The Importance of Micronutrients: Essential Elements for Thriving Plants

With the advancement in agriculture, proper nutrition has become the fundamental need of plants for efficient growth and development. 80 to 90% of plants dry weight consists of water, and the remaining 5% consists of 13 elements. These are further divided into three groups: primary macronutrients, secondary minor nutrients, and micronutrients. While a small amount goes a long way, micronutrients are equally as crucial to the overall nutrition of plants as other nutrients.

Most scientists prefer the term "micronutrients" to describe essential plant elements required at lower concentrations. These include zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), boron (B), nickel (Ni), and chlorine (Cl) for thriving plants. These elements are scarce in soils and plants but are as vital as significant and secondary plant nutrients. Gardeners can see a considerable decline in plant growth if any of these micronutrients are deficient.

Growcycle is a valuable resource for gardeners looking for the highest-quality products. In addition to other necessary gardening materials, they also provide an extensive range of micronutrients suitable for various plant types and stages of growth. This blog will highlight the importance of micronutrients, their role in plant health, and how to use them efficiently for thriving plants.

What Are Micronutrients?

Micronutrients are essential nutrients that plants need in tiny concentrations. These include eight basic elements: zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), boron (B), nickel (Ni), and chlorine (Cl). Although plants need them in trace amounts, they are essential for various biological processes.

Plant micronutrients function as catalysts or coenzymes in metabolic biochemical reactions. Except for zinc, all these can act as "electron carriers" in the enzyme systems that control plants' oxidation and reduction processes.

Plants are at risk of severe illnesses in the absence of sufficient micronutrients. So, if a plant suffers from any disease, gardeners can give it micronutrients to compensate for the deficiencies.

Types of Micronutrients and their Role in Plants Health

Plants contain eight essential elements, each with unique characteristics and a role in maintaining a plant’s health.

1. Boron

Boron (B) is necessary for the structure and function of plant cell walls and seed coats. It activates the dehydrogenase enzyme, which helps in the catalyzing process. Moreover, it aids in sugar transport, nucleic acid synthesis, and the function of plant hormones. However, soil and plants' calcium, potassium, and nitrogen concentrations can alter boron availability and plant function. As a result, calcium rich soils require more boron than calcium poor soils.

Boron fertilizer advice depends on crop requirements and soil boron test levels. It is a regular fertilizer recommended for cotton, peanuts, alfalfa, apples, and root crops. Symptoms of boron deficiencies can consist of thick, short petioles or malformed fruits or flowers. Too much boron may poison plants. Therefore, boron should be applied to particular crops under soil test recommendations.

2. Zinc

Zinc plays a vital role in the formation of chlorophyll, so it is an essential micronutrient for photosynthesis and some enzymatic processes. It stimulates the production of growth hormones and various enzymes, including dehydrogenase, proteinases, and peptides. Zinc deficiencies are most prevalent in the early spring in Alabama on maize and pecan/fruit plants.

Soil and plants must be analyzed to determine if there is a zinc deficit. When soil zinc levels are deemed "insufficient," zinc is advised for some crops at an application rate of three to five pounds per acre. However, since legumes are sensitive to high soil zinc levels, persistent, careless use of zinc fertilizers may cause an excessive buildup to the point where zinc toxicity may become an issue.

3. Manganese

Manganese is an essential micronutrient for photosynthesis, nitrogen absorption, and metabolism. Manganese shortages are most common in soil-producing soybeans, peanuts, oats, wheat, and cotton. If a manganese shortage is detected, soil and plant tissue samples should be taken for investigation. However, manganese poisoning is more prevalent than deficiency in Alabama's corrosive soils. Raising the soil's pH to an acceptable level for the crop is an easy way to reduce high manganese levels in soil tests.

Gardeners can treat manganese deficiency by applying soil or foliar manganese treatments. To maximize soybean yield, use 15 to 75 pounds of manganese sulfate (MnSO4.H2O—26 to 28% manganese) per acre when soil pH exceeds 6.4. 

4. Iron

Plants require iron (Fe) to maintain their chlorophyll content. When there is an iron shortage, chlorotic, yellow tissue appears between the veins of newly emerging leaves. The most common causes of iron shortages include high soil pH (over 7.0), inadequate root development due to disease or compaction, excessive fertilizer with phosphorus, or poor soil drainage.

