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Nutrition and 4R
Vital Agri Nutrients Pvt Ltd.
The Basics of Balanced Crop Nutrition
Balanced crop nutrition is a vital factor affecting crop yield from the seed is planting until the harvest season. It combines managing soil fertility and knowing which nutrients plants require for healthy growth. Soil fertility is crucial in achieving balanced crop nutrition, as up to 60% of yield depends on it.
Understanding the 17 essential plant nutrients required for optimal plant growth and development is vital. Even when all other essential nutrients are adequately supplied, if one of these nutrients is deficient, the crop's life cycle will be negatively affected. Achieving maximum yield potential can only be possible when the proper balance of nutrients is in place. Macronutrients are classified into three primary nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium) and three secondary nutrients (Calcium, Magnesium, and Sulfur). As the name implies, macronutrients are required in much more significant amounts than micronutrients. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are essential macronutrients needed for healthy, productive crops and receive a great deal of attention. However, a balanced crop nutrition program should look at secondary and micronutrients.
Periodic Table of Plant Nutrients
Sulfur deficiencies are becoming increasingly common across Asia, especially in Pakistan, and growers are looking for solutions that provide both early- and late-season sulfur requirements to achieve the next level of performance. There are eight micronutrients essential to plant growth and development. Micronutrients, such as zinc or boron, are required in much smaller amounts than macronutrients. Uptake rates for these nutrients are generally measured in oz/ac compared to lbs/ac for macronutrients.
Today's high-yielding hybrids and varieties remove more nutrients from the soil, which the crop uses during reproductive development and hauled away at harvest.
This depletion of nutrients from the soil does not leave enough micronutrients to support the nutritional requirements of next year's crop. It is crucial to continually monitor soil nutrient levels and replenish as needed to account for the nutrient removal of each crop. Implementing the 4Rs (Right source, Right rate, Right time, and Right place) provides the foundation for a science-based framework, leading to increased production, profitability, enhanced environmental protection, and improved sustainability. Balanced crop nutrition offers the right ratio of nutrients throughout the growing season and encompasses all aspects of the 4Rs.
4Rs
Source
To mitigate emissions and improve crop resilience
Rate
To reduce pressure on land use change and to protech nature resources.
Time
To improve soil fertility, soil structure, biodiversity and prevent soil degradation.
Place
The efficient use of all necessary resources required for crop growth.
Reviewing macro- and micronutrient needs across all stages of growth and development is the best way to optimise plant health and yields. A combination of soil testing, tissue testing, and yield (nutrient removal) provide the tools necessary to achieve a balanced approach for your cropping system. Regular soil sampling and testing provide valuable information and trends to help avoid costly nutrient deficiencies. Periodic soil testing, combined with an excellent record-keeping system for each field, serves as a helpful gauge to indicate whether soil fertility is increasing, decreasing or remaining constant. Once you have soil test results, work
closely with your crop advisor or retailer to build a strategic crop nutrition plan to ensure next year's crop will have its best possible chance to succeed. In conclusion, finding dependable and innovative fertiliser products that provide your crop with the required nutrition is essential. Advanced crop nutrition technologies pioneered by Mosaic offer a range of performance products that provide superior nutrition for optimal growth and more significant ROI. These performance fertilisers ensure the right balance of nutrients and material consistency to give growers an efficient application experience and optimum nutrient distribution for increased yields.