Micro nutrients for row crops

Hey all,
I am curious what all of your thoughts are on using micro nutrients on corn and soybeans. I have been kicking the idea around the last 2 years about using micro nutrients myself. Have any of you used any certain product in the past? If so, did you notice much yield difference than without it? I am in Southern Minnesota. I realize there are so many variables that affect yield potential. So I am curious to read about your good or bad results that you may have had. Thanks everyone.
Kow Farmer

The fertilizer companies here in my part of NWIA claim micros don't help, but I just think they don't want to mess with it. The one micro I hear talked about is sulphur. The 'claim' is there is less sulphur coming down with the rain because low sulphur diesel is used in the US. The claim was we don't have a shortage in the soil now but there will be. There is a lot of manure used in these parts too so maybe that might be another reason why our local fertilizer companies don't stress micros. Jim

I retired as a cropduster after flying 42 years. Probably early 70's was first I remember micro nutrients. Through the years I've applied all such stuff from algae to some stuff from shaklees that was a cure all. It was all a sham. Never knew a farmer that used it over a couple 3 years. None of the stuff I applied did any good at all. In fact some used it instead of fertilizer and that made a complete crop failure. My advice is save your money.

I don't know a lot about micro nutrients myself but my father in law is an organic dairymen and he uses them all of the time, not only for crop production but for weed control as well and I am amazed by the results he's had. The hard part he says is finding someone honest enough to sell you what you need, not what they can make the most money on.

Have used it for years but you must have a soll test Mico nutrientsare inportant heavy yields are possble.
Information

As gitrib says, you need a soil test. Zinc is the one I use on corn.

Years ago, my Dad applied borated gypsum to our established alfalfa fields. I don"t know if it might have been coincidence, but that year our alfalfa yield was more than twice what we got the year before. After that we put on borated gypsum about every 4 or 5 years.

I don"t know if my Dad ever did any soil testing, but he might have. He was always reading about farming theories and he might have read that alfalfa needs boron to do well. I wish he was still around to ask him about this topic, but he died 17 years ago. I sure learned a lot from him and I miss him every day.

A way of testing if the crop you are planting would benefit by adding small amounts of different micronutrients would be to try some on a few acres by adding them to the fertilizer when it is applied. If that part of the crop looks and grows better, maybe you are on to something. Whether it would be worth it economically would be something else to try to figure out. Good luck!

I have heard great things about them from a buddy. We tried to get some, they were out of stock.

Hi Hal,
Thanks for the info. Lots of good replies so far. I planned on trying 2 one acre plots. 1 plot with the micro nutrients and another 1 acre plot right next to it without to get a comparison side by side. I hope these 2 plots are large enough to do a fair experiment without a huge amount of dollars invested. Thanks again.
Kow Farmer

If you can find an honest agronomist he will tell you that you will get more bang for your buck in spending the money for more nitrogen. You may not get your money back on the additional nitrogen but you will get more return then anything else.

I've been using sulfur the last couple of years on corn. I can't say it is totally needed, but the soil tests show it's a bit lacking. So I think it helps.

My Zinc tests are looking pretty good, I think this year they might sprinkle a bit in, but only a bit, couple tests in the grid were a little low.

I don't think soybeans are as responsive or needy to micros, so I'd work with the corn first?

I'm not real fond of foliar applications of nutrients. In my mind seems they olny just perk up the plant to look pretty for a week or 2, but sure don't add enough to corn or beans to be worthwhile to add any more yield. Perhaps it's just my stubborn cheap German nature, but think a person really has to get to the top of their game, be pulling 220bu corn regularly, before messing with foliar feedings - if you are getting average yields, the money can be spent on tile, basic fertility, better planter, before bothering with the foliar applications. Just my opinion tho, haven't ever tested that opinion....

Kow, you know anyone around selling manure? My P levels are miserable low, it's getting expensive having UFC come in every spring, and the P doesn't build up all that fast - don't like seeing all the red on their pretty grid sample maps either. Sure could use a base of manure spread around to put a little more substance on my ground. My 25 head of cattle just don't produce all that much.

--->Paul

Hi Paul,
I was hoping you would respond, since you are the closest farmer on YT to me. As far as the manure possibility, I don't know of anyone right off hand. I don't suppose your neighbor to the East of you (Loren) would sell you any? Or maybe Rick and Allen from their hog barns? I know my few head of cattle don't produce alot of manure, but I think I get enough to fertilize my few acres. I hear you on the coop thing. I do all my cattle feed and fuel business with them. They can get expensive in a hurry, that's for sure. Good luck with the fertilizer. Take care
Kow Farmer

Sulfer, zinc and boron are the main micronutrients to look at for corn. I"d strongly suggest a good soil sample, requesting specifically to test for micro"s. Of course, your base three ferts: Nitrogen, Phosphourus and Pottasium need to be adequate as well or you won"t see the yield you want. Even with high testing samples, you can expect a yield bump at least some of the time because of tie-up and availability. Around here, the recommendation is 10 lbs of sulfer, about a quart of zinc and 2/10"s of a pound of boron per acre for corn. Add this to your fall or early spring applied P&K and it will generally pay more times than not.

Ah...forgot to add that manganese is a micronutrient to pay attention to for soybeans. Also, forgot to mention that when looking at sulfer, zinc and boron for corn consult an intelligent agronomist, as these can be toxic if placed in furrow with germinating corn. They should be dribbled on top of the ground, along side the furrow, or better yet fall applied in liquid form with liquid P&K. Also, if relying on liquid hog manure, be skeptical of the P levels you may be receiving, as some believe that phytase in hog rations is causing the P levels in manure to plumment.

Talked to Loren, think he actually got all his bean stubble covered with manure from Rick - will be a few years before they get their ground full to branch out to me. The dairy hiefer guy SW of me on 15 spreads on my neighbor's land to the west of me. I get to smell all the money, but no one wants to haul the extra mile to my place. not complaining about anything, just not quite in the right place at the right time yet.

Went to the Owatonna farm show last week, they had several booths of micro nutrients, foliar applicated. I'm just not quite seeing it yet for myself in row crops, lot of money for a very low amount of them?

--->Paul