In the past 10 years, the agriculture industry has greatly advanced the science behind micronutrients. The industry has learned they play a key role in facilitating the processing and uptake of macro- and secondary nutrients, which leads to improved plant health and vigor, as well as yield. After more research, it’s become obvious that micronutrients have macro-impact.
“What we’ve uncovered in the past 10 years is that micronutrients are for both broadacre and specialty crops,” says Jake Socherman, General Manager, Micronutrients, Verdesian Life Sciences. “All crops benefit from a complete nutritional program.”
Another decade of micronutrients
Recently, we took a look back at a blog we published in 2016, stating, “Farmers growing permanent crops, such as tree nuts, and even the fruit and veggie growers, see the importance of micronutrients. New developments in science and technology products enhance a plant’s ability to acquire and utilize these nutrients and boost metabolism in row crops as well.”
At the time, specialty growers were adopting micronutrient programs at higher levels than row crop growers. Since then, more research has shown the effect of micronutrients as part of a complete nutritional program on broadacre crops.
“While a decade ago many growers and retailers considered micronutrients an optional nutritional additive to the program, today, it’s been shown that it is a key part of these complete nutritional programs, even in corn, soybeans, small grain production, wheat, cotton and more,” Socherman says. “We’ve seen it across the board in all the major crops leading to improved plant health, vigor and yield.”
Fitting micronutrients into standard application
Initially, part of the difficulty with grower adoption of micronutrients was the application. A new product will naturally get overlooked if it doesn’t fit into a grower’s operation. As micronutrient technology has matured, the industry has made strides to fit micronutrients into those standard practices, which has greatly improved adoption.
One stride Verdesian made in 2017 was the launch of a granular micronutrient product family , MicroSync®, that revolutionized the company’s portfolio. The technology allows for nutrients to be delivered to the crop on demand as the crop is advancing through the growing season.
“Most of the MicroSync formulations are multi-nutrient, so therefore it’s only one product that needs to be added to the mix,” Socherman says. “It can be added and blended with fall-applied P and K applications pre-plant, right after the previous year’s harvest.”
The rise of the complete nutritional program
One thing that’s still true from the 2016 blog post is, “Micronutrients are by no means less important, they are just needed in lower amounts over time. A plant’s ability to withstand adverse conditions, such as environmental stresses, pests and pathogens is directly influenced by micronutrients.”
Although that was as true in 2016 as it is today, growers needed more data to show micronutrients weren’t an elective input for yield increases. Over the past 10 years, they’ve seen the benefit, which is why the complete nutritional program has become a focus.
In a Croplife article, experts focused on the improved application accuracy and the increased farmer focus on plant health as key to the growth of micronutrients. To help improve plant health, Socherman said farmers are incorporating micronutrients with season-long performance into their pre-plant fertilizers in the fall to help the plants assimilate more nitrogen and phosphorus.
The future of micronutrients
Although much progress has been made in micronutrients, there is still more to be done and potential to be tapped. Markets and Markets estimates a CAGR of 8.6% from 2023 to 2028 for the micronutrient market.
“We continue to think the future is bright for micronutrients,” Socherman says. “There are still many untreated acres, and more education is needed for slower adopters. Increasing awareness and education will continue to be critical as growers look for their next yield bump.”
Verdesian continues to focus on providing more micronutrient solutions for farmers, including the launch of a liquid micronutrient impregnation product in 2025. FLO-COAT™ will have more formulas to follow after the initial launch. To learn more about micronutrients and their benefit to all crops, visit the crop nutrient page.
