ZM-Grow, a new multi-nutrient fertiliser providing zinc and manganese, together with potassium and sulphur, in liquid form has been launched in the UK and Ireland.
Uniquely, the zinc and manganese content is extracted from used alkaline batteries through a special process developed by Finnish manufacturer Tracegrow. It’s thought to be the only process that can produce zinc and manganese from this source to the necessary purity required for fertilisers.
“The result is a highly flexible liquid fertiliser containing key nutrients for a wide variety of crops,” the owner of UK importer Badger Crop Nutrition, David Harrod, said. “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 to 15 per cent 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 February to June. Depending on crop type and requirements, and agronomists’ recommendations, 2.0 to 3.0 lit/ha of concentrate are recommended, delivering 120 to 180g/ha of zinc and 124 to 186g/ha of manganese, as well as 156 to 234g/ha of sulphur.
Trials using 3.0 lit/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’s 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 its UK partner distributors and farmer groups.
For more information visit: www.badgercropnutrition.co.uk.
