NUTRIN

Micronutrients are essential for the normal growth of plants. Deficiencies of micronutrient drastically affect the growth, metabolism and reproductive phase in plants, animal and human beings. Wide spread deficiencies of micronutrients has been found in Indian soils. About 3 billion people in the world are affected with micronutrient malnutrition. Crop plants requires 17 nutrient elements viz. C, H, O, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, B, Mo, Cl and Ni for completing their life cycle. Out of these last eight elements are micronutrients that are needed in very less amount for crops but these are equally important as that of macronutrients. Management of micronutrients deficiencies in view of decline in production of major crops is a cause of concern that requires immediate attention. Production of adequate food grain from the finite land resources to feed the burgeoning population is a great challenge in the years to come.

Role of Micronurtients

ZINC (Zn)

Flower formation: Zinc is crucial in flower formation. i.e. Canola. Zinc acts like "Antifreeze" in the plant to give early and late frost protection. Zinc controls the synthesis of many plant growth regulators. Animals deficient in Zinc require twice as much feed to attain the same weight. Zinc is unavailable in high pH soils. Zinc improves germination rate and plant vigor.

COPPER (Cu)

Plant disease prevention: Cu is important in plant disease prevention. - Plant Diseases - i.e.: Net Blotch, Ergot and Pig Tailing. Cu affects lignin building qualities and is crucial in preventing lodging. Cu greatly affects kernel size and kernel weight.

IRON (Fe)

Chlorophyll formation: Iron is required for the formation of chlorophyll in the plant. Iron is essential for plant respiration, photo-synthesis and symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Iron along with Molybdenum help plants fix atmospheric NITROGEN out of the air. Also keep in mind that the air is 78% Nitrogen & all plants can fix Nitrogen out of the air. Most soils in Western Canada are sufficient in iron.

MANGANESE (Mn)

The element of life: NO MANGANESE = NO LIFE. Mn assists Iron in Chlorophyll production. Mn affects lignin building qualities and is critical in preventing lodging & disease.

BORON (B)

In sugar mover: Boron moves plant sugars up and down the plant daily. Cell development: Boron functions in plants in the differentiation of meristematic cells. Without Boron, cells may continue to divide, but structural components are not differentiated. Missing seeds: At the top and the bottom of the pod is a hormone called GBBA. This hormone must move in the pod to fertilize each and every seed in that pod. No GBBA no seed. The nutrient that moves GBBA throughout the pod is Boron along with mainly Phosphorus, Manganese, Calcium and other nutrients. Remember boron along with Phosphorus moves sugars in the plant daily, so if there is an interruption of this or a lack of nutrients - the seed does not become fertilized so therefore no seed.

MOLYBDENUM (Mo)

Plant nodulation: The most miss understood micronutrient, but one of the most important. Without Mo – plants cannot transform nitrogen into amino acids and legumes cannot symbiotically fix atmospheric nitrogen. Mo is very important for plant nodulation (Peas, Beans, Alfalfa).