Of course, there’s no one size fits all plan, since the soil and the weather make every year different. But, building the best crop nutrition plan isn’t a guess – it’s getting the right information to make the best decisions for your yield goals.

So how can you give your crops what they need and when they need it to maximize your ROI? Here are five ways to help create a smarter and more precise crop nutrition management plan.

1. Start with a high-quality soil analysis

This is the foundation of it all! A comprehensive soil test is like taking nutrient inventory. It looks beyond the standard N-P-K readings to tell you about:

• Micronutrients: Zinc, manganese, and boron are just as important for yield as the macronutrients.
• Soil pH: This is a major component of nutrient availability. For example, you might have plenty of phosphorus in the soil, but if the pH is too low, the plant can’t access it. Correcting the pH is the first step to using the potential of what’s already there.
• Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) and organic matter: These tell you about the soil’s ability to hold and supply nutrients throughout the season.

You wouldn’t plan a trip without knowing what direction to go. Don’t plan a season without a soil test. Learn more about it in our Back 2 Basics video series.

2. Set realistic goals

Your nutrient plan should be designed to meet a goal. Look at your past data to set an ambitious – but achievable – target for each field.

Questions to ask include: What is the five-year average production history for this field? What did you best year look like? With the new variety you’re planting, what is its potential this year?

Setting a realistic yield goal helps you build a plan that supplies enough nutrition to reach that target.

3. Analyze your past records

Before you plan for next year, look back at the information you already have.

• Yield maps: Where are your best and worst performing areas? A yield map might show a consistent low spot. Check for the cause – compaction, broken tile, sandy spot? Maybe that zone doesn’t need more nutrients, but instead a different approach to managing an issue.
• Old soil tests: Look at trends over time. Are your phosphorus levels slowly declining? Is your pH heading downward? This long-term view helps you stop issues before they turn into a bigger problems.

4. Do in-season tissue sampling

A soil test tells you what’s in the soil…but a tissue test tells you what the plant has actually absorbed. This is your mid-season report card, and it’s a great tool for fine-tuning your nutrition plan. A crop can look healthy, but a tissue sample might show it’s lacking in something important. Catching a deficiency early means you can put on a foliar application to correct the problem before it limits your yield. Sometimes it’s the difference between seeing a problem and preventing one.

Learn more about tissue sampling.

5. Consider your nutrient source, placement, and timing

How you apply your nutrients is just as important as what you apply. Consider your starter fertilizer program. Your choice can make a huge difference in getting your crop off to a strong and uniform start. Likewise, for side dress or foliar applications, using a product that is readily available and efficiently absorbed by the crops means you get the most out of your investment, especially when the crop is under stress.

Building a plan

Creating the best crop nutrition program is a year-round process of planning, executing, and evaluating. By combining high-quality soil analysis, realistic goals, historical data, tissue sampling, and application strategies, you move from a generic plan to a more precise strategy designed to give you the best season ever.

At AgroLiquid, this is what we work toward. Our products and programs are developed to fit into your seasonal goals. Want to get started? Talk to your AgroLiquid rep to build your best plan yet.

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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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

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For many growers, well water is a reliable source for irrigation and fertilizer application. But what if it’s affecting your crop’s potential and profits? Understanding the chemistry of your well water is important for fertilizer efficiency and maintaining soil health over time.

Reid Abbott is the field agronomy manager in the Great Plains region for AgroLiquid.

“Not everyone is aware that there’s a lot more in water than just water,” Reid said. Well water carries a variety of minerals, or cations, that accumulate as water interacts with the soil. The concentration and balance of these minerals are important, since they can impact the way you farm.

Binding, sludge, and inefficiency – oh my!

One of the first reasons to test your well water, particularly if you’re applying fertilizer through irrigation, is to prevent reactions.

“Those mineral elements can provide benefits, but they can also be antagonistic,” Reid said.

Consider:

• Nutrient binding: Certain minerals in well water can bind with the fertilizer you apply, making them inactive or less available to your crops. This means you’re investing in fertilizer that your plants can’t fully use.
• Physical blocking: In severe cases, these minerals can lead to sludge on a screen or plugged nozzles in drip irrigation systems.
• Reduced efficiency: Even without binding or clogging, an imbalanced mineral profile in well water can make your fertilizers less effective. You might be applying the correct amount of nutrients, but if the water chemistry isn’t right, your crops won’t be able to absorb them as well.

“From a fertilizer application view, it’s wise to test your water, see what’s in there, and understand how that will affect the efficiency of the products we are applying.” Reid said.

Long-term effects

After years of irrigation with well water, an accumulation of cations can affect the soil. For growers, this can have a long-term impact on soil health.

“Calcium and sodium, in particular, over time, can create a cation exchange imbalance in the soil,” Reid said. This imbalance can affect the stability of certain nutrients in the soil and the crops’ overall ability to absorb nutrients efficiently. Basically, since the soil’s natural holding capacity for nutrients is altered, nutrient absorption becomes limited making it harder for crops to get what they need.

Regional

Well water quality is more of a concern in regions like the Great Plains, where growers use aquifer-based water sources.  That said, problems can also arise in surface water irrigation systems as well.

“If you have a slush and you drink it down, the less liquid you have, the more concentrated the ice gets,” he said. “It’s the same with water and minerals.”

The real-world effect can be substantial.

“If you do a soil test inside an irrigation pivot versus outside a pivot, it’s dramatically different due to cations,” Reid said. “It can be that close and that different.”

Sodium can also accumulate over time. Growers can accumulate significant amounts of salt on their land year after year.

In areas with higher rainfall, this is less of a problem, since rain will push the cations out of the root zone.  This regular flushing helps prevent cation buildup. However, in drier climates where there’s less rainfall, the cations stay in the soil.

“That’s where the problems start to become even bigger, and testing the well water can help find what the soil needs,” Reid said.

Talk to the experts

Overall, testing your water source can help you be more efficient with fertilizer use, maintain soil health, and ultimately help with a better crop.

Want to talk it over? Contact the AgroLiquid crop experts.

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It’s difficult to keep everything in balance, especially when you’re dealing with so many variables. The soil, the weather, the rainfall – everything adds to or detracts from a healthy product. So what can you do to help?

Balanced soils deliver fertility more efficiently to your crops, and one of the best ways to measure this balance is to look at the base saturation percentage of the cations in your soil.

Base saturation

Think of your soil’s cation exchange capacity as a parking lot for nutrients. Every parking spot represents a site where cations – like potassium, calcium, magnesium, hydrogen, and sodium – can attach. While a high CEC shows many available parking spots, it’s the percent base saturation that tells us who is actually parked in those spots, and in what proportions.

Percent base saturation allows us to compare apples to apples, providing a view of your soil’s nutrient status that goes beyond parts per million. Many soil tests provide nutrient values in pounds per acre or parts per million, which are certainly important. However, without base saturation, you’re missing a piece – the amount and balance of these key players. This information helps you see exactly what your crops need.

Ideal nutrient ratios

A balanced soil needs specific ratios of these cations to thrive. These are the recommended percentages for optimal soil balance:

• Potassium: 3-8%
• Magnesium: 13-18%
• Calcium: 65-75%
• Hydrogen: Below 10%
• Sodium: Below 2%

Why is this balance so important? Because if one nutrient is present in excess, it can negatively impact the availability of others. For instance, elevated magnesium can affect nitrogen uptake and mobility, making it less available to your crops. Similarly, high levels of calcium or magnesium, being strong ions, can tie up phosphorus and reduce effectiveness.

Maintaining the correct base saturation ratios helps make sure that all nutrients remain available and accessible for crops.

Base saturation and pH

Besides impacting nutrient availability, percent base saturation also correlates to your soil pH. If your base saturation analysis shows a higher percentage of hydrogen, it’s a clear indicator of a lower, more acidic soil pH. On the opposite side, a significant amount of calcium often means a higher, more alkaline pH. This relationship makes base saturation a tool for assessing your soil pH without even looking at a separate pH reading.

Ask AgroLiquid

Percent base saturation in our soil analysis is more than just a number. By looking at it, you can address nutrient imbalances, optimize pH, and make sure every bit of fertilizer is contributing to your crop potential. If you need more information on percent base saturation, visit us at AgroLiquid.com.

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This article was written from the information provided in this video: Productive potential: Base Saturation.

The entire video series is Back 2 Basics. The Back-to-Basics video series that takes an in-depth look at the nutrients that may make a difference in your crop. Each video explains the role each nutrient plays in the plant, how it interacts with other nutrients in the soil, and more. Each video is between three and six minutes long, and focuses on a specific category on a soil test analysis. The topics currently available include:

• CEC
• Base Saturations
• Calcium & Magnesium
• How to manage and influence cations with amendments
• Potassium
• Sulfur
• Phosphorus
• Nitrogen
• Zinc
• Manganese
• Iron
• Copper
• Boron

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Side dress is a way to apply inputs between the rows of already-growing crops. Instead of broadcasting the application over the entire field, a side dress places nutrients close to the roots.

As growers, what do we need to know about side dress? Consider these three points:

1. Timing is everything

Like so many things in life, the timing of the side dress matters! Side dressing works for nutrient adjustment during the growing season, so crops can get what they need in the times they need it. This is particularly important for nitrogen, which can often be lost through leaching, volatilization, and runoff.

By watching the growth and performing soil tests, growers can find the right timing and rate of application. By doing it carefully, this approach reduces waste and maximizes nutrient uptake by the crop. At AgroLiquid, we’re happy to help you look at your soil test results and see what products would work best for your specific needs.

Check out our study Fertilizer Programs for Corn Silage. This trial evaluated a corn silage nutrition program developed based on soil test reports and grower yield goals, compared to a grower standard program.

2. Placement matters

Side dressing places nutrients close to the active root zone, which helps with absorption and reduces loss. This is always important, but it’s even more important during periods of fast growth when the nutrient demand is high. Though broadcasting sometimes doesn’t cause problems, side dress applications puts nutrients in a localized area, making them completely available to the crop. Picture spraying a hose over a garden vs. watering each plant at the base. It’s a specific, precise application. AgroLiquid products work well with side dress applications, since the liquid can provide a uniform nutrient distribution.

See our research: Nitrogen Product and Enhancement Comparison. This study evaluated the effectiveness of AgroLiquid’s High NRG-N compared to 28% UAN, and also examined the impact of adding accesS to UAN in corn.

3. Get flexible

Weather and market conditions are always changing…and so can farming practices. Side dress application provides the flexibility to adjust nutrient inputs based on your current needs. Maybe you’re looking at nitrogen deficiencies after a heavy rain, or you’re supplementing potassium during a growth stage – in many situations, side dress application lets you quickly respond. Plus, when side dress application is paired with soil testing, it is an even more precise way to manage nutrients. nutrient management.

In our High Management Corn Nutritional study, we evaluated the yield and economic impact of a corn liquid starter fertilizer and foliar
nutritional program in an irrigated environment.

Side dress application is an approach that uses timing, strategic placement, and management that can adapt to variable conditions. By tailoring nutrient application to crop needs, growers can deliver inputs directly to the root – while still remaining flexible in response to changing conditions. Backed by AgroLiquid’s research and support, these three points help growers improve their crop performance.

For more resources, see:

• AgroLiquid side dress research – See all our studies that involve a side dress application.
• Answers for your crop questions – Contact the experts! They are happy to talk with you about how best to meet your crop goals.
• Back 2 Basics – This video series works through how to create a crop fertility plan based on a complete soil analysis.

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Like all oilseed crops, canola relies on adequate and available crop nutrients. Getting the plant up and out of the ground and off to the best possible start builds the foundation for a successful season.

By giving canola plants a good nutritional start, growers are increasing the chances of them thriving even when faced with less than optimal circumstances.

Then – there’s always the weather. A healthy plant with adequate available nutrition will be best prepared to respond to stress factors like bad weather – including drought, excessive rain, or sudden temperature fluctuations. Also, plants with the right nutrition are also better able to resist disease and pest pressure.

Foliar treatments in canola
Currently, there’s more interest in feeding nutrition through foliar treatments in canola. This research trial demonstrates the benefits of providing crop nutrients in season when crop demand is at its peak.

The results clearly indicate that providing a blend of nutrients at this peak demand period results in yield improvements.

Applying a rate of 2 gallons per acre of NResponse, 0.75 gallons per acre of fertiRain, and 0.25 gallons per acre of Micro 600 resulted in a yield of 39.1 bushels per acre. This outcome far outperforms the untreated crop, which yielded only 30.6 bushels per acre. The data shows that this combination of foliar nutrients produced a significant 8.5 bushels per acre advantage over the crop that received no foliar feeding.

The trial also explored other foliar application strategies. A combination of 2 gallons per acre of NResponse and 1 gallon per acre of fertiRain also showed a positive result, achieving a yield of 36.5 bushels per acre. Even a higher rate of NResponse alone, at 3 gallons per acre, resulted in 35.9 bushels per acre. While these inputs also outperformed the untreated crop, the combination of NResponse, fertiRain, and Micro 600 clearly was the most effective approach in this trial.

Planter applications
If there’s one thing we know for sure in farming, it’s that we can’t control the weather. Since the nutritional level of an individual plant can affect its response to stress, poor nutrition could mean the difference between profit and loss. That’s why we have studied the effect of providing crop nutrition in-furrow, streamed on at flowering, and as a foliar application. Because we can’t control the weather, having application options can mean risk mitigation options.

In field trial testing, all of the in-furrow and streaming combinations resulted in significant yield increases over the dry fertilizer alone. This trial demonstrates the value of AgroLiquid in-furrow and streamed-on treatments replacing part of a dry fertilizer program.

This data from the canola trial on planter methods shows a yield advantage with liquid applications. All combinations involving AgroLiquid in-furrow and stream-on treatments resulted in an increase in canola yield compared to the dry band treatment (30.5 bu/A) and the untreated check (26 bu/A). The data shows using liquid fertilizer at planting benefits yield.

The in-furrow applications, particularly the 3 gal/A Pro-Germinator treatment, achieved the highest yield at 35.5 bu/A. The combination of 3 gal/A Pro-Germinator, 2 gal/A Kalibrate, 0.25 gal/A Micro 600 also performed very well, yielding 34.8 bu/A. This shows that placing specific nutrients directly with the seed at planting can be effective in supporting early growth and increasing yield.

The stream-on applications, when liquid fertilizer is applied in a band near the seed row during planting, also had a positive impact on yield. The 8 gal/A NResponse, 1 gal/A Pro-Germinator, 0.5 gal/A Kalibrate, 1 gal/A access treatment yielded 35 bu/A, and the similar combination without access yielded 34.4 bu/A. This shows that applying liquid nutrients near the seed row is another helpful method for improving nutrient availability and uptake during early growth stages.

The trial was designed to show the value of AgroLiquid treatments replacing part of a dry fertilizer program. The yield increases found with the liquid combinations, even when compared to dry fertilizer alone, support the idea that integrating liquid starters can increase nutrient delivery and potentially allow for adjustments in the overall dry fertilizer program.

Overall, this trial shows that incorporating AgroLiquid in-furrow and stream-on liquid fertilizer applications at planting can improve canola yields compared to relying solely on a dry-banded fertilizer program.

Planning for future harvests
These trials show the impact of different nutrient applications, at planting through in-furrow and stream-on methods, and during peak demand periods with foliar treatments at flowering. Supplementing or even partially replacing traditional dry fertilizer programs with liquid nutrient solutions offer growers the benefit of increased yields and better stress tolerance – even giving hope to fighting unpredictable weather.

See more canola research.

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Synergy of crop nutrition is simply nutrients working together. Nutrients can react both positively and negatively with one another, and growers need to understand that having nutrients applied in balance makes them all work better. This, in turn, makes a better plant.

Today, we have an even deeper understanding of plant nutrition. Supporting nutrients, often the secondary and micronutrients, can help the primary nutrients work harder in the plant. For example, sulfur helps the plant metabolize nitrogen. Excess calcium can limit the availability of phosphorus and potassium. But it’s also true of the micronutrients – high manganese levels can make iron less available and supplemental iron may be needed.

This approach saves growers both time and money on applications, plus it increases their return on investment. Ultimately, it helps with more precise nutrient application, preventing over-application and making sure crops receive exactly what they need.

Looking for more than N-P-K

Growers today understand the need for micronutrients better than ever before. They help with photosynthesis, building cell walls, bringing in other nutrients, and setting seeds and fruit on crops. By not looking beyond N-P-K. . . crops will hit a wall for yield and quality.

“Basically, micronutrients break down that wall and help crops reach a higher potential,” said Abe Isaak, AgroLiquid West Region Agronomist.

AgroLiquid Agronomist Stephanie Zelinko agrees, as she points out the important role micronutrients play.

“N-P-K are backbone of most fertility programs, but it’s important not to overlook the secondary and micronutrients,” she said. “Often these are more limiting and can play a larger part in yield response.”

By paying attention to all of the nutrients and micronutrients, growers have the potential of these additional benefits:

• Increased yields: Micronutrients and other essential nutrients beyond N-P-K can help with a crop’s full yield potential, pushing past the limitations imposed by solely focusing on primary macronutrients.
• Improved crop quality: A balanced nutrient profile, including micronutrients, leads to healthier plants with improved quality characteristics like better flavor, increased nutritional value, and a more attractive appearance.
• Better nutrient uptake: A synergistic approach to crop nutrition, where all necessary nutrients are available, improves the plant’s ability to absorb and utilize all nutrients more efficiently, including N-P-K.
• Reduced input costs: By understanding nutrient synergy, growers can often achieve better results with smaller, more precise applications of a wider range of nutrients, potentially lowering fertilizer costs.
• Increased ROI: Higher yields and improved quality, coupled with potentially reduced input costs, lead to a greater return on the investment made in crop production.
• Healthier crops: A complete and balanced nutrient profile strengthens plants, making them more resilient to stress, pests, and disease.
• Growth stages: Specific micronutrients play roles in various growth stages, and making sure they are available at the right time helps with plant development.

AgroLiquid dedication to nutrition

AgroLiquid carries a complete line of crop nutrients. AgroLiquid not only focuses on N-P-K, but we also focus on the micronutrients and secondary nutrients.

Our Nutriq technology optimizes plant nutrition uptake. That means activating available nutrients when the time’s right, avoiding unwanted issues by using consistent blends and a uniform manufacturing process, and maximizing your crop’s full potential through nutrient synergy.

“Growers can confidently mix AgroLiquid products and they won’t fall out or tie up with each other,” Isaak said. ”They can also use them in their planters with much less danger of seed or root damage than other fertilizers can cause. I’ve seen all this many times during my time with AgroLiquid, and the has demonstrated this.”

While N-P-K fertilizers have played a role in increasing crop production, focusing solely on these macronutrients can limit a crop’s full potential. As our understanding of plant nutrition changes, it’s clear that synergy – the balanced interaction of all essential nutrients – is helpful for maximizing yields, improving crop quality, and improving nutrient uptake.

By looking beyond N-P-K and incorporating micronutrients and other elements into a comprehensive nutrition plan, growers can increase ROI and reduce input costs. AgroLiquid’s dedication to synergistic nutrition, combined with innovative technologies like Nutriq, offers growers a way to improve crop nutrition strategies and get better results.

Want to talk crops? Contact us today.

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Lower Rates
One of the biggest advantages of AgroLiquid products, according to John Leif, is lower use rates compared to traditional commodity fertilizers.

“This allows the grower to cover more acres in a tank full of fertilizer and potentially do a better job coordinating refilling seed boxes and fertilizer tanks,” he said. “For example, if a grower is using five gallons per acre of 10-34-0 at planting, Pro-Germinator will provide comparable nutritional performance with two gallons per acre, allowing the grower to cover over two times the number of acres with one tankful of Pro-Germinator.”

Leif explained that lower use rates for AgroLiquid products will often lead to lower cost per acre for fertilizer inputs, as many AgroLiquid products have similar cost per acre as compared to commodity fertilizers.

“Using the example of five gallons/acre of 10-34-0 compared to two gallons of Pro-Germinator, the cost per acre is lower with Pro-Germinator using current average retail prices,” he said.

In addition, AgroLiquid nutrients mix well together. Most mixes come directly from the manufacturing facility, so there is no need to measure and mix multiple products in the field.

“Of course, this is a time and headache saving as well,” Leif added.

Save Time
In his work, Reid Abbot has seen growers able to reduce or eliminate a dry application. Instead of fall or early spring spreading and incorporation, they can apply nutrients with their planter, saving significant time. Rate reductions are also common.

“Growers already using planter-applied products can often decrease their program from 20-30 gallons to 10-15 gallons,” he said. “This reduces the amount of product needed, the frequency of refills, and the number of trucks on the farm, allowing them to cover more acres. It saves time, handling, and resources.”

Abbot said that sometimes getting growers to believe in these reductions can be a challenge, as many have followed programs without considering soil tests or carryover nutrients.

“This can lead to over-application of nitrogen or phosphorus,” he said. “Soil testing can show what they really need or don’t need, allowing them to save money and reallocate it to secondary or micronutrients, or other areas of their operation.

Know Your Ground
Abbott suggests that growers don’t just hit the easy button with soil fertility.

“Take soil samples and avoid complacency,” he said. “For large operations, with so many decisions to make, it’s tempting to handle fertilization with a dry spread application. But this prioritizes economy of scale over individual acre needs and leaves potential yield on the table.”

Treating each acre independently, understanding not just the nutrients but also their balance, and matching application methods to specific needs is helpful for the yield.

“Adopting best practices will make a significant difference in a grower’s final yield,” Abbott said, “and AgroLiquid can help.”

Leif points to a crop nutrition plan to help growers achieve their best yields.

“Developing a thorough crop nutrition plan that accounts for crops, yield goals, and soil nutrient levels will provide the best opportunity for a successful growing season,” he said. “A grower can customize AgroLiquid products and use rates to meet their goals.”

Summing it up

AgroLiquid helps you save time: 

• Lower application rates mean fewer refills and more acres covered per tank
• Eliminating dry fertilizer applications saves time on spreading and incorporation
• Pre-mixed nutrients reduce time spent measuring and mixing in the field
• Reduced number of trucks on the farm streamlines operations

Save headaches: 

• Pre-mixed nutrients simplify fertilizer management
• Lower application rates can ease coordination of seed and fertilizer refills
• Reduced field operations mean fewer things to manage
• Soil testing and tailored nutrition plans reduce guesswork and potential over-application

and save money:

• Lower use rates often translate to lower cost per acre compared to traditional fertilizers
• Eliminating unnecessary dry fertilizer applications saves on product and application costs
• Specific nutrient application prevents over-spending on fertilizer
• Reallocating savings to secondary or micronutrients or other areas of the operation maximizes ROI
• Increased yields through tailored nutrition plans contribute to greater profitability

So many advantages! They range from lower application rates and costs savings to better mixing and reduced field work – and so many in between. With soil testing, crop nutrition plans, and a focus on individual acre needs, growers can get the best yield with the least expense. Ready to get started? We’d love to work with you on your growing needs – contact your AgroLiquid rep today.

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In an era of rising input costs and tight margins, balancing yield potential and profitability has never been more crucial. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to crop nutrition, but there are strategies every grower can use to optimize their nutrient investments.

During Crop Nutrition Week 2025, growers and agronomy experts came together to discuss data-driven strategies for building stronger returns on their fertility investments. Here are the top five insights shaping their upcoming growing seasons:

1. Maximize ROI, not just yield.

Yield has long been the measure of a successful growing season, but maximum yield doesn’t always equal maximum profit.

“As you push yield higher, you’ll likely need to apply more fertilizer,” says Galynn Beer, sales strategy lead for AgroLiquid. “That increases your risk and adds costs you may not recoup at harvest.”

Beer says it’s better to pull back on yield before you hit diminishing returns. In his experience, aiming for about 95% of maximum yield significantly reduces inputs and still ends up being the most profitable approach.

1. Time nutrient applications to optimize efficiency.

Temple Rhodes, an XtremeAg grower in Maryland, uses in-season applications to manage his budget and reduce nutrient loss and fixing that can come with front-loading.

“60-70% of phosphorus is needed during the reproductive stage,” he notes. “The fertility never really changes. I’m just reallocating it.”

Rhodes says spoon-feeding his crops with foliar applications also allows him to remain flexible and respond to weather variables that impact his crop.

1. Manage nutrient interactions.

Nutrients in the soil interact in ways that can enhance or inhibit their availability to the crop.

“Just like a magnet, positives and negatives can get fixed together,” explains Stephanie Zelinko, national agronomist for AgroLiquid. “Keeping your calcium base saturation between 60-75% and being mindful of how phosphorus can displace other nutrients like zinc, iron, manganese and copper will help improve efficiency and uptake.”

Timing and application methods can help avoid negative interactions.

1. Cut with precision.

When input prices are high it may be tempting to protect your bottom line with broad cuts to your crop nutrition budget. Instead, Zelinko encourages growers to look at the big picture.

“Everybody does a good job of putting their nitrogen out, but you might be overapplying,” says Zelinko. “Reallocating some of your fertilizer budget to address limiting factors in your micronutrients can have significant ROI,” says Zelinko. “

1. Plan to be flexible.

While we emphasize planning for the upcoming season, we also have to account for variables like weather and market prices that are out of our control. Building flexibility into your crop nutrition program with alternative delivery methods and split applications can help you adapt to changing growing conditions.

“If you’ve been broadcasting urea all your life, consider a liquid application, spoon-fed throughout the season,” suggests Reid Abbott, AgroLiquid agronomist. “You may be able to cut back total pounds and still be more efficient with what you are applying.”

Looking for more expert insights from Crop Nutrition Week 2025?

Visit cropnutritionweek.com and register to gain access to this year’s full content, along with our archives and other resources. You can also follow us on Facebook for crop nutrition advice all year long.

© 2025 AgroLiquid. All Rights Reserved.

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Micro 500 contains the micronutrients zinc, manganese, iron, copper, and boron. Perhaps most importantly, this liquid micronutrient fertilizer covers multiple micronutrient requirements. It helps prevent deficiencies, supports protein synthesis and enzyme production, improves nitrogen fixation, lignin formation, and supports strong cell growth.

Of course, zinc, manganese, iron, copper and boron are all important micronutrients. For example, chlorophyll production can’t function without micronutrients, since it requires a complex combination of enzymes and proteins to work. Plus, copper, manganese, zinc, and iron all play a role in photosynthesis and chlorophyll synthesis. Last but not least, boron is important plant cell membrane development, and plant cells can weaken without boron being available.

Micro 500 contains:

• Zinc
  Zinc is a micronutrient that is essential for plant growth and development. It is involved in a wide range of processes, including enzyme activation, growth regulation, stress tolerance, and disease resistance.
• Manganese
  Manganese helps with chlorophyll production and oxygen evolution. It also activates various enzymes involved in plant growth, including the ones responsible for nitrogen metabolism and root development.
• Iron
  Iron is important for chlorophyll synthesis, which helps with photosynthesis and energy production. It also plays a role in various enzyme functions and electron transport within the plant.
• Copper
  Copper is needed for various plant processes, including photosynthesis and respiration, contributing to healthy development. It also helps with the formation of lignin, which strengthens cell walls and improves disease resistance in crops.
• Boron
  Boron helps with cell wall formation, pollen germination, and seed development, so crops can be healthier. It also assists with nutrient uptake and sugar transport, contributing to overall yield.

Just think…all of these amazing properties contained in one product. Of course we’re highlighting it!

Easy application
Not only does Micro 500 hit all these nutrient needs, but it’s also designed to be easy to apply. It’s made to be safe to use with many other nutrition and crop protection products, so you don’t have to make an extra trip over the field.

Plus, with a variety of application methods available, it’s easy to find the most efficient way to reach your crop. If you think micronutrient deficiencies are stunting your crop or tree growth, or your soil simply isn’t supplying enough micronutrients for optimal growth, Micro 500 helps you solve this issue faster.

You can choose based on the crop, soil conditions, and the specific needs of the your crop. It is compatible with many other fertilizers and crop protection products, making it easy to incorporate into your existing crop management practices.

Application choices

Let’s consider some options.

As a soil application: Micro 500 be applied directly to the soil, either before planting or during the growing season. This can be done through broadcast spreading, banding, or in-furrow application.

As a foliar spray: It can be mixed with water and applied directly to the leaves of the plant. This is a quick way to address micronutrient deficiencies.

Through fertigation: Micro 500 can be added to irrigation water and applied to crops through drip irrigation systems or other fertigation methods.

Why Micro 500?

When you’re planning for planting…consider Micro 500. The combination of nutrients and the ease of application can make it the star of next season’s show.

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Get ready, get set, get micronutrients

Why Micro 500

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