AIVA’s Solutions – Getting OSR Off to the Best Possible Start
George Hepburn
Technical Lead
“The right drop, in the right place, at the right time”
“The beginning is the most important part of the work.” Plato.
Let’s begin with an analogy. Starting the race a few steps ahead does not guarantee first place, it does however secure an advantage, and this means that any competitors must work harder to catch up. This is exactly the reason with working with your crops and feeding them as early as planting, to build a strong, stable foundation that encourages a strong start against the environment, weather, and other detrimental factors.
Start off in the Winning Position
You know the story, cold, wet seedbeds, sluggish seedlings, and that nagging feeling your crop’s potential is slipping away before it’s even out of the ground.
A liquid applicator on your drill might just be the option you’re looking for. Instead of broadcasting tonnes of fertiliser and hoping the roots find it, you’re putting a measured shot of starter nutrition—or biology—right where the seed can use it from day one.
We’re talking small volumes, big precision. Maybe it’s 10 litres per hectare of available phosphate to get roots moving in a cold October, a trace element top-up for hungry high-pH soils, or a bio stimulant to help cover crops to get cover. The aim is simple: give that seedling a head start without loading the soil with nutrients it can’t use yet.
For regenerative systems, it’s a natural fit. Less waste, less risk of leaching, more efficient use of every pound spent on nutrition. And it’s not just for cereals—maize, beet, veg, and pulses can all benefit from a targeted boost.
Yes, there’s kit cost, and yes, you’ll spend more time filling tanks at drilling. But when the first leaves are out faster, roots are deeper, and plants are tougher against stress, you’ll see where the payback comes from.
It’s about thinking smaller to grow better. Aiva’s simple seed drench for OSR*:
Plan B: Go Foliar and Retain the Edge
If your drill isn’t kitted out for liquids, you can still deliver a precision nutrition boost—just a little later.
Foliar applications at the 2–4 leaf stage can supply phosphate, key trace elements, or bio stimulants directly to the leaf when uptake is efficient and root systems are still developing.
While you may lose some of the earliest establishment benefit, well-timed foliar applications can still correct nutrient shortages quickly, reduce stress impacts, and help crops hit their stride. It’s an excellent way to fine-tune crop nutrition without blanket applications.
Aiva’s simple nutrition plan for 2/3 leaves*:
- 200 g/ha Citric Acid
- 0.5 L/ha Rampart
- 5 L/ha Phosphorus
- 5 L/ha Sea2Soil
- 3 L/ha Pulsar
Ready To Start your Holistic Journey With Aiva?
If you want to talk about nutrition plans that are unique to your scenario, not only for the Autumn but the Spring too, please submit an enquiry form and we can organise a visit or teams meeting to discuss your holistic approach.
*Any nutrition plans listed in this article are strictly Aiva’s suggestions based on our advice and methods, they are not recommendations and should not be taken as such.
About the Author
George Hepburn
Technical Lead
Hi, I’m George. I’m a Technical Lead in Agriculture at AIVA. For my whole career, I’ve been working on promoting Crop Health through more natural methods, trying to renew and preserve fertility. Working on benefiting mainly arable systems, I also have expertise in root crops, focusing on building better nutrition and natural crop health.
Got a question? Contact Me.
