Why Liquid Micronutrient Fertilizer Matters—And What Indiana Corn Just Proved About ZnAce
A Grower’s Call That Proved This Liquid Micronutrient Fertilizer Works
When a grower calls you excited about tissue testing results, you know you are doing something right. Sometimes, getting growers even to consider liquid micronutrient fertilizers can be a challenge in itself, let alone getting them to express genuine excitement about them. So when I got a call from our Midwest business development manager, Chad Calhoun, letting me know in an excited tone that he had received tissue results and a phone call from a very happy grower in Indiana, it infected me with the same sense of excitement the grower and I could tell Chad was feeling.
At CultivAce, we are no strangers to success in the liquid micronutrient fertilizer space. In fact, we recently explored broader foliar application strategies for corn and soybeans using our blog post on liquid micronutrient fertilizers that dives deeper into how timing and compatibility play key roles in performance.
Still, every win brings with it the same feeling of intrinsic accomplishment we experience when we help a grower move closer to their goals. Chad told me he’d soon be sending the tissue data points to me, and as soon as I received the notification on my laptop informing me that I had the email, I hurriedly opened it and started to immerse myself in the data. What I saw instantly justified the excitement the grower, Chad, and I were all feeling.
ZnAce Field Trial: How One Liquid Micronutrient
Fertilizer Boosted Zinc by 245%
Two on-farm trials were conducted by the grower in South Bend, Indiana, to evaluate the efficacy of ZnAce (zinc acetate) as a liquid micronutrient fertilizer. The grower applied a 1 quart per acre application of ZnAce, a liquid micronutrient fertilizer containing zinc, to two separate corn fields. Tissue samples were collected from both fields on June 24, prior to application, and again one week post-application. Tissue samples were washed prior to testing.
In Field 1, the initial tissue zinc concentration was 31 ppm. One week after treatment, the concentration increased to 56 ppm, a 93% increase. In Field 2, zinc levels rose from 29 ppm to 107 ppm following application, representing a 245% increase. These results highlight the effectiveness of zinc acetate in rapidly elevating tissue zinc levels with a low application rate. The trials demonstrate the efficiency of CultivAce acetates as liquid micronutrient fertilizers.
Why Zinc Is Critical in Corn—and How Liquid Micronutrient Fertilizers Help
Zinc, a micronutrient, has numerous functions within plants. For one, zinc is a structural component in many plant enzymes. Zinc plays a crucial role in energy metabolism and the synthesis of plant proteins. Zinc also affects plant phytohormone production. IAA and gibberelins utilization are directly tied to zinc availability. Furthermore, and pertinent to this case, C4 plants (in this case, corn) have a higher zinc requirement than C3 plants.
Zinc deficiency can reduce plant growth. Zinc deficiency can reduce fruit bud formation, and zinc deficiency can cause older leaves to drop. Sharma A, Patni B, Shankhdhar D, Shankhdhar SC. Zinc - an indispensable micronutrient. Physiol Mol Biol Plants. 2013 Jan
Zinc is a necessary element and clearly crucial to several plant processes. Zinc deficiency can wreak havoc on crops, and ensuring the plant has access to available zinc is crucial when trying to obtain maximum yield potential. Thankfully, ZnAce, a liquid micronutrient fertilizer containing zinc, as demonstrated by this trial, serves as an excellent source of zinc and was formulated to prevent or correct a zinc deficiency.
Structural component in enzymes
• Involved in energy metabolism
• Involved in the synthesis of plant protein
• Controls synthesis of IAA
• Involved in GA production
Not All Liquid Micronutrient Fertilizers Are Created Equal
When it comes to foliar nutrition, the form matters just as much as the formula. Acetate-based liquid micronutrient fertilizers offer a significant advantage in efficiency due to their smaller molecular size and the plant’s natural ability to absorb and metabolize acetate compounds. Unlike traditional chelates or oxysulfates, acetates are more readily accepted by the plant, leading to faster uptake and more immediate results. This increased efficiency means you can apply less product while seeing greater impact—exactly what was demonstrated in the Zn Ace tissue trials.
When the Soil Fights Back: Why Foliar Micronutrient Fertilizers Are Essential
It is important to recognize soil conditions or farming practices that can limit zinc uptake. According to the University of Minnesota low organic matter soils are ripe for zinc deficiency. Sandy soils and Calcareous soils also run the risk of being zinc deficient. High concentrations of soil phosphorus can inhibit zinc uptake, and large applications of phosphate can also hinder zinc uptake. When you are aware that soil conditions can impede zinc uptake, foliar application becomes a viable option for providing zinc to crops. ZnAce, a liquid micronutrient containing zinc, is formulated to be supplied alongside herbicide and fungicide applications. In fact, in this trial, ZnAce liquid micronutrient fertilizer was applied in conjunction with a fungicide.
Addressing Deficiencies Before They Impact Yield
Micronutrient deficiencies don’t always announce themselves loudly—but they can quietly chip away at yield potential. Even small imbalances can hinder crop development, reduce stress tolerance, and delay maturity. Soil pH, organic matter, excess phosphorus, and weather conditions can all interfere with micronutrient availability. Tools like Mulder’s Chart help illustrate how applying certain nutrients can affect the uptake of others—either enhancing or inhibiting availability. That’s why a targeted approach using a liquid micronutrient fertilizer like Zn Ace is essential. It helps correct deficiencies without unintentionally tying up other key nutrients, keeping your crops on track for optimal performance.
The Takeaway: ZnAce and the Future of Liquid Micronutrient Fertilizers
After reviewing the data obtained from the grower in Indiana, you can probably see why all parties involved were excited. Seeing a 1 quart zinc liquid micronutrient fertilizer application increase zinc levels by over 200% was almost unbelievable. The grower was astonished by the results and recognized that zinc has many important functions in the plant, and supplying ample amounts of zinc was crucial to increasing their yield.
These results demonstrate the effectiveness of Acetate as a delivery method for micronutrients. This is not just a result we see with zinc. Acetates serve as highly efficient and effective liquid micronutrient fertilizers across the board, whether you are seeking to supply zinc, manganese, copper, or other essential nutrients. Cultivace is the only company with a full line of acetates. Next month's blog will further demonstrate this point. A University trial on foliar iron will be the feature of next month's blogs.
Click the link to download this Zinc Liquid Micronutrient Fertilizer Trial.