An iron shortage is caused by other characteristics of the soil, not by the iron concentration of the soil itself. Hence, iron fertilization may only be helpful in treating the disease. Iron foliar fertilization temporarily improves the iron shortfall. Applying a 1% or 2% solution of ferrous sulfate or chelated iron topically is the most efficient treatment of iron insufficiency.

5. Copper

Copper (Cu) is found in numerous enzymes and plant proteins, flavoring fruits and vegetables.  Although copper deficiency is uncommon in South Carolina soils, it is more likely to occur in organic soils, mineral soils with high organic matter concentration (>5%), and sandy soils with high pH.

To correct a copper shortage in organic soils, apply 20-50 pounds of copper sulfate (CuSO4.5H2O) per acre via the foliar method. Copper deficiency and toxicity have a narrow range, so soil or foliar application recommendations should be based on validated deficiency through plant tissue analysis.

6. Nickel

Nickel is an essential micronutrient for the breakdown of urea to supply nitrogen to plants. Plants that don’t receive enough nickel cannot metabolize nitrogen effectively, resulting in stunted development and harmful urea accumulation. Nickel is also necessary for seed germination and viability and helps fix nitrogen, especially in legumes. It also improves plants' resistance to disease and aids in the absorption and transport of iron, preventing deficiencies such as chlorosis (leaf yellowing).

Thus, nickel is essential for healthy plants because a lack of it can result in poor nitrogen metabolism, weakening plant structure, decreased seed viability, and general poor plant health.

7. Molybdenum

Molybdenum is necessary for both the absorption and assimilation of nitrogen in plants. The primary soil element influencing the availability of molybdenum to plants is the pH of the soil. The symptoms of visual molybdenum shortage are comparable to those of nitrogen deficit.

A deficiency is generally unlikely to happen if the soil pH is higher than 6.0. If there appears to be a molybdenum shortage and the soil pH is less than 6.0, then a gardener should apply molybdenum fertilizer to plants. Usually, liming will make up for a molybdenum shortage.

8. Chlorine

Chlorine, as is chloride (Cl-) anion, is an essential plant nutrition element in soil. This anion is abundant in nature, and excess chloride is more prevalent than deficit. The application of fertilizers containing chloride can have an impact on crop quality. 

Potassium sulfate (K2SO4) or potassium nitrate (KNO3), rather than potassium chloride, is the suggested potassium fertilizer source for tobacco, potatoes, and tomatoes. However, acid-forming fertilizers (without chloride) are ideal for blueberries. As chlorine deficiencies are uncommon, gardeners are less likely to see symptoms.

Signs of Micronutrient Deficiency in Plants

Micronutrient deficiencies can cause various visual symptoms, but frequent ones include stunted growth, poor fruit development, limited root growth, and yellowing or chlorosis of the leaves. These deficiencies may also affect the general health and production of plants, resulting in lower yields and a reduced ability to withstand pests and diseases.

• The symptom of iron deficiency is leaf yellowing. Plants absorb iron in the form of the ferrous cation. To promote absorption by the plant through the leaves and address any iron shortage, it is best to feed the plants with a foliar spray.
• Zinc deficiency also results in chlorosis, but symptoms are first shown in young plants. So, it’s recommended that plants be supplied with chelated zinc.
• A high pH causes a manganese deficit. Plants cannot absorb many nutrients, so adjusting pH is the first step in addressing many shortages.
• Yellowing leaves, reduced growth, irregular root formation, and brittle leaves are signs of a copper shortage. Maintaining a pH between 5.5 and 6.5 is essential for plants to absorb nutrients.
• A boron shortage manifests as yellowing of lower leaf tips, distortion of the developing tip, and discolored new growth. It manifests as interior rot and poor fruit development in fruits and vegetables.

Top Micronutrient Fertilizers for Thriving Plants

Micronutrients are as crucial as macronutrients for plants' thriving. GrowCycle offers various micronutrients to gardeners seeking quality products; some are listed below.

1. BASF Sprint Iron Chelate

BASF Sprint Iron Chelate is an iron deficiency corrector, a reliable 6% DTPA chelated iron product that delivers the needed iron to plants. Sprint 138 can keep iron in an efficient form absorbed by plants, even under unfavorable soil conditions.

