you should be able to replicate yourself to see how vitaNterra supercharges your plants’ photosynthesis and respiration in almost near real-time.

We’ve conducted this experiment dozens of times on our own and we’ve also had a tomato grower test this themselves with their own plants and track the results for us.

VitaNterra was matched up with several products that growers generally consider competitive, along with distilled water to use as a “control”.

Plants were tested for their sugar levels with a digital refractometer to avoid any ambiguities between readings. A baseline was collected for each plant from samples. The plants were each sprayed lightly on their leaves with a foliar cocktail of VitaNterra mixed with water. This was tested against each of the leading “competitive” products along with the distilled water control.

We waited 45 minutes and repeated the test collecting replicated data along the way.

A foliar spray that “agrees” with the plants chemistry will be taken in and utilized almost instantly by the plant, boosting its respiration and photosynthetic response.

Most fulvic and humic acids are acquired from “brown coal” or leonardite. The shale contains organic material that has to be separated from the rock through crushing and washing in highly caustic baths of base and then acids to make the solution tolerable to the plants. This process denatures any of the naturally occurring enzymes in the organic acid solution and often leaves the humate at a pH near 4.0 which is undesirable for a vast majority of plants and growing situations.

VitaNterra is extracted using a patented process using only water without heat, chemicals or grinding. The results is that naturally occuring enzymes stay intact in the solution, the resulting pH is close to neutral and plants are able to take up VitaNterra and it’s related micronutrients in a much more efficient manner.

Why Should You Care About Yield?

If you’re not someone growing grapes or apples, why would you care about the brix of your plants? Well, higher brix scores have been correlated with all of the following:

• Higher protein
• Higher sugars
• Higher density/weight/yield
• Less disease
• Less pest loss
• Better taste
• Greater dry weights

In addition, the greater nutrition will pass on to the people or animals that are eating your crop as well.

To learn more, visit our VitaNterra page.