Adoption of high production technology and cultivation of high yielding varieties have put tremendous pressure on soil nutrient reserve in the country leading to a great imbalance in nutrient status in the soil.
A large chunk of soil in the country has been rendered deficient in micronutrients, which is one of the major reasons that crops have stopped responding to fertilizers, Studies show that 40-55 per cent of soils are moderately deficient in micronutrients like Zn (Zinc), while 25-30 per cent is deficient in B (Boron). Deficiency of other micronutrients occurs in 15 per cent of soils. These deficiencies/limitations reduce yield significantly.
“Micronutrients are those essential elements which are required by plants in very small amounts. Besides promoting plant metabolic activities and growth of the plants, they play a major role in improving quality, size, colour, taste, input use efficiency of fertilizers, water use, disease resistance etc.”
A lesser-understood phenomenon is their role in determining quality and post harvest life of the harvested produce. As these nutrients are costly and required in very small amounts normally a fertilizer dealer does not stock them like other bulk fertilizers and hence farmers find it very difficult to correct micronutrient deficiencies.
“In order to find a solution to this serious problem, our AGRIFIRST company have developed SOIL ENERGY CARE SERIES of crop/soil specific micronutrient mixtures for soil applications as well as MICRO XFERT SERIESof Foliar applications for all Agriculture/Horticulture crops which guarantees 15 to 25 per cent increase in yield and quality.”
ADVANTAGESAn innate advantage of these mixtures is that they can also be used in organic agriculture and therefore are environment friendly. They are guaranteed to enhance both yield and quality of the crop produce.
The technology is a low cost one and also farmer friendly. Every acre crop needs about 8-10 kg of micronutrient soil application formulation, 2 kg of micronutrient mixture spray.
