Common Fertilizers Used in Virginia: Secondary and Micronutrients

Introduction

Secondary macronutrients are used in relatively large quantities by plants for optimal growth and include sulfur (S), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg). Micronutrients, on the other hand, are needed in much smaller quantities than both primary and secondary macronutrients; however, micronutrients are still essential for plant growth. Often, soils in Virginia contain enough micronutrients, and fertilizer amendments are not warranted. Micronutrients include iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), boron (B), chloride (Cl), molybdenum (Mo), cobalt (Co), sodium (Na), silicon (Si), selenium (Se), nickel (Ni), and Vanadium (V) (Havlin et al, 1996). Soil pH plays a large role in soil availability of secondary and micronutrients; therefore, proper soil testing and lime amendments are necessary to ensure adequate nutrient solubility within the soil system. Visit the Virginia Tech Soil Testing Lab website for additional publications and resources regarding proper soil sampling techniques and recommendations at: https://www.soiltest.vt.edu/. This publication will outline some possible secondary macronutrient and micronutrient fertilizer sources. However, numerous formulations and blends are available from many different companies and dealers. Regardless of product or source used, read the product’s label carefully and follow all recommendations for foliar and/or soil application.

References

Alley, M.M. 2000. “Part VIII: Fertilizers.” Agronomy Handbook. Publication 424-100. Virginia Cooperative Extension, Blacksburg.

Gowariker, V. 2009. “The Fertilizer Encyclopedia.” John Wiley & Son, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey. Havlin, J.L.,

J.D. Beaton, S.L. Tisdale, and W.L. Nelson. 1999. “Soil Fertility and Fertilizers, 6th Edition.” Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.

International Plant Nutrition Institute. 2015. “Boron.” Last Accessed April 8, 2020. 
http://anz.ipni.net/article/ANZ-3234

International Plant Nutrition Institute. 2019. “Nutrient Source Specifics.” Last Accessed April 3, 2020. http://www.ipni.net/specifics-en

Sirius Minerals, LTD. 2019. “POLY4 Granular Product Specification Sheet.” Last Accessed April 2, 2020. https://www.poly4.com/site/assets/files/1224/granular_specifcation_sheet_-_october_19.pdf

Binford, G.D. 2006. “Chapter 8: Commercial Fertilizers.” The Mid-Atlantic Nutrient Management Handbook. Publication MAWP-0602. Last Accessed April 3, 2020. https://extension.psu.edu/programs/nutrient-management/educational/nutrient-management-general/mid-atlantic-nutrient-management-handbook

Acknowledgments

Funding for this work was provided in part by the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station and the Hatch program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, US Department of Agriculture.