When Did You Last Test the Micronutrients in Your Soil?

When we think about soil fertility, the focus often falls on macronutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. But micronutrients—such as zinc, boron, copper, and manganese—play a crucial role in plant health, development, and ultimately, yield. While required in smaller amounts, a deficiency or toxicity in any one of these can limit a crop’s potential just as much as a macronutrient shortfall. In many cases, micronutrient levels can fluctuate due to changes in soil pH, organic matter, or past crop removal. Without regular testing, it’s easy to overlook deficiencies that may be holding your crop back. Including micronutrients on your soil test gives you a more complete picture of your field’s fertility and allows for targeted recommendations that can improve both crop quality and productivity. Micronutrient testing is a small step that can make a big difference, especially in high-value crops or fields showing unexplained performance issues.

If you are unsure of the last time you tested your micronutrients, be sure to ask your Ag Grow agronomist about adding them on to your soil testing package to be sure you are getting all the information for accurate recommendations.