The Mighty Micronutrients Series: Vol. 2 – Zinc

Posted Posted Bethany Widman, Research Agronomist on April 03, 2025

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Zinc might be a micronutrient, but its impact is massive. Deficiencies can shrink your yields before you even see the signs. To maximize yields at harvest and defeat deficiencies, be sure to provide this season’s crops with proper nutrition throughout the growing season. 

Why is Zinc Important?

Zinc is just called a micronutrient, but its role in crop production is anything but small. It plays a key role in cell growth, root development, and overall plant structure. Without enough zinc, crops struggle to hit critical growth milestones, leading to decreased yield potential at harvest.

One of zinc’s biggest roles is cell elongation within crops, a process that drives root expansion and plant height. Stronger, deeper roots mean better access to nutrients and water especially crucial during dry conditions. Improved root growth allows for the plant to have better nutrient and water uptake through the roots. This is especially important in dry growing conditions when plant roots need to expand their footprint in the soil to find moisture.

As cells elongate, the surface area of the plant leaves also increases. Leaves are like miniature solar panels so as they get larger, the plant can absorb more sunlight, increasing photosynthesis in the plant. 

Spotting Zinc Deficiency

Zinc naturally exists in the soil from rocks, parent material, and organic matter. However, naturally occurring zinc tends to get tied up in the soil due to high pH and low organic matter, making crops deficient.

Zinc deficiencies are commonly detected early in the growing season in cool, wet soils. This is due to the slow natural release of zinc from soil organic matter. Zinc can also become deficient in high-phosphorus soils. When high phosphorus levels are detected in the soil, zinc uptake can be slowed, making the zinc unavailable to crops when they need it most. This interaction is especially evident in grass crops like corn and wheat. 

Corn

Zinc deficiencies are most often revealed within the first two to three weeks of the growing season. In severe cases, zinc deficiencies can last through the whole growing season and will appear with yellow or white stripes on the leaves while the midrib and margins remain green.

Soybeans

Zinc aids in the synthesis of plant-growth substances and enzyme systems. Symptoms appear as yellow or bronze coloration of leaf edges and tips.

Wheat

Symptoms of deficiencies in wheat appear as white interveinal striping while midribs stay green and shortened internodes. Most often, these symptoms will appear on the younger leaves first. Increasing soil levels of zinc can increase the wheat plant's ability to tiller.

Sugar Beets

The availability of zinc decreases as soil pH increases. Zinc aids in the synthesis of plant-growth substances and enzyme systems, so when sugar beets are deficient, this process slows. Symptoms appear as chlorosis on larger leaves, starting in the center of the plant.

Providing Zinc to Crops

The key to preventing zinc deficiencies is ensuring crops have a steady supply of zinc throughout the entire growing season. Applying zinc, as well as any other nutrients needed at that time can improve early growth, enhance nutrient uptake, and boost overall yield potential. 

Starters

Applying zinc with a starter fertilizer application jumpstarts plant health by supporting uniform emergence and critical early root development. Products like Tri Z® Pro or MicroCarb® deliver essential zinc right from the start, reducing the risk of early-season deficiencies. High orthophosphate starter fertilizers are a good way to enhance both soil zinc and applied zinc. The chelates in the high-ortho fertilizer attach themselves to the zinc, drawing it into the plant, improving overall plant health.

Sidedress

For continued support, a sidedress application can provide an additional boost during key growth stages. Zinc in a sidedress application gives crops this key nutrient during early critical growth, improving root mass and cell elongation. With enhanced root mass, the plant can then take up more nutrients and water through the roots, setting the crop up for a successful midseason. In our 2024 field trials, our UltraMate® Zn out yielded the growers' standard by 9.94 bu/acre when applied at sidedress.

Foliars

A great way to make sure that your crop has the zinc it needs through the end of the growing season is to apply a foliar application of zinc. This will ensure that crops do not become deficient, and crops can maximize yield potential.

To maintain zinc availability through the later crop growth stages, foliar applications offer growers a reliable solution for any nutrient deficiencies. Foliar products like Aero-Blitz®, MicroNourish®, or MicroBlitz® all provide zinc, along with other key micronutrients, to help crops handle mid-season stressors.

In our 2024 field trials, Aero-Blitz out-yielded the untreated by 16.09 bu/acre in Illinois and 15.9 in Nebraska. This product is a combination of zinc, boron, manganese, and other micronutrients designed to help reduce mid-season stress.  

Continue the Conversation with Us

Ensuring crops receive the proper nutrition at every stage of growth is key to maximizing plant health and overall yield potential at harvest. Incorporating zinc through liquid starter, broadcast, side dress or foliar application can provide essential support throughout the season.

To learn more about zinc solutions and how they can benefit your operation, visit us online at https://andersonsplantnutrient.com/agriculture. If you have any questions, our sales and agronomy teams are here to help –reach out today to discuss the best approach to fit your needs