• 
  Micronutrients
  • Nitrogen (N)
  • Phosphorous (P)
  • Potassium (K)
  • Magnesium (Mg)
  • Calcium (Ca)
  • Sulphur (S)
  • Boron (B)
  • Copper (Cu)
  • Cobalt (Co)
  • Iron (Fe)
  • Manganese (Mn)
  • Zinc (Zn)
  • Chloride (Cl)
• 
  Advice by Sector
  • Cereal Crops
  • Oil Seed Rape
  • Potatoes
  • Sugar Beet
  • Pulses, Peas, Beans & Soya
  • Vegetables, Melons & Salad Crops
  • Top and Soft Fruit
  • Grassland / Pasture
  • Amenity & Sports Turf
  • Home & Garden
• 
  Identifying & Rectifying Deficiencies
  • The Effect Of Soil pH On Nutrient Availability
  • Soil Type, Condition And Likely Deficiencies
  • Crop Susceptibility
  • Typical Deficiency Symptoms by Nutrient

OPTIMUM SPRAY TIMINGS

TOP TIPS

Crops grown on Sandy and Light soils will benefit the most from autumn applications of Trace Elements as well as those on high pH soils and Organics.

Cereals in the UK can suffer from deficiencies of Magnesium, Sulphur, Copper, Manganese and Zinc.

Cereals are not normally susceptible to deficiencies of Boron, Chlorine, Iron or Molybdenum.

Deficiency diagnosis depends on soil or tissue analysis. Soil analysis can accurately predict Copper and Zinc deficiency, while tissue analysis is more reliable for Magnesium, Manganese, Sulphur and Zinc

The application of Copper with Manganese i.e. Amix Yield, will enhance the uptake of the Manganese and increase its efficiency.

Cocktails of low doses of trace elements are unlikely to produce any benefit. Treatments should be specifically targeted according to need and economic response.

HSE are encouraging users to reduce operator exposure to inorganic manganese compounds due to potential health risks. Switching from powder to DF and liquid formulations is one way of reducing this risk

Sulphur

The recent controls on industrial emissions have meant that the rate of Sulphur deposition from rainfall has been steadily decreasing. It is now estimated that 30-50% of the UK cereal area is potentially at risk from Sulphur deficiency, but only 15% receives Sulphur fertilisers. Consider fertilisers containing Ammonium Sulphate or other sulphur products for the spring fertiliser programme. Sulphastim/Sulphadine/Sulfasol are forms of Ammonium thiosulphate, which is the most biologically available form of sulphur for plants, readily absorbed by foliar applications and providing useful foliar nitrogen. It offers a “quick fix” where soil applied remedies will not be effective in dry conditions or periods of rapid growth. Micromix SSS90 Bentonite pastilles may be incorporated with fertiliser pre-drilling, but elemental sulphur will take 2 to 6 months to become available as a nutrient source for the crop depending on temperatures and conditions.

High Risk: Crops grown on sandy or shallow soils in areas where atmospheric deposition is less than 20 kg/S per hectare per year.

Magnesium

Where Mg problems are well known, an application in the early spring is highly beneficial. Crops rarely show visible symptoms of magnesium deficiency during the growing season unless soil reserves are exceptionally low.

The ear of a cereal plant requires large amounts of magnesium during grain development. If this demand can not be met from the soil, then magnesium is transported out of the flag leaf to meet the demand Up to 70% of the magnesium in the flag leaf can be lost in this way, resulting in lower yields. Trials have shown a direct correlation between yield and magnesium content in the flag leaf. There is also a correlation between magnesium levels and thousand grain weight.

Copper

High Risk: Organic soils, and sandy or thin soils overlying chalk.

The classic symptoms are spiraling, yellowing leaves and twisted ears, but economic losses can still occur where these symptoms are not visible. Soil analysis is the most reliable way to accurately predict Copper deficiency, but tissue analysis can be used for confirmation in season. Copper deficiency often occurs in tandem with Manganese deficiency, and in these situations should be treated with a combined product such as Amix Yield.

Treatments must begin early in the growing season, before symptoms are visible, to have the best effect.

Manganese

Deficiency is typically displayed as yellowing, limp patches in growing crops. Manganese deficiency can greatly increase the severity of winter kill, especially in barley.

Deficiencies are easily treated with routine applications of inorganic Manganese liquid, e.g. Amix Manganese.

High Risk: Organic and sandy or high pH soils.