Tissue Analysis or Save Time with a Crop-Specific?

Micronutrients are key components of crop growth and if any are deficient, it can impact the potential yield, think of Liebig’s barrel model. 

Carrying out tissue analysis as a routine a week or so before each T timing (fungicide) will enable you to get the products ordered in time. Remember – if you can see the symptoms your yield is already being impacted upon, we need to catch potential deficiencies before they become visibly apparent, the only way being via tissue analysis. 

There are micronutrients that impact upon the number of ears/m2 and/or grains/ear in cereals such as manganese, copper and zinc. Having sufficient levels of these nutrients will help maximise the number of grains/ears and go towards the current yield potential. Tissue analysis data will give you the figures on whether the levels in your crops are sufficient or deficient, enabling you to act accordingly to ensure optimal nutrition. 

If you don’t want to invest in tissue testing a simple approach to preventing deficiencies is to apply the cereal crop-specific YaraVita Gramitrel. Apply 2.0l/ha at T1 - which contains Mg, Mn, Cu and Zn, this can be +/- YaraVita Bortrac 150 at 1.0l/ha. Long term trial work gives us an average response to YaraVita Gramitrel of 0.55t/ha from the T1 application timing, which is roughly a 7:1 return on investment. By removing any limiting factors, of which deficient levels of micronutrients are one, you’re giving the crop the best chance to fulfil its yield potential.