Many farmer's are applying the fertilizers through foliar, and they are continuously asking what is the use efficiency of this Fertilizer through foliar application, and how to increase the efficiency, please suggest.
Foliar fertilizers @are not absorbed by stomata, so it is very important to use surfactants that allow the passage of the solution through the spaces of the spongy parenchyma
In the case of Zinc the use of urea together with zinc greatly increases foliar efficacy. In the case of iron the absorption is greatly enhanced by EDTA chelate. Nutrients are absorped better when combined with humic acid and fulvic acid and kelp extracts. Kelp and humic acids improve absorption through their growth regulating properties. These materials also lessen issues potentially with salt toxicity.
One thing is for sure that foliar applied chemicals have much more efficiency wrt soil applied as they are directly applied on leaf surface and very low quantity/concentration is required (@2% at the most).
However,spray in bright sunny days and with good quailty water improves absorption greatly in presence of some adjuvants like Tween 20 etc.
The size of the solution particular when the spray is important should be small in size with the use of the diffused material like twenty-20 to tighten the surface to adhesion of the solution with the surface of the paper.
Efficiency of spraying can be fostered by spraying for coverage but not dripping. The efficiency can be increased by using plant measurement to curtail spraying when sufficiency occurs. Efficiency can fostered by changing the solution based on the phenology since nutritional needs change according to phenology.
We have to consider the dose, demand timing, growth stage of plant, use of sticker, application during the morning or evening time when wind velocity and solar radiation is less and the direct spraying to plant for enhancing the fertilizer use efficiency in case of the liquid fertilizers.
If you mean by efficiency "plant use", then this efficiency will increase by matching time of application with plant needs as well as applied concentration, day-time application (early morning or late evening), drop size, reduction in surface tension and volume of spray.
most of the times you need foliar application to overcome soil problem related to micronutrients and/or to fast cure nutrient deficiency on the plant. to increase the efficiency of foliar application you need to determine correctly the nutrient needed and to apply it with the correct concentration as instructed by the package label . you need also to use a surface tension remover and a right volume of water.