We’re always pushing to get better. Growers have high-yielding genetics, precision technology, and a better understanding of soil biology than ever before in human history! But – to improve even more, growers have to look into the chemistry of the soil itself.
We know N, P, and K don’t work in isolation, and nutrients in your soil are in a constant state of interaction. They have relationships – some beneficial, some competitive. Understanding and managing these relationships is the next step in fine-tuning your crop nutrition strategy.
Nutrient interactions
When one nutrient influences the uptake and use of another, it’s called a nutrient interaction. This affects your crop’s health and final yield. These interactions are usually in two categories. These include:
- Synergistic
A synergistic relationship is when two nutrients work together to produce a yield response that is greater than the sum of their individual effects. They amplify each other’s strengths.
- Antagonistic
Antagonism is the opposite. This happens when a high concentration of one nutrient hinders the uptake or use of another. Even if a nutrient is present in the soil, an antagonistic interaction can create a deficiency in the plant, which limits yield.
On your farm
Of course, this is happening in our fields every season. Most macronutrients have synergistic relationships. For example, N and K work together to improve plant health and growth. This synergy means that a balanced application of N and K can improve the efficiency of your nitrogen, which can help you achieve the same yield with less N.
Of course, there’s also the antagonist side. The most common antagonistic relationships happen between micronutrients that are cations (positively charged ions), like zinc, copper, iron, and magnesium. Basically, plants have doorways into them, and the cations with the same charge are all trying to get through the same ones. If you flood the entrance with an excess of one nutrient, it can physically block the others from getting in. For instance, an excessive amount of zinc can compete with copper, preventing the plant from absorbing enough even when it’s present in the soil.
Management strategies
Knowing these interactions exist is the first step – and using it to make a profit is the next one! Consider:
- Prioritize balance: The first step in a fertility program is a soil test and analysis. Trying to avoid too much application of any nutrient helps reduce antagonistic competition from the start.
- Use advanced formulations: How your fertilizer is formulated matters. This can mean combining synergistic nutrients in one application for the most benefit, or it can mean using chelated nutrients that prevent them from getting tied up in the soil – or competing with other elements – for uptake. Learn about AgroLiquid and the Nutriq difference.
- Use multiple application routes: If you know you have high levels of a competing cation in your soil, you can bypass the issue by getting at the root. A foliar application is a great way to deliver nutrients directly to the plant tissue. This way, you can be sure it gets what it needs during important growth states.
Avoiding negative interactions while promoting positive ones is a great way to increase your yield. By thinking about not just what you apply, but how nutrients work together, you can help your crop get the full benefit of your fertility investment.
What’s next
Explore our resources to learn more!
- See our years of AgroLiquid research.
- Watch our video series Back 2 Basics.
- Have a crop problem you’re trying to solve? Ask an agronomist.