RAW MATERIALS ▶▶▶
Figure 1 - Yield responses in wheat to manganese supplementation.
100 102 104 106 108 110
92 94 96 98
90 Crop Treatment
Figure 2 - Effect of manganese source on grain mineral concentration.
100 102 104 106 108 110
92 94 96 98
90 Foliar Mangenese Source + 6%
Manganese on the move Like most mineral micronutrients, manganese has a relatively poor mobility in plants, with deficiencies tending to appear as visual discolouration in younger leaves, also known as chlorosis. The increased deposition of manganese in grain when presented in an organic form (as seen in Figure 2) high- lights the importance of nutrient source when it comes to maximising supplemental mineral efficacy. To better under- stand the underlying mechanics of this, the ability of mineral source to alleviate manganese deficiency in wheat plants was investigated, using leaf fluorescence as an indication of min- eral uptake. Given the role of manganese in photosynthesis and chlorophyll function, fluorescence levels drop considera- bly in an Mn deficient state (Figure 3). Alleviating that stress with foliar applications of manganese works to bring levels back towards a theoretical 100%, non-deficient state. As illus- trated in Figure 3, Organic Mn sources had a far greater ability to do this compared to Inorganic Mn, with increased fluor- escence levels in both the leaf tip and leaf base when the mineral source was applied directly to the middle of the leaf.
Figure 3 - Alleviating manganese deficiency is dependent on mineral source.
100 95 90 85 80 75 70 65 60 55 50 45 40
Mn Deficient 34 Leaf Tip Leaf Base Inorganic Mn ▶ ALL ABOUT FEED | Volume 25, No. 10, 2017 Organic Mn
What does this mean for crop nutrition? Inconsistencies in crop production have been traditionally re- solved by resorting to synthetic fertilisers and agrochemical amendments. However, stricter regulations, less efficient soils and a greater market demand for more sustainably grown produce is disrupting the current agricultural landscape. While the industry itself is moving towards a greater reliance on automation and technology to improve crop management processes, there still needs to be a focus on nutritional quality if we are to meet the dietary demands of a growing, longer- living population. Crop management can take a lot from ani- mal nutrition in this regard, with a better appreciation of nu- trient bioavailability and a more informed understanding of how mineral form can be a key determinant of mineral effica- cy. Given fluctuating market prices, profitability is being driven more and more by production efficiencies and these potential benefits are key to maximising crop productivity.
improved mineral bioavailability have highlighted the poten- tial benefits of organic mineral sources over their inorganic counterparts. In a field study looking at manganese supple- mentation in winter wheat, foliar applications with both Or- ganic Mn and Inorganic Mn sources at equivalent mineral lev- els, notably improved final grain yields, equating to increases of 5.2% and 3.2% respectively (Figure 1). Even in fields with only a slight manganese deficiency, yield improvements were achieved through supplementation but perhaps more inter- estingly, mineral type had a direct effect on the manganese status of the resulting grain. In the same field trial, grain quality analysis showed a 6% increase in manganese levels in wheat plots treated with Organic Mn compared to those treated with Inorganic Mn (Figure 2).
Relative Fluorescence %
Relative Grain Mineral Conc (%)
Relative Wheat Yield (%)
- 29% - 45% Organic Mn Organic Mn + 5.2%
- 15% - 34% Inorganic Mn + 3.2%
Inorganic Mn - 7% Untreated - 27%
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50
