Most school biology students will know the importance of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) for healthy plant growth. However, a more in-depth study reveals that these are just three of many elements playing an essential role in overall plant welfare. Whilst these constitute the main requirement, relatively large quantities of calcium, magnesium, and sulphur are equally necessary. Although plants only need minute traces of micronutrients, these are no less crucial to ensure growing crops thrive.

The seven essential micronutrients for plant growth are:

– Boron (B) – essential for cell wall development and sugar metabolism
– Chlorine (Cl) – important for photosynthesis and water balance
– Copper (Cu) – crucial for enzyme activity and chlorophyll production
– Iron (Fe) – vital for photosynthesis, respiration, and nitrogen fixation
– Manganese (Mn) – necessary for enzyme activity and plant defence
– Molybdenum (Mo) – essential for nitrogen fixation and plant growth
– Zinc (Zn) – important for plant growth regulation and protein synthesis

Even the nutrients in well-fertilised soil can become severely depleted by the end of the growing season. At the same time, some ground may display various mineral deficiencies even before cultivation. In the past, a farmer would have dug in a mix of farmyard manure and vegetable compost and hoped for the best. Whilst this is a long-standing traditional approach, it fails to produce the high yields necessary today. Instead, modern intensive farming relies on precisely formulated mixtures of primary, secondary, and essential micronutrients.

A fertiliser with an appropriate NPK ratio is a fundamental requirement for all plants. However, it can be dangerous to overlook the need for traces of boron, chlorides, copper, manganese, molybdenum, iron, and zinc. For example, copper plays a crucial role in enzyme and chlorophyll activity and promotes seed formation. Iron acts as an activator for photosynthesis, respiration, and nitrogen fixation and is required for chlorophyll production. Factors such as excessive damp, cold, high pH, and heavy rainfall can quickly deplete the small traces of these and other natural micronutrients in the soil.

How to Know Which Elements Need to be Supplemented

Common deficiency symptoms include:

– Yellowing leaves (nitrogen) – conduct a soil analysis to confirm nitrogen deficiency
– Stunted growth (phosphorus) – soil analysis can reveal phosphorus levels and other contributing factors
– Distorted leaves (copper) – accurate soil analysis is crucial to determine copper and other micronutrient concentrations

To determine which elements need supplementation, conduct a soil analysis with Kynoch Fertilizer’s expert testing services. Kynoch Fertilizer offers:

– Soil analysis to measure nutrient levels and identify deficiencies
– Leaf analysis to assess plant nutrient uptake and utilisation
– NVDI (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index) precision services using KynoPrecise software for advanced crop monitoring and management

With accurate test results, Kynoch Fertilizer can create a tailored fertiliser blend to restore the nutrient balance. Kynoch also offers personalised solutions and a range of granular and liquid fertilisers containing selected micronutrients in various proportions.

In addition to providing personalised solutions, Kynoch Fertilizer offers a wide range of granular and liquid fertilisers containing selected micronutrients in various proportions. You are welcome to click here for more details about these and other world-class Kynoch Fertilizer products.

The post Ensure Your Plants Have Enough Essential Micronutrients first appeared on Kynoch Fertilizer.

All green plants obtain the nutrients they need to grow and reproduce from the soil and the surrounding air. The process of photosynthesis occurs in the leaves, utilising atmospheric carbon dioxide and water drawn by the root system to produce the energy-rich carbohydrate essential for many metabolic processes. However, this crucial activity could not proceed without the elements required to synthesise chlorophyll. To ensure they are available in sufficient quantities, it is frequently necessary to introduce a fertiliser into the soil.

Types of Essential Plant Nutrients

Essential plant nutrients can be classified into three types according to the quantities required. The greatest need for all plants is for the three primary or macro-nutrients, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Next in importance are the secondary nutrients, calcium, magnesium and sulphur. While plants need less of these, the requirement is still relatively high compared to the trace quantities of additional elements, equally essential for plant welfare. Though comprising less than 1% of a plant’s dry weight, boron, zinc, manganese, iron, copper, molybdenum, and chlorine are equally essential. There are two primary choices when applying fertiliser to replenish soil nutrients, although it’s convenient to subdivide the second.

The Main Fertiliser Options

Chemical or inorganic products are manufactured products that provide an alternative to naturally occurring elements. Next are the organic mixtures consisting purely of natural ingredients. However, some manufacturers prepare these mixtures by extracting the essential nutrients entirely from natural sources, hence the need for a third category – purely organic, heterogeneous mixes, such as animal manure and compost. However, although fans of organic foods prize the latter, they are unsuitable for intensive farming. A manufactured inorganic or organic fertiliser offers the advantage of having a known and predetermined composition.

Precision in Composition is Key

In practical terms, access to products of known composition enables growers to create the perfect balance of essential nutrients for a given species based on a preliminary analysis of their unique soil conditions. This degree of precision ensures healthy crops and high yields that are not achievable when using manure and compost.

However, a plant’s nutritional requirements can vary markedly at different stages in its development. What may be helpful to seedlings and root growth may be of little value for foliar development or flowering. Consequently, choosing a fertiliser with the precise composition required during these stages can be crucial. Understanding these changing needs and how to satisfy them requires in-depth knowledge of plant physiology that even experienced farmers sometimes lack.

Sustainable Fertiliser Practices

In addition to choosing the right type of fertiliser, it’s essential to consider sustainable practices to minimise environmental impact. This includes using fertilisers in the right quantities, choosing products with minimal packaging and waste, considering organic or natural fertiliser options, and rotating crops to maintain soil health and reduce fertiliser dependence.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When selecting and applying fertilisers, it’s crucial to avoid common mistakes that can harm crops and the environment. These include over-fertilising, under-fertilising, applying fertilisers at the wrong time or in the wrong conditions, and not considering soil pH and its impact on fertiliser effectiveness.

