It's the
Law - Zinc is Required by Crops!
It's not just
the casual recommendation from an agronomist that growing plants require
zinc (Zn) — It's the Law. It's the
Law of plant nutrition. Zinc is one of the 16 essential nutrients that
plants need for growth and reproduction. Zinc is a micronutrient and is
required in smaller amounts than some other nutrients but is essential for
plant growth. Zinc promotes the cell growth needed for an extended root
system, formation of new leaves, for vigorous shoot growth, more even
maturity, and improved stress tolerance. If zinc is limited or in short
supply, crop yields and farm profits will suffer, and crop utilization of
other fertilizer nutrients, such as nitrogen, will decrease.
Zinc
deficiencies tend to occur early in the growing season when the soils are
cold and wet. This is due to slow root growth compared to rapid shoot
growth. The slow growing root system is unable to take up enough zinc to
supply the shoot. Although plants sometimes appear to outgrow this
deficiency, the damage has already been done, and yields can still be cut.
Wet, cool, cloudy weather during the early growth season increases the
possibility of a deficiency.
Zinc
is essential to many enzyme systems in plants. It controls the production
of important growth regulators which affect new growth and development.
One of the first indications of zinc deficiency is stunted plants
resulting from shortage of growth regulators.
Symptoms of zinc deficiency
may include: |
