Trace elements: should they be included in the fertilization plan?
An important part of crop preparation is the fertilization plan. Naturally, the primary focus is initially placed on the main nutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Soil pH and organic matter content are also important factors that are fortunately receiving increasing attention. After all, pH and organic matter content have a major influence on the plant availability of nutrients. But do you also pay sufficient attention to the presence and availability of trace elements?
Importance of trace elements
Trace elements are essential for good crop growth and quality. Unlike the primary nutrients (N, P, K) and secondary nutrients (S, Ca, Mg), trace elements such as iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), boron (B), and molybdenum (Mo) are only required in small quantities. This is because trace elements are less frequently used in the formation of dry matter within the crop. However, trace elements often play a crucial role in plant metabolism. Many enzymes, for example, are completely dependent on trace elements to function properly.
Back in 1840, the German scientist Justus von Liebig described that crop growth is determined by the nutrient that is relatively least available. This “Law of Liebig” is often illustrated as a barrel in which the staves represent nutrients. The barrel can never be filled higher than the shortest stave. In other words: deficiencies in trace elements can also lead to deficiency symptoms and yield losses.
When should trace elements be applied?
There is ongoing discussion about the usefulness and necessity of fertilizing with trace elements. In many cases, the use of animal manure already supplies sufficient trace elements to meet crop requirements. However, supplying nutrients through fertilization is not the same as making nutrients plant-available for crop uptake. For many nutrients, availability decreases rapidly at higher soil pH levels.
At low organic matter levels, nutrients are more prone to leaching, while at high organic matter levels certain elements, such as manganese, can become fixed. Weather conditions, particularly drought, also play a crucial role in the availability of trace elements.
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