When applied to the soil as a foliar spray, it prevents iron from being chelated with other elements, thereby making them unavailable to the plants. This is useful for those who have problems with alkaline or calcareous soils.

Being among the chelating agents with very high strength available in the market, BASF Sprint ensures that iron is always available to the plants over time. Thus, it aids healthier growth and some very vibrant foliage. Its effectiveness across an unusually vast diversity of ornamental plant species makes it ideal for horticulture productions, gardens, and turf maintenance.

2. Brandt Manni-Plex Nickel

Brandt Manni-Plex NI is a powerful foliar supplement that provides plants with easily accessible nickel. Nickel is a vital micronutrient, even though plants only need it in tiny amounts. It plays a key role in processes like nitrogen metabolism and enzyme activation.

Manni-Plex NI ensures a steady supply of nickel, helping to prevent and fix deficiencies that can lead to poor nitrogen use and stunted growth. What makes this supplement unique is its ability to deliver nickel directly to the parts of the plant that need it most, ensuring quick access to growth centers.

By using Manni-Plex NI, plants avoid nickel deficiencies and enjoy better overall health, stronger growth, and increased resistance to diseases.

3. Florikan Max Micronutrients

Florikan Max Micronutrients is designed to support healthy plant growth with a complete micronutrient solution. It contains eight essential minerals, providing plants with the necessary elements for optimal growth and development. The uniform prill formulation ensures even distribution over planting areas, delivering equal nutrients to the garden or crops.

This micro fertilizer is special because it combines iron and magnesium, which are crucial for lush greenery. This formula helps maintain a vibrant green color even in soils with varying pH levels. It includes chelate, sulfate, and sucrate forms, which improve nutrient uptake across a wider pH range. This ensures efficient nourishment regardless of soil pH, enhancing the plant's overall appearance, vigor, and productivity.

4. ICL Micromax Micronutrients

The ICL Micromax micronutrient mix boosts the main nutrient program by helping plants grow better. When applied directly to the roots, it gives all the important micronutrients plants need to be healthy. These micronutrients include small amounts of iron, zinc, manganese, and copper, which are crucial for plant functions.

Micromax develops a nutrient-rich environment around the roots, ensuring these elements are available in the right amounts, significantly boosting the plant's ability to thrive.

Gardeners can use it with any crop, lawn, or garden and maintain the uptake efficiency of nutrients so that healthier and more resilient plants can grow faster and do better. This formulation is perfect for optimizing the health of the plants, achieved with vibrant growth via effective micronutrient deficiency management.

Benefits of Using Micronutrient Fertilizers for Thriving Plants

Micronutrients are vital components that plants need in trace levels to stay healthy overall. Although required in low concentrations, micronutrients offer the following benefits.

• Increase Crop Yield

Micronutrients like Zinc and Boron are essential for fruit and vegetable formation. Nutrients like zinc and copper play an important role in activating specific enzymes, thus boosting plants' metabolism. All these nutrients help plants better respiration and photosynthesis, improving overall crop yield. 

• Develop Stress Resistance

With an adequate supply of plant micronutrients, gardeners can ensure better plant capability to fight environmental stress or diseases. For instance, copper increases the plant's immune system and protects it from multiple bacterial and fungal diseases.

• Boost Photosynthesis

Micronutrients like iron and manganese are essential in forming chlorophyll, which directly affects the plant's ability to photosynthesize. The greater the supply of chlorophyll, the greater the plant's capacity to convert sunlight into efficient energy, promoting vigorous growth and development.

• Increase Nutrient Absorption

Micronutrients help plants uptake and utilize higher levels of macronutrients by catalyzing the processes involved. For example, molybdenum catalyzes the fixation and reduction of nitrogen, a macronutrient whose metabolism may be essential in plant growth. This generally leads to a balanced distribution of nutrients within the plant, making the plant healthier.

• Improve Soil Health

Micronutrients are essential for developing healthy, fertile soils that support long-term plant growth. They help in microbial activity and nutrient cycling, improve structure, and prevent toxic accumulations. In short, farmers and gardeners can promote soil health, boost productivity, and maintain long-term agricultural success by ensuring that the trace elements have been adequately supplied to the soils.

• Long-Term Results

Micronutrients ensure long-term results by preventing plant nutrient deficiencies, boosting photosynthesis, improving enzymatic activities, and developing stress resistance. Moreover, they also improve the activity and absorption of macronutrients, ensuring long-term health and growth.

Best Practice to Apply Micronutrients to Plants

Gardeners should apply the micronutrients as effectively as possible to achieve the desired results. The following are some approaches to using these nutrients for plants:

1. Soil Testing

The first step in applying micronutrients to plants is a quick and correct soil examination. Plants need different nutrients at distinct growth phases. To choose the right micronutrient fertilizer, test the garden soil to identify any nutritional shortages. Furthermore, trim the plants and grass to a reasonable height and eliminate any thatch, leaves, or clippings. This ensures efficient absorption of micronutrients.

2. Choose the Right Micronutrient

After adequately examining the soil, the next step is to select the right micronutrient. Look for signs of any micronutrient deficiency, like yellowing leaves, stunted growth, and decreased photosynthesis, and then choose the micronutrient accordingly.

3. Mixed with Other Fertilizers

Incorporating micronutrients with other fertilizers, like ammonium nitrate, potassium sulfate, etc., is essential. Plants need micronutrients in tiny amounts, so it's better to mix them with macronutrients to fortify the desired results.

4. Right Application Method

Choosing the proper application method is the key to efficient absorption and growth. Gardeners can use the following methods depending on the plant’s requirements.

• Broadcasting: It ensures the even distribution of micronutrients to plants by spreading.
• Banding: It minimizes nutrient loss by delivering micronutrients to plants via bands or rows.
• Foliar spray: It ensures instant delivery of micronutrients to plants by directly spraying the liquid solution of fertilizer.
• Fertigation: Allows the controlled supply of micronutrients to plants through irrigation methods.
• Seed treatment: This application method ensures a targeted supply of micronutrients to plants’s seedlings.

5. Application Timing

Time is crucial when using micronutrients. The best time to fertilize a plant is when it is actively growing, in the early spring or midsummer. Applying micronutrients during extreme weather or dormant seasons should be avoided since this could stress plants and reduce the micronutrient's effectiveness.

6. Regular Monitoring

Look for symptoms of nutrient excess or shortage in the plants, such as yellowing leaves or slower development. Modify the fertilization schedule as needed. Regular soil testing checks the pH balance and nutrient levels, allowing for any necessary adjustments to fertilization practices.

FAQs

Why are micronutrients important?

Micronutrients are an essential supplement to plant nutrition because they support and help trigger physiological processes such as enzyme activity, photosynthesis, and nutrient absorption. Although they are required in trace amounts, they contribute greatly to plants' development and resistance to diseases and considerably increase plant yields.

What is another name for micronutrients in plants?

Micronutrients in plants are also known as trace elements or trace minerals. This name is given since pants need them at relatively small concentrations. However, they have taken up a function necessary for growth and development, physiology, photosynthesis, and uptake of nutrients.

What are the best micronutrients for plants?

Iron, zinc, copper, manganese, boron, molybdenum, chlorine, and nickel are the best plant micronutrients. They encourage critical functions such as enzyme activity, photosynthesis, and nutrient absorption. Additionally, they help promote healthy plant life, growth, disease resistance, and high productivity under diverse environmental conditions.

The Bottom Line

Micronutrients are essential trace elements to ensure robust plant health, growth, and development. They are crucial in photosynthesis, enzyme activation, and nutrient absorption. A deficiency of micronutrients can result in leaf yellowing, stunted growth, and delayed photosynthesis. Gardeners can ensure efficient delivery of micronutrients to plants by choosing the suitable application method, soil examination, and regular monitoring.

Whether gardeners are looking for organic fertilizers or macro or micronutrients, they should explore Growcycle to buy these products. Using their high-quality micronutrient fertilizers, gardeners can improve plant vitality and ensure optimal growth and resilience against environmental stressors.

Disclaimer: This material is for informational purposes only and should not be relied on for legal, medical, financial, or any other form of professional advice.

About the Author

Victor Miller

Environmental Journalist Focused on Sustainable Agriculture

Victor Miller is an environmental journalist at Growcycle, where he covers the latest news, trends, and innovations in sustainable agriculture. He has a deep passion for storytelling that emphasizes ecological balance and responsible farming practices.

Before joining Growcycle, Victor worked for several agricultural and environmental publications, reporting on significant environmental issues and interviewing key figures in the sustainability sector. His work has been featured in various industry journals and online platforms.