Zinc (Zn) is the most common micronutrient deficiency seen in crops. Whether the root cause is due to true a lack of Zn in the soil or because Zn is present in the soil but unavailable for the plant to use, finding ways to avoid and overcome this yield robbing condition will be a top priority for growers in 2022.

Zn demand is season long with the greatest crop need arising well into the growing season, spiking between V10-V14 in corn and R3-R4 in soybeans. Deficiency will begin to show as corn becomes knee high through yellowing, white stripes and stunted growth and as the season progresses, additional decreases in development and yield will show.

Since soil and environmental conditions are a primary cause of Zn deficiencies, it is often easier to anticipate and take precautionary actions to ensure crops are able to access the optimal amount of Zn necessary to reach their full yield potential.

Avoiding Soil Deficiency

It’s rare to find a production ag soil that is not deficient in Zn, so a supplemental application will benefit most operations. However, even when Zn is adequate on a soil test or is being supplemented with fertilizer there are many soil factors that reduce the availability and benefits of the Zn.

In soils containing high calcium carbonate concentrate, high pH, low organic matter, low soil moisture and high iron or aluminum oxides, Zn will be immobilized and become unavailable to the plant. Planting conditions can also influence the availability of Zn in your fields. If planting in cold, wet conditions and the temperature drops after the crops have emerged, the soil’s ability to release Zn can be drastically reduced. Low microbial activity due to these colder temperatures can also restrict Zn’s availability to the developing plants.

High levels of certain macronutrients can also lead to problems with micronutrient availability. Fields that receive too much phosphorus can make it difficult for Zn to move the phosphorus from the roots and up through the plant. These two nutrients work best when the levels of each are balanced. Furthermore, applying too much lime or manure can also negatively impact Zn levels in the soil.

Overcoming Availability Issues

When adding supplemental Zn to crops, it’s important to look for plant available sources. Chelation is one of the simplest most effective ways to provide more efficient and available crop nutrition. Chelation can make nutrients available in a usable form ready for plant uptake and improved utilization. Chelates overcome ionic bonds in the soil often intensified by pH and organic matter, help pull micronutrients into the soil solution helping release phosphorus and making more crop nutrients available to the plant.

Levesol® Zn from CHS Agronomy was designed specifically for fields prone to Zn deficiencies. Levesol Zn is a premix of the Levesol chelate and a high quality 9% EDTA Zn that increases the length of time Zn is available to the plant and optimizes the plant’s ability to uptake other nutrients in a phosphorus-based starter fertilizer program including iron, copper and magnesium to help maximize yield potential.