What is a good BRIX level for my crops?
Many different pests can target your crops but we almost never see all the possible pests affecting your plants at the same time. The reason being is that pests are picky, they have a preference for a certain BRIX range when attacking that specific crop. It also relates to their senses which are attuned to plants within their preferred BRIX range.
| BRIX LEVEL 1 – 4 | Very low range and the plant is unlikely able to protect itself from any pest or disease that comes in contact with it. |
| BRIX LEVEL 4 – 6 | Plants in this range are most susceptible to aphids. They will not be able to prevent the pest from taking over without pesticide application. |
| BRIX LEVEL 7 – 9 | Other sucking insects like mealybug or spider mites will have a preference for plants in this range. |
| BRIX LEVEL 9 -11 | This is a higher range and the plant is producing compounds which protect it from a number of pests. However, chewing insects like caterpillars and worms are still able to bypass the plant’s defences. |
| BRIX LEVEL 12 – 14 | A very good range for BRIX with only the most tenacious grasshoppers being able to palate these BRIX levels. Very little need for pest control is needed. |
| BRIX LEVEL 15+ | Extremely resilient to any pest due to the high production of secondary metabolites which prevent the pests from feeding. Plant nutrition is performing very well. |
What reduces BRIX levels in plants?
Applications of many high Nitrogen fertilisers and other synthetic pest control solutions will reduce the soil’s microorganism populations. This needs to be avoided if you wish to increase your plant’s BRIX value.
An excess of Nitrogen in nitrate form also swells the leaves with excess water. This will decreases the BRIX levels as more water in the leaves means a decrease in the concentration of sugars and amino acids.
Timing is important. Low temperatures can result in an inaccurate BRIX reading. Along with afternoons which result in higher-than-normal readings. It is recommended that readings be taken at a consistent time at some point in the morning as the plants receive their first light of the day. Having your tests done at consistent times means you can reduce the impact of the above two factors.
Ref: https://www.soilscopes.co.za/post/why-do-we-measure-plant-brix-levels
