GB2092562A - Optimization of crop yields with metal proteinates - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of optimizing crop yields which comprises assaying immature plant tissues for essential trace minerals, comparing the results of the tissue assay along with known trace mineral parameters for that plant species to determine the most limiting to the least limiting trace mineral in terms of mineral deficiency or imbalance in said plant tissues and applying to the immature plant an effective amount of at least the most limiting trace mineral in the form of a bioavailable amino acid chelate.

Description

SPECIFICATION Optimization of crop yields with metal proteinates BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a method of unexpectedly optimizing crop yields through trace mineral analysis of tissue from immature plants and comparing the results of said analysis with standardized data to determine the most to least limiting trace metal needs of said plant tissues, followed by the application of the needed trace minerals to the plants in the form of bioavailable amino acid chelates.

It is now becoming well established in the art that trace metal content in biological tissues may be enhanced by the administration of the trace mineral in the form of a chelate wherein the ligand utilized in forming the chelate is naturally occurring amino acid or a combination of amino acids in the form of dipeptides, tripeptides, polypeptides, etc. Such chelates have previously been referred to in the prior art as metal proteinates. As these chelates have become more commercially accepted in plant, animal and human fields, the usage of the name amino acid chelate, in the place of metal proteinate, has become more common. Therefore, the term amino acid chelate will be used hereinater to designate chelates also referred to as metal proteinates.According to its usage, the term amino acid chelate is inclusive of chelates wherein the ligand is not necessarily a pure amino acid but may be protein hydrolisate selected from the group consisting of dipeptides, tripeptides and other polypeptides.

It is well established in the art that amino acid chelates promote plant growth and function in combination with other plant growth regulatory substances. U.S. Patents Nos. 3,873,296; 4,169,716; 4,169,717; 4,216,143 and 4,216,144 are thought to be the most pertinent to the present invention and teach the use of amino acid chelates alone or in combination with other plant regulatory substances to influence the growth of plant tissues.

While it is known that the application of amino acid chelates affects plant growth, it has heretofore been unknown just which amino acid chelates to apply to a particular plant and what amounts to apply in order to optimize crop yield.

OBJECTS AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a method for optimizing crop yield of a specific crop by the selective application of the correct amino acid chelate or chelates to the plant.

It is also an object of the present invention to optimize crop yield of a particular plant by the application of amino acid chelate or chelates in response to the needs of that plant as determined by a trace mineral assay of the plant tissue, which assay is compared against known standards and parameters to determine the most to least limiting trace mineral needs of the plant.

It has now been found that these and other objects may unexpectedly be accomplished by determining the level of trace minerals in the immature tissue of the crop plants whose yield is to be optimized, comparing the results of the tissue assay to industry accepted norms, standards, ratios, metal balances and relationships for that plant in its optimum growth yield state to determine the most to least limiting trace minerals needed to produce such optimization and, based on that comparison, applying to the immature crop plants predetermined amounts of one or more trace minerals beginning with the most limiting in the form of bioavailable amino acid chelates. In many instances, it may be desirable to first analyze the soil for trace mineral deficiencies or imbalances and apply for a preplant fertilizer to the soil which is appropriate for the crop to be planted.The invention also includes the periodic assaying of plant tissue and application of amino acid chelates in response to the analysis during various stages of the plant's growth cycle. For example, major stress conditions such as hail, excessive water, drought, excessive heat or cold, may all affect the mineral balance or sufficiency in a plant which can be corrected through plant assay and application of appropriate amino acid chelates.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Each plant has a given metal profile that is to be achieved to produce a maximum yield. This profile is specific to each species of plant. For example, the profile for corn will be different than the profile for soy beans. The metal profile for each species will vary also according to yield.

Corn yielding at the rate of 1 50 bushels per acre will have a different profile than corn yielding at 100 bushels per acre.

By profile is meant not only the amount of metal in the tissues of a particular plant species but also the ratio or relationship of the various metals to each other. It is known that some metals may be synergistic with each other while others may be antagonistic. Therefore, achieving the proper mineral balance is much more complex than merely analyzing a plant tissue for metal content to determine the sufficiency of a specific metal or number of metals, as is done in the prior art.

Metal profiles of plant tissue may be affected by various parameters outside the plant such as geographical location, growing season and climatic conditions during the growing season.

Excessive dry spells, excessive heat, insufficient heat, excessive rainfall or humidity may all affect the metal profile of a plant and its ability to optimize yield.

Soil quality is also an important factor in initially stimulating plant growth and development and may actually be the first step in carrying out the optimization of crop yield which is the subject of this invention.

Each plant species may have different soil requirements for optimal growth. Therefore, prior to planting a soil analysis is made and an appropriate fertilizer, with or without added minerals, is added to the soil at the time of planting. This may be done in any conventional manner such as broadcasting, side dressing or banding. Any of the commercial fertilizers such as urea and ammonium or potassium phosphates, nitrates and sulfates may be used in the desired amount according to the needs of the soil for the seed being planted.

After the seeds germinate and the immature plant begins to develop, samples of plant tissue are assayed for mineral content and compared by means of a computer with data representing metal profiles of mature plants producing at the desired crop yield. By means of comparative data which takes into consideration the norms, standards, balances and interrelationships of trace metals and perhaps certain non-metal elements, a computer printout is obtained listing the trace elements in decending order from the most limiting to the last limiting in order to achieve the desired crop yield. Recommended amounts of trace minerals to be applied may also be determined as part of the printout. Based on the data obtained, the farmer or person in charge decides what trace minerals to apply in what amounts.At least the most limiting metal will be applied to the immature plant preferably as a foliar application. If desired, a formulation containing two or more of the most limiting metals may be applied or commercial multi-mineral formulation may be used.

It may not be essential that more than the most limiting metal be applied to the plant, although it may be desirable to do so. Because of the interrelationship between metals, an application of the most limiting metal may allow the plant to approach or produce the desired yield. On the other hand, an application of two or more of these metals may allow the plant to more readily reach its yield potential.

The amount of most to least limiting metals to be applied may be determined by the use of the comparative data. The metal formulations may be pre-packaged in various concentrations and the applicator may apply the formulation concentration which most nearly meets the plants needs.

The fact that an assay of a plant tissue followed by an analysis with comparative data shows a particular metal to be the most limiting does not necessarily mean that the plant is seriously deficient in that metal. It is possible that the metal is most limiting because of a metal imbalance within the plant that will prevent optimal yields unless the imbalance is corrected.

The initial tissue assay is to be made prior to the time the plant genetics determine the number of fruits that a plant will produce. In a dicotyledon this will be at approximately the third leaf stage. In a monocotyledon, such as cereal grasses, it should be about 10 to 1 5 days prior to the booting or milk stage. The trace mineral application should be made just as soon as possible after the tissue samples are assayed. Preferably, this will be not more than a week from the time the tissue samples are taken. A reassay is preferably done within two to three weeks after booting, flowering or tasseling, unless otherwise indicated by conditions of stress. The reassay is done primarily to help maintain the yield that has genetically been fixed for that plant as a result of the first amino acid chelate application.As a result thereof the assay---comparative data analysis may be repeated several times during the course of the plant's growth cycle and corrections in deficiencies or imbalances made at those times. It is especially important to reassay a plant after periods of stress such as extreme weather conditions including heat, cold, drought, and storm. Stress requiring reassay may also occur from physical damage caused by soil, hail or wind.

If a reassay shows that the plant is on course according to its projected metal profile, it will not require additional applications of trace minerals at that time. However, periodic assays should be made to determine that a plant is on course to producing its desired yield.

The trace minerals to be effective must be bioavailable to the plant and are thus applied in the form of amino acid chelates. These amino acid chelates are described in the aforementioned patents and possess the general formulas:

where M is a metal selected from the group consisting of Ca, Fe, Zn, Mg, Cu and R is hydrogen or the residue of an amino acid dipeptide, tripeptide or higher polypeptide.

The amino acid chelates may be formulated in accordance with the teachings of any of the above-mentioned patents. Preferably, they will be formulated so as to be soluble or suspendable in water for application as a foliar spray.

When assaying a plant for metal content, it is important that the assay data relate to the same portion of the plant, i.e. leaf, petiole, etc. in order to make a valid comparison.

The algorithm used for performing the statistical comparison leading to the recommendation of which trace metals to apply and in what amounts is not unique and may be formulated by anyone skilled in the art once the comparative data has been collected.

Examples of data collection and programming applicable to this invention may be found in Beaufil, E.R. "Diagnosis and Recommendation, Integrated System (DRIS)--A General Scheme for Experimentation and Calibration Based on Principles Developed from Research in Plant Nutrition, University of Natal," Soil Science Bulletin I, pp. 1-132, (1973) and Sumner, N.E.

"Application of Beaufil's Diagnostic Indices to Maize Data Published in Literature Irrespective of Age and Conditions," Plant Soil 45, p. 2 (1976). The DRIS program was generally utilized in the field tests illustrated in the examples that follow.

Plant assays of selected crops taken during different stages of maturity and yield data are available from various sources including the U.S Department of Agriculture, state agricultural colleges and universities, county agents and private industry and testing laboratories. If desired, a grower may supplement the above with his own data taken from assays of his own crops over a period of time.

It must be realized that a straight comparison of trace elements as in the prior art sufficiency test will not bring about the desired results. For example, a comparison in the present invention may determine that calcium is the most limiting metal even though a sufficiency analysis may show that calcium is present in adequate amounts and that the plant was planted with Blaney 220, 3-way cross corn.

The corn emerged about 10 days after planting and the field was divided into plots, some of which were to serve as controls and others of which were to be treated with various amino acid chelates according to their projected needs to attain a theoretical yield of 1 50 bushels per acre.

Tissue samples of immature plants were assayed approximately 45 days after the plants emerged. Each tissue assay was compared to two different programs. The first was a sufficiency program which was designed to determine whether the nitrogen, sulfer, phosphorus and trace mineral content of the plant tissue was "low," "sufficient" or "high" when compared to predetermined norms. The second programmed comparison was according to the present invention based on a statistical determination involving the content and relationship between nitrogen, sulfer, phosphorus and trace minerals to obtain 1 50 bushels per acre. In this instance, a computer was used which had been programmed to compare the assay results with predetermined standards and balances is low or deficient in other trace elements.Also, even though calcium may be applied as the most limiting element, it must also be realized that the plant tissue may not show a corresponding increase since much of the calcium may actually go into the fruit of the plant instead of the plant tissue. It is, therefore, essential that adequate statistical data be collected in order to predict amounts, ratios and balances of elements and how they interact with each other.

Although the present invention is drawn primarily to the application of trace minerals as a result of the comparative determination of the most to least limiting elements, it is also within the scope of the invention to determine and apply non-metal elements such as nitrogen, sulfer and phosphorus.

EXAMPLES To demonstrate the viability of the present invention a field which has been treated with a preplant fertilizer consisting of 200 Ibs/acre of ammonium sulfate, 200 Ibs/acre of urea and 1 86 Ibs/acre of a commercial seed starter fertilizer applied as a result of a soil analysis needed to produce the desired yield. A computer printout was obtained listing the assayed elements from the plant tissue in descending order from the most to the last limiting.

Since the field was generally uniform in soil content and initial tissue assay, it was necessary to arbitrarily select designated plots as being most limiting in a particular metal and program the computer based on that selection. Based on the computer printout of the most limiting to least limiting element, each plot except the controls was sprayed with a recommended amount of the most limiting mineral in the form of amino acid chelate foliar spray. In one instance, a multimineral amino acid chelate was used and in one other test, because of the mineral ratios, the second most limiting metal was applied. The spraying was done about 50 days past emergence. Approximately 1 5 days after tasselinga tissue assay was again obtained from each plot and again analyzed by the "sufficiency" and "most to least limiting" programs.No attempt was made in these tests to apply a second foliar spray in response to the results obtained.

Upon reaching maturity, each plant was harvested and the yields of corn from the sprayed plots were compared to the yields from the control. In this test, the yield from the control was 126.5 bushes per acre, which was exceptional in itself since the average three year yield in that area was 88.6 bushes per acre.

The results are listed in the following examples showing first the "sufficiency" and "most to least limiting" printouts prior to the application of the foliar spray. The post spray results are then listed followed by the yield data from that plot as compared to the control.

EXAMPLE 1 Plot No. A-19 Before Foliar Application SUFFICIENCY MOST TO LEAST LIMITING ELEMENT ASSAY VALUE ELEMENT N 3.35% Sufficient 1 Fe S 0.14% Low 2 S P 0.42% Sufficient 3 Mg K 2.98% High 4 Ca Mg 0.12% Low 5N Ca 0.35% Sufficient 6 K Fe 109 PPM Sufficient 7 Mn Mn 43 PPM Sufficient 8 B B 24 PPM Sufficient 9P Cu 9 PPM Sufficient 10 Zn Zn 32 PPM Sufficient 11 Cu Printout Recommendations: NONE Printout Recommendations: Apply 1 6 oz/acre of a multimineral amino acid chelate consisting of 4 oz. Ca, 4 oz. Mg, 2 oz.

Fe, 2 oz. Mn, 2 oz. Cu and 2 oz. Zn.

After Foliar Application SUFFICIENCY MOST TO LEAST LIMITING ELEMENT ASSAY VALUE ELEMENT N 2.35% Low 1 N S 0.14% Low 2P P 0.34% Sufficient 3 B K 5.85% High 4 S Mg 0.23% Sufficient 5 Zn Ca 0.74% High 6 Cu Fe 218 PPM Sufficient 7 Mn Mn 65 PPM Sufficient 8 Mg B 1 7 PPM Sufficient 9 Fe Cu 1 3 PPM Sufficient 10 Ca Zu 34 PPM Sufficient 11 K Yield 152.40 Bushels/acre Control 126.50 Bushels/acre Increased Yield 25.9 Bushels/acre % Increase 20.5 EXAMPLE 2 Plot No. C-li Before Foliar Application SUFFICIENCY MOST TO LEAST LIMITING ELEMENT ASSAY VALUE ELEMENT N 3.14% Sufficient 1 S S 0.09% Low 2 Fe P 0.30% Sufficient 3 Mn K 2.15% Sufficient 4K Mg 0.12% Low 5 Cu Cu 0.31% Sufficient 6 P Fe 75 PPM Sufficient 7 Zn Mn 28 PPM Sufficient 8 Cu B 21 PPM Sufficient 9 B Cu 5 PPM Sufficient 10 Mg Zn 22 PPM Sufficient 11 N Printout Recommendation: NONE Printout Recommendation: Apply 8 oz. Fe per acre in the form of an iron amino acid chelate.

Plot C-I 1 was treated with a foliar spray of iron amino acid chelate at the rate of 8 oz. Fe per acre.

After Foliar Application SUFFICIENCY MOST TO LEAST LIMITING ELEMENT ASSAY VALUE ELEMENT N 2.80% Sufficient 1 N S 0.36% Sufficient 2 P P 0.36% Sufficient 3 B K 3.39% High 4 Zn Mg 0.29% Sufficient 5 K Ca 0.96% Excessive 6 Cu Fe 288 PPM High 7 Mn Mn 70 PPM Sufficient 8 Mg B 15 PPM Sufficient 9 S Cu 13 PPM Sufficient 10 Fe Zn 35 PPM Sufficient 11 Ca Yield 146.30 Bushels/acre Control 126.50 Bushels/acre Increase 19.80 Bushels/acre % Increase 15.7 EXAMPLE 3 Plot No.B-12 Before Foliar Application SUFFICIENCY MOST TO LEAST LIMITING ELEMENT ASSAY VALUE ELEMENT N 3.22% Sufficient 1 N S 0.17% Sufficient 2 Cu P 0.42% Sufficient 3 Mg K 3.46% High 4 Fe Mg 0.12% Low SB Ca 0.39% Sufficient 6 P Fe 110 PPM Sufficient 7 S Mn 50 PPM Sufficient 8 Ca B 23 PPM Sufficient 9 Mn Cu 6 PPM Sufficient 10 P Zn 35 PPM Sufficient 11 Zn Printout Recommendation: NONE Printout Recommendation: Apply 8 oz. Cu per acre in the form of an amino acid chelate.

Plot B-12 was treated with a foliar spray of copper amino acid chelate at the rate of 8 oz. Cu per acre.

After Foliar Application SUFFICIENCY MOST TO LEAST LIMITING ELEMENT ASSAY VALUE ELEMENT N 3.14% Sufficient 1 N S 0.40% Sufficient 2 Zn P 0.40% Sufficient 3 B K 4.66% High 4 P Mg 0.32% Sufficient 5 Mn Ca 1.01% Excessive 6 K Fe 280 PPM High 7 Ca Mn 77 PPM High 8 Mg B 1 7 PPM Sufficient 9 Fe Cu 34 PPM Excessive 10 S Nz 30 PPM Sufficient 11 Cu Yield 143.50 Bushels/acre Control 126.50 Bushels/acre Increase 17.00 Bushels/acre % Increase 13.4 EXAMPLE 4 Plot No.C-20 After Foliar Application SUFFICIENCY MOST TO LEAST LIMITING ELEMENT ASSAY VALUE ELEMENT N 2.76% Sufficient 1 B S 0.12% Low 2N P 0.32% Sufficient 3 Mn K 2.40% Sufficient 4 P Mg 0.14% Low 5K Ca 0.32% Sufficient 6 Ca Fe 143 PPM Sufficient 7 S Mn 34 PPM Sufficient 8 Zn B 16 PPM Sufficient 9 Cu Cu 8 PPM Sufficient 10 Fe Zn 27 PPM Sufficient 11 Mg Printout Recommendation: NONE Printout Recommendation: Apply 8 oz. Mn per acre in the form of an amino acid chelate.

Plot C-20 was treated with a foliar spray of manganese amino acid chelate at the rate of 8 oz.

Mn per acre.

After Foliar Application SUFFICIENCY MOST TO LEAST LIMITING ELEMENT ASSAY VALUE ELEMENT N 3.10% Sufficient 1 P S 0.28% Sufficient 2 B P 0.39% Sufficient 3 K K 3.82% High 4 Zn Mg 0.27% Sufficient 5 N Ca 0.91% Excessive 6 S Fe 219 PPM Sufficient 7 Cu Mn 79 PPM High 8 Mg B 15 PPM Sufficient 9 Fe Cu 17 PPM High 10 Ca Zn 35 PPM Sufficient 11 Mn Yield 146.00 Bushels/acre Control 126.50 Bushels/acre Increase 19.50 Bushels/acre % Increase 15.4.

EXAMPLE 5 Plot No. D-24 Before Foliar Application SUFFICIENCY MOST TO LEAST LIMITING ELEMENT ASSAY VALUE ELEMENT N 6.32% High 1 N S 0.16% Sufficient 2 Mn P 0.49% Sufficient 3 Mg K 3.04% High 4 Fe Mg 0.46% High 5 K Ca 1.19% Excessive 6 Ca Fe 342 PPM High 7 P Mn 100 PPM High 8 Zn B 39 PPM Sufficient 9 B Cu 9 PPM Sufficient 10 S Zn 49 PPM Sufficient 11 Cu Printout Recommendation: NONE Printout Recommendation: Apply 1 6 oz. Mn per acre in the form of an amino acid chelate.

Plot D-24 was treated with a foliar spray of manganese amino acid chelate at the rate of 1 6 oz.

Mn per acre.

After Foliar Application SUFFICIENCY MOST TO LEAST LIMITING ELEMENT ASSAY VALUE ELEMENT N 2.87% Sufficient 1 N S 0.28% Sufficient 2 P P 0.37% Sufficient 3 B K 3.47% High 4 Zn Mg 0.25% Sufficient 5 K Ca 0.90% High 6 Cu Fe 222 PPM Sufficient 7 S Mn 86 PPM High 8 Mg B 15 PPM Sufficient 9 Fe Cu 1 3 PPM Sufficient 10 Mn Zn 28 PPM Sufficient 11 Ca Yield 143.50 Bushels/acre Control 126.50 Bushels/acre Increase 17.00 Bushels/acre % Increase 13.4 EXAMPLE 6 Plot No. C-25 Before Foliar Application SUFFICIENCY MOST TO LEAST LIMITING ELEMENT ASSAY VALUE ELEMENT N 3.34% Sufficient 1 Mg S 0.18% Sufficient 2 B P 0.40% Sufficient 3 Zn K 2.91% High 4Cu Mg 0.09% Low 5 Mn Ca 0.36% Sufficient 6 K Fe 210 PPM Sufficient 7 N Mn 42 PPM Sufficient 8 P B 18 PPM Sufficient 9 Ca Cu 6 PPM Sufficient 10 S Zn 26 PPM Sufficient 11 Fe Printout Recommendation: NONE Printout Recommendation: Apply 1 6 oz. zinc per acre in the form of an amino acid chelate.

Plot D-25 was treated with a foliar spray of zinc amino acid chelate at the rate of 1 6 oz. Zn per acre.

After Foliar Application SUFFICIENCY MOST TO LEAST LIMITING ELEMENT ASSAY VALUE ELEMENT N 2.83% Sufficient 1 P S 0.17% Sufficient 2 B P 0.29% Sufficient 3 K K 2.49% Sufficient 4 N Mg 0.18% Sufficient 5 Cu Ca 0.73% High 6 S Fe 1 30 PPM Sufficient 7 Fe Mn 46 PPM Sufficient 8 Mn B 16 PPM Sufficient 9 Mg Cu 7 PPM Sufficient 10 Zn Zn 42 PPM Sufficient 11 Ca Yield 156.4 Bushels/acre Control 126.50 Bushels/acre Increase 29.9 Bushels/acre % Increase 23.6 EXAMPLE 7 Plot A-i 1 Before Foliar Application SUFFICIENCY MOST TO LEAST LIMITING ELEMENT ASSAY VALUE ELEMENT N 2.97% Sufficient 1 B S 0.14% Low 2 Zn P 0.33% Sufