Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Micro-nutrients can be broadly divided into two categories:
those needed for the optimal health of crops and those needed
for the optimal health of humans. The latter category is much
broader and, depending upon which expert is consulted, can
include as many as fifty elements, whereas only thirteen are
needed for plants to look marketable. The categories overlap,
so supplying the elements needed for humans would include
those needed for plants.
I advocate a three-tier approach to micro-nutrients The first
tier is to use compost, and to add other soil amendments from
a variety of sources so that many micro-nutrients are naturally
present and conserved. The second tier is to specifically add
micro-nutrients that are generally required by plants. The
third tier is to include a small quantity of a broad spectrum
micro-nutrient additive that will include everything humans
need so it is available for uptake by the crops.
The micro-nutrients generally required by plants are boron,
copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, sulfur,
and zinc.
Boron: Boron is critical to practically all life processes in a
plant, ranging from regulation of water uptake to the
generation of hormones. You can add boron in the form of
borax (from the cleaning aisle at the supermarket). You need
three teaspoons per 100 square feet of garden annually. Boron
is toxic to plants in excess, so don't exceed the recommended
amount. Boron deficiency gives different symptoms
depending on the plant. In general, root crops suffering from
boron deficiency develop tubers that either have hollow cores
or cores that are very prone to rotting. In vegetable crops, you