Integrating Fertiliser Use with Other Agricultural Practices

Fertiliser use should be integrated with other agricultural practices to achieve optimal results. This includes irrigation management, pest management, crop rotation, and soil conservation practices.

Kynoch offers the option of farm visits to perform a comprehensive professional soil analysis and compile a unique nutritional programme designed to generate maximum yields based on the results. Please click here to learn more about farm visits or here to view our world-class fertiliser range.

The post The Different Types Of Fertiliser first appeared on Kynoch Fertilizer.

In much the same way as a growing child’s dietary needs change, a plant’s nutritional requirements vary during the different stages of its development. When the conditions for germination are right, there are sufficient quantities of the necessary nutrients within a seed to sustain growth until the young plant develops its first true leaves. From that point forward, however, the new seedling must rely solely on the soil as the source of its essential nutrients. Treatment with a suitable starter fertiliser will often be advantageous in promoting healthy seedling growth. These products can benefit species ranging from lawn grasses and flowers to maize and other cash crops.

These nutritious mixtures can be particularly beneficial when planting a crop in cold, wet soils when the seedlings are most vulnerable. A relatively light application of an appropriate mix of nutrients will provide them with an easily accessible food source. Later, when their root system is sufficiently well developed, the young plants can begin to extract their requirements from the soil.

The Components of a Starter Fertiliser

The critical components of an effective starter fertiliser are nitrogen and phosphorus, as these are necessary to promote healthy root growth. However, seedlings cannot easily extract phosphate from the soil until the roots are fully developed. Hence, it is required to provide phosphorus in a more accessible form. Although potassium is also recognised as one of the three essential plant macronutrients, only minimal amounts are necessary for the developing seedlings at this stage.

Nevertheless, a preliminary soil analysis can alert the grower to any significant findings that might need consideration. For example, soils high in phosphorus may only require a starter fertiliser with a readily available nitrogen source such as ammonium sulphate or ammonium nitrate. The effect of applying the product will be to increase a crop’s early seasonal growth rate. However, this does not necessarily lead to increased yield. In practice, additional alternative treatments will generally be necessary for this purpose.

Because the seedlings’ initial requirements are comparatively limited, even a relatively light application can produce some impressive results. Although your soil analysis might indicate the concentrations of the existing nutrients vary widely in parts, a uniform application of the starter fertilizer across the proposed planting area should prove adequate.

Kynoch Takes Care of Newly Planted Seedlings

Kynoch has been a leader in yield-enhancing technology for more than a century. We promote the application of selected growth enhancers through a programme of scheduled nutrition. To meet the needs of newly planted seedlings, we have developed KynoPop®, a highly water-soluble, well-formulated mix of macro-, secondary and micro-nutrients. The product enhances early root development and increases tolerance to pests and diseases. Download the profile sheet to learn more about this world-class starter fertiliser.

The post Purpose Of Starter Fertilizer first appeared on Kynoch Fertilizer.

Following centuries of practical farming and agricultural research, we have amassed a wealth of knowledge regarding the nutritional requirements for sustainable, healthy plant growth. For example, we are now aware of the many advantages of applying commercial fertilizers with a well-balanced nutrient content rather than depending on the random composition of compost and animal manure. However, we sometimes forget that soil composition is frequently just as inconsistent. In practice, an accurate soil analysis should be the starting point when attempting to optimise plant nutrition.

What Your Plant Needs

The requirements for photosynthesis extend far beyond water, carbon dioxide and sunlight. For example, green plants require nitrogen and magnesium to synthesise chlorophyll. These crucial nutrients can become exhausted by a crop or leached away by heavy rainfall. Consequently, these elements will need to be replaced before the next planting. But how much of each will be required? Too much nitrogen can cause iron deficiency characterised by a yellowing of the leaves. It can also leave plants more susceptible to fungal and bacterial diseases. Performing a soil analysis before you select your fertilizer will eliminate these and other adverse effects due to nutrient deficiency or excess.

How a Soil Analysis is Conducted

The first step in this two-step process is sampling. The sample you submit for testing is small compared with the area of your field, so it needs to be as representative as possible. In practice, you need to collect multiple samples from randomly-chosen locations. You will then need to air-dry them for two or three days or keep them refrigerated before delivering them to the laboratory. Once there, a technician will perform the necessary tests. Those conducted during a soil analysis may vary between labs but typically include texture, electrical conductivity as a measure of salinity, pH plus nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium concentration. In addition, calcium, magnesium, sodium and sulphur levels are customarily measured. Secondary studies such as the cation exchange capacity of the metallic elements can indicate the soil’s ability to retain nutrients. Armed with the details of your soil’s composition, you can now determine the necessary steps to create a balanced nutrient environment suitable for your proposed crop.

Despite its undeniable value, conducting a soil analysis is a time-consuming and exacting process. Furthermore, interpreting the results to compile a suitably balanced fertilizer requires an in-depth knowledge of plant nutrition. Consequently, many busy farmers prefer to outsource the entire process to an expert.

Kynoch is a leader in the field of plant nutrition management. We can compile a customised programme to cover each phase of plant growth and the related nutrient requirements ensuring healthy crops and maximum yields. Please click here to learn more about our farm visits and comprehensive soil analysis service.

The post Soil Analysis Role in Plant Nutrition Management first appeared on Kynoch Fertilizer.