Written by JohnSwire
ZM-Grow, a new award-winning multi-nutrient fertiliser, is to be launched in the UK and Ireland during April 2019, providing zinc and manganese, together with potassium and sulphur, in liquid form. Uniquely, the zinc and manganese content is extracted from used alkaline batteries through a special process developed by Finnish manufacturers Tracegrow. It is thought to be the only process that can produce zinc and manganese from this source to the necessary purity for fertilisers.
“The result is a highly flexible liquid fertiliser containing key nutrients for a wide variety of crops,” says David Harrod, owner of UK importers Badger Crop Nutrition, “and because of its liquid form and foliar application it can be a handy tank-mix partner for products like pyraclostrobin fungicide (Comet), florasulam/ fluroxypyr (Starane XL) herbicide or various growth regulators, to name a few.”
While zinc deficiency is seen in 10-15% of UK field crops, often on sandy soils with both a high pH and phosphate status, manganese is the most common micronutrient deficiency. Sugar beet, cereals – in particular barley – and peas are all prone, especially on high pH soils. Tracegrow recommends testing soils or crop leaves before deciding on timing and concentration levels.
ZM-Grow is diluted from a concentrate, and normally applied between Feb – June. Depending on crop type and requirements, and agronomists’ recommendations, 2-3 litres of concentrate are recommended per hectare, delivering 120-180g of zinc per ha and 124-186g of manganese, as well as 156-234g of sulphur.
Trials using 3 litres/ha in Västarkvarn, Finland in 2017 produced a 350kg/ha increase in wheat yield and 900kg/ha in barley from a single application.
Because of its source material, it is certified as an organic fertiliser by OF&G Organics.
ZM-Grow received a gold medal at the 2018 Helsinki Agricultural Machinery Trade Fair, having been judged on significance for agriculture, impact on profitability and processes, environmental friendliness and energy efficiency, and impact on workloads and safety.
Badger Crop Nutrition is ZM-Grow’s sole UK and Ireland distributor, and it will be available through their UK partner distributors and farmer groups.
For more information, see www.badgercropnutrition.co.uk or at twitter @badgercrop.
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