Managing a crop’s nutritional needs is necessary in pushing the yield barrier and increasing return on investment.

Once a plant uptakes nutrients, each nutrient plays a variety of roles. For example, phosphorus is used for energy storage and transfer, and is vital to the growth of new plants. As a result, nearly 80 percent of phosphorus taken up by the plant ends up in the seed.

Zinc is critical for seed formation and is fundamental to develop pollen grains. While still important to certain functions in seeds, nitrogen is required in larger amounts during the plant’s vegetative phases for its role in photosynthesis.

Nutrient applications should not only be increased to support higher yields, but must also be modified to address the unique increases in requirements for certain nutrients, such as phosphorus, potassium and zinc. As growers continue to push the yield barrier, having a solid fertilizer plan in place to supply the crop with the nutrients it needs to reach its maximum potential is essential.

Peak crop nutrition agronomic management practices are geared towards matching plant nutrient needs with nutrients from soil and fertilizer to optimize yield and receive the greatest return on these genetics.

Creating a balanced crop fertility program is essential in achieving high yields. Distribution and availability of micronutrients are critical when choosing a product to help supply phosphorus and zinc to the crop.

Products, like MicroEssentials®, are created to ensure balanced crop nutrition and determine the correct amount of both macro- and micronutrients. MicroEssentials®SZ™combines a balanced formulation of nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and zinc into each granule.

Advances in biotechnology, such as insect-resistant hybrids, are key players in exceeding the yield barrier. As new varieties provide solutions to and farmers want to capitalize on seed investment, grasping the fertility needs of crops and maintaining balanced soil fertility are vital to achieving optimum yield and success.

For more information about nutrient uptake, visit CropNutrition.com.

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