Give Micronutrients The Attention They Deserve

By: Successful Farming

When you hear the word “micro,” what comes to mind? Do you immediately think “inconsequential,” “insignificant” or “nonessential?” If so, you may assume that micronutrients are an optional component of your plant nutrition program. But that’s not the case. Micronutrients are needed in smaller quantities compared to macronutrients, but their importance on the nutrition of your corn and soybean plants can’t be overstated.

Having a micronutrient deficiency can limit yield potential. Tissue sampling data from 2018 shows that there are plenty of opportunities for farmers to make micronutrient amendments to their fertility programs. For example, of the over 26,000 corn tissue samples analyzed by WinField United labs last year, 78 percent were deficient or responsive for zinc. As you plan for the season, be sure to do a comprehensive fertility audit to ensure your plants have the nutrients they need for peak performance.

PRIORITIZE ZINC, MANGANESE AND BORON IN CORN
With corn, there are three micronutrients that I encourage you to focus on. The first is zinc, which is commonly one of the most deficient micronutrients in corn. Zinc is immobile in soil and tissue, so it’s critical that plants have a constant supply throughout the season to meet growth and development needs. In addition to a seed treatment, you can boost early-season zinc levels with a starter fertilizer. You can often tank mix zinc products with a postemergence herbicide application, and as the season progresses, supplementing foliar zinc at V5 to V8 in corn is ideal.