13-13-13 plus micro nutrients

Tom Naumcheff

New Member
There is a product available from a reliable supplier that is a “balanced” fertilizer with micro nutrients added. From what I can tell this place caters to larger ag customers but has developed this product for smaller food plotters like me. It’s a 50# bag of 13-13-13 plus:
Iron at .72%
Sulfur at 4.2%
Manganese at .3%
Zinc at .28%
Boron at .12%
Copper at .12%
Plus Humic DG and lime but no % given

Cost is $22 or $23 per bag.

Question is, is something like this worth the extra cost? I can buy 12-12-12 down the street from Rural King for $11 for a 40# bag.

I did have a soil test done in 2018 and the only thing that was low was boron but I’ve not noticed anything that looks like boron deficiency in my plots. As long as my ph is 6+ the plot usually does okay but it can always do better. My plot is pretty much in for this year so I’m just thinking ahead to next year if adding the micro nutrients would help future plots or if it’s a waste of $$

Thanks
 
Your boron deficiency is of way more importance than the micronutrients that you don't even know if you need. When soil is low on organic matter boron will sometimes leach away, and boron is a required nutrient for growing crops. While your crops may look ok, you will have lower yeilds from that boron deficiency. Apples, legumes like alfalfa, soybeans and clover, and brassicas are especially sensitive to low boron. Any ag fertilizer place can add boron to your fertilizer bag mix, and a lot of suppliers like mine will add a little boron to every mix as a standard practice.
 
If they are adding gypsum and lime to that fertilizer mix as a low cost filler that price is not a good deal. Nutrient deficiencies are like holes in your soil, just randomly spreading more nutrients doesn't necessarily fill those holes, it just creates other holes. Before I'd spend money on micronutrients I'd do a soil test to see what I need. Buying nutrients is expensive, soil tests are cheap, only applying the exact nutrients that are needed is what will end up with the nicest crops at the cheapest price. I'd say buying 19-19-19 at around $14 a bag would be a better deal.
 
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If my ph was 6 I'd invest in a bit more lime before buying micronutrients, paying careful attention to Magnesium levels in the soil. Magnesium is a macronutrient that is essential for growing things, but can build up in soil to levels that are higher than ideal, and himag vs calcium lime is used to control that.
 
I wouldn’t typically add N to and established crop such as clovers. Would only promote grass. Now brassica love the stuff so depends on your crop.
And go to Dollar General and buy their Borax. Easy and cheap way to add Boron since it is in minute amounts. I add it to my alfalfa each year.


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How are you guys spreading borax? It's a bit messy with a bag/chest spreader.
I always request boron with my dry fertilizer, so I've never had to spread borax. I think I'd try it in my Herd spinner on my ATV. I'm too lazy to walk a field with a bag seeder, although I have one for small corners.
 
How are you guys spreading borax? It's a bit messy with a bag/chest spreader.

No no on bag spreader. That would be a mess. I mix it in w my fert or even large seed w my pull behind spreader. Not especially scientific but I’m just planting for deer not my income.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
There is a product available from a reliable supplier that is a “balanced” fertilizer with micro nutrients added. From what I can tell this place caters to larger ag customers but has developed this product for smaller food plotters like me. It’s a 50# bag of 13-13-13 plus:
Iron at .72%
Sulfur at 4.2%
Manganese at .3%
Zinc at .28%
Boron at .12%
Copper at .12%
Plus Humic DG and lime but no % given

Cost is $22 or $23 per bag.

Question is, is something like this worth the extra cost? I can buy 12-12-12 down the street from Rural King for $11 for a 40# bag.

I did have a soil test done in 2018 and the only thing that was low was boron but I’ve not noticed anything that looks like boron deficiency in my plots. As long as my ph is 6+ the plot usually does okay but it can always do better. My plot is pretty much in for this year so I’m just thinking ahead to next year if adding the micro nutrients would help future plots or if it’s a waste of $$

Thanks
What are you growing or going to be growing in your plot? What are your ground prep methods?
 
Thanks for the replies

As for what I’m planting and plot prep, I just planted radish and turnips on one side then in a couple of weeks I’ll plant rye, wheat and oats. Hopefully the photo I tried to upload will appear to show the plot prep but I think it’s pretty good. Neighbor disked it and then I sprayed it when it started to get new growth coming up, which was mostly rye grass. Then I ran a harrow over it
 
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