INTERMAG: Fertilizers for New Challenges

In the recent years, we have observed significant changes in plant production technologies, which first and foremost are aimed at increasing efficiency of plant cultivation. The expectations of agricultural producers regarding these technologies are much further than obtaining high yield. More and more attention is paid to increasing yield quality and agricultural practices carried out in accordance with environmentally friendly procedures.

Nowadays, modern agriculture uses new, high yielding cultivars with an increased demand for micronutrients, which should be provided easily and efficiently. Micronutrients are required by plants in low amounts but have a significant effect on yield quantity and quality.  In addition to high demands for micronutrients of new cultivars, also intensive plant cultivation, increased NPK fertilization, cultivation in poor soils, limited use of natural fertilizers make increasing effectiveness of micronutrient application particularly important. Farmers around the world are struggling with difficult growing conditions such as: long and severe droughts, large temperature fluctuations, frosts. These factors cause significant decrease in production profitability, very often because of insufficient plant nutrition during the periods of increased plant demand for nutrients. Foliar feeding is the most effective way of precise nutrient supply to plants especially under conditions of limited nutrient uptake from soil due to soil properties (e.g. low or high pH) or unfavourable growing conditions (drought, low soil temperature) as well as in plant growth stages with high demand for particular nutrients. Micronutrients applied via foliar spraying are utilized much faster than micronutrients uptaken from soil. Moreover, the availability of most micronutrients in the soil decreases with increasing soil pH, what additionally strengthens the importance of foliar feeding. The effectiveness of foliar feeding depends on many factors such as agrotechnical and weather conditions, plant species and plant growing stage. Regardless of these factors, the type of fertilizer or rather the form of nutrient provided to plants via foliar spraying plays a significant role in the absorption and utilization of nutrients. Therefore, form of nutrient used in the fertilizer is a key factor determining its effectiveness.

Chemical salts are one of the types of fertilizers used for foliar application. However,  instability of free Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn cations in solution and their high reactivity with other components of working solution significantly limits their availability for plants what decreases the effectiveness of applied fertilizers. Also, they may cause the precipitation of insoluble sediments, which clog the sprayer nozzles making the perform of treatment impossible.  Binding micronutrients with organic components – chelating or complexing agents such as: synthetic chelating agents (e.g., EDTA, DTPA),  lignosulfonates, humic and fulvic acids, organic acids (e.g., citric acid) and amino acids (e.g., glycine) is an effective way of increasing nutrient stability in solution and preventing their high reactivity. Synthetic chelates, such as ETDA, DTPA have been used in agricultural practice for around 50 years. However, nowadays micronutrient fertilizers where amino acids are used instead of synthetic chelating agents are gaining more and more popularity. These fertilizers, frequently called aminochelates or amino acid chelate fertilizers are created by binding nutrient (either macro or micronutrient) with one or more amino acid (mainly glycine). The high efficiency in providing nutrient to plants and relatively low risk of phytotoxicity cause that the interest in using aminochelates in agricultural practice is constantly growing.

AMINO ULTRA^® is a group of micronutrient foliar fertilizers based on glycine, amino acid naturally occurring in plant and organic chelating agent. Although, all amino acids can be used as ligands, the most preferable are those with the lowest molecular weight. Glycine is the smallest and the most mobile amino acid. Its molecules are almost four times smaller than the chelating molecules used in standard micronutrient chelates. Therefore, glycine creates small molecules with metal (called glycinates) which pass through the leaf pore (stomata and ectodesma) more easily than larger particles of standard synthetic chelates, thus improving the efficiency of micronutrient absorption through leaves. After absorption through the leaf the small molecule of glycinate easily penetrates the leaf. The unique feature of glycinates, is the fact that, contrary to synthetic chelates, both nutrient and organic ligand are utilized by plants and have a beneficial effect on plants. When the molecule of glycinate reaches the phloem, glycine is recognized by plants as valuable nitrogen compound and then molecule is quickly transported inside the plant cells. Inside the plant cells enzymes break down the bounds, separating ligand from the nutrient and then nutrient can be utilized by plants.

AMINO ULTRA^® fertilizer line is consisted of four products: AMINO ULTRA^® Cu-24 (containing 24% of Cu), AMINO ULTRA^® Fe-20 (containing 20% of Fe), AMINO ULTRA^® Mn-22 (containing 22% Mn) and AMINO ULTRA^® Zn-24 (containing 24% of Zn). Each of them contain around 30% of glycine. They are produced in an ultra-granulate form, what makes them convenient for handling – no dust, no caking. AMINO ULTRA^® are quickly and totally soluble in water and can be mixed with other agrochemicals after carrying out the compatibility test.  High concentration of nutrients, around 60% more than in standard EDTA chelates, allows for lowering the doses of AMINO ULTRA^® per 1 ha compared to EDTA chelates. This decreases the cost of micronutrient fertilization while maintaining optimal level of plant nutrition.

The effectiveness of AMINO ULTRA^® has been confirmed by many studies and field trials. The results proved that AMINO ULTRA^®, applied via foliar spraying are quicker and more efficiently absorbed than standard fertilizing chelates. Thanks to the use of glycine, natural chelating agent, plant absorb nutrients quickly and effectively even in harsh environmental conditions. Moreover, it was observed that foliar application of glycinates is more “safe” for plants compared to standard chelates. AMINO ULTRA^® fertilizers are environmentally friendly. Glycine is rapidly biodegradable in the environment, therefore the technology is not only safe for plant but also for environment.

Farmers are looking for the new solutions which in difficult growing conditions, recently occurring more and more frequently, will allow them to increase profitability of agricultural production. AMINO ULTRA^® with very high concentration of nutrients, quick and effective nutrient availability for plants, low dose per hectare and application safety for plants and environment are fertilizers which help farmers to meet those challenges. AMINO ULTRA^® is a perfect solution in plant nutrition even in harsh environmental conditions.

AMINO ULTRA^® is a registered trademark of INTERMAG.

This article will be published in AgroPages '2021 Biologicals Special' magazine to be published this June.

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