Explore your options, plus tips and tricks, for testing for micronutrients, to give your crops the perfect amount and no more!
In our last blog, we discussed the importance of micronutrients, like boron, zinc, iron, copper, and more; these small elements can have a big impact on the yield and quality of your crop. However, they are not as forgiving as “the big 3” of potassium, nitrogen, and phosphate, and growers can easily over-apply, leading micronutrient toxicity. That’s why it’s important to conduct testing for micronutrients before applying. An article printed as an excerpt on Growing Produce cites Senior Agronomy Information Technology Manager at Wilbur-Ellis, Kaan Kurtural, on micronutrient testing. See the details below.
Tips for Testing for Micronutrients
In the expanded article, it is advised that “Unlike macronutrients like nitrogen or potassium, micronutrients — boron, zinc, iron, copper, and others — don’t follow a one-size-fits-all script. Their availability, mobility, and effectiveness are closely tied to your soil pH, organic matter, and even your application method.
Kurtural “recommends a tissue test to confirm deficiencies, rather than relying on traditional soil tests.” He is quoted as saying “Soil tests are great for pH, EC, and major nutrients. But micronutrients like boron or zinc? They’re much more accurately measured in plant tissue.”
He does not recommend sap tests. “Everyone’s selling a sap test right now. But we don’t know what the values mean. We can’t write a recommendation from it.”
There are also new tools emerging, like an app that “maps soil and tissue results to create variable-rate micronutrient prescriptions” or “technologies like encapsulated micronutrients and nanotechnology.”
Griffin Fertilizer is committed to helping both growers and ranchers make sound agronomic and economic decisions in order to maximize the health of their grove and pasture. As a full-service custom dry & liquid fertilizer blender and crop protection product distributor, we will continue our mission to further advance Florida agriculture. For questions -or concerns about your farm or pasture, contact us and one of our team will be in touch.