MICRONUTRIENTS IN CROP PRODUCTION
Discover Dew’s Micronutrient Solutions for Optimal Crop Health
Crops rely on 17 essential nutrients for normal growth, with carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O) making up over 90% of fresh plant tissue. While macronutrients like nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are crucial, micronutrients play an equally vital role in plant health.
Micronutrients, such as copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn), are essential for enzyme systems, cell wall formation, and various metabolic reactions. Deficiencies in these micronutrients can lead to detrimental effects on crop health and yield.
At Dew, we offer a range of micronutrient solutions to address deficiencies and optimize crop performance:
Sulphate (salts)
The sulphate form of micronutrients such as: Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn, represents a water-soluble form that is plant available. Borate is the equivalent plant available form for B. Sulphates are the most commonly used form for field crops. Sulphates can be applied to the soil or foliage. Sulphate products, applied at agronomically recommended rates, can provide long term residual value.
Oxide
Micronutrient elements (Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn) bonded with oxygen form oxides. The bonds with oxygen are very strong, meaning these products are not soluble in water and are not in plant available form. An oxide of a micronutrient needs to be converted to a plant available form in the soil before being taken up by the plant. Oxides represent the final form to which other forms are eventually converted, and may then be slowly converted back to plant available form. For crop response during the growing season, plant available forms (water-soluble forms) of micronutrients need to be used.
Chelate
Micronutrients such as Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn are held within ring-type compounds. Chelated micronutrients remain in plant-available form longer because the chelated structure slows the micronutrient reaction with soil minerals. There are a large number of chelating agents. Chelated micronutrients can be soil or foliar applied.
Manganese (Mn)
Manganese is a component in enzyme systems. Manganese activates several important metabolic reactions, aids in chlorophyll synthesis, accelerates germination and maturity, and increases the availability of P and Ca.
Zinc (Zn)
Zinc is involved in enzyme systems and metabolic reactions, and is necessary for production of chlorophyll and carbohydrates. In wheat and barley, the older leaves may have light blotches between the veins. Younger leaves will have a normal green colour and will be smaller. The best practice has been to broadcast and incorporate Zn as a pre-plant application. This should provide several year’s effectiveness. Chelates are foliar applied to correct Zn deficiency during the growing season.
Copper (Cu)
- If you suspect a Cu deficiency in wheat, barley or canary seed (crops most sensitive to Cu deficiency) or flax, alfalfa (less sensitive than wheat) based on a soil or tissue sample, consider a foliar application on a test strip. If there is a Cu deficiency in that field, the result will be an economic yield response
- Copper is immobile in soil
- Solubility and plant availability of Cu is highly dependent on soil pH. Copper solubility increases approximately 100 fold for each unit decrease in soil pH
- Copper deficiencies will most likely show up first in wheat, barley, oats or canary seed, as these crops are highly sensitive to Cu deficiency. Canola, rye, flax, and forage grasses are much less sensitive to Cu deficiency. Crop cultivars can differ widely in sensitivity to Cu deficiency. Where Cu and Zn are both deficient, they both must be applied to obtain a yield increase.
- High levels of soil P can also depress Cu absorption by plant roots creating the Cu deficiency.
- Avoid blending Cu sulphate fertilizer with other fertilizers. The blend readily absorbs moisture