Phosphorus is one of the key nutrients for plants. But phosphate and phosphite are different compounds that perform different functions.

What is the difference?

  • Phosphate is a form of phosphorus that meets the plant's need for this element.
  • Phosphite is a form of phosphorus compound with other physiological properties. Thanks to its high mobility and fast uptake by the leaves, phosphite fertilizers are an effective tool for foliar support of the plant's natural defense responses and its resilience to stress conditions.

What is the value of phosphites?

Fast uptake through the leaf

Phosphite compounds are well absorbed by the leaf surface and quickly enter the plant's metabolic processes. A plant absorbs phosphite within hours, while phosphate may take days.

Unique systemic mobility

Ordinary phosphate moves in the plant mainly upwards (through the xylem with the water flow). Phosphite is one of the few elements with two-way mobility (ambimobility). It easily migrates both upwards to the young leaves and downwards through the phloem, directly into the root system, stimulating its development.

The "immune protector" effect

Once inside the cell, the partially oxidized phosphite acts as a strong signaling agent. It makes the plant actively produce phytoalexins and thicken its cell walls. This provides powerful protection against oomycetes (downy mildew, late blight, root rots).

Efficiency at low temperatures

Phosphite actively penetrates cells at temperatures from +5 °C. Ordinary phosphorus under such conditions simply stays on the leaf surface or becomes bound in the soil.

ECOORGANIC phosphite solutions

Our range includes phosphite fertilizers with different combinations of components, adapted to the needs of the crop and the tasks of the foliar nutrition system:

  • ECOLINE Phosphite (K) is the phosphite form of phosphorus and potassium for comprehensive physiological support of plants.
  • ECOLINE Phosphite (K-Zn) is a combination of the phosphite form of phosphorus, potassium and zinc.
  • ECOLINE Phosphite (K-Amino) is a phosphite-potassium formulation with amino acids for a comprehensive approach to plant support.
  • GROS Phosphito-NP is a highly concentrated fertilizer with 60% phosphorus in phosphite form for intensive physiological support in a foliar nutrition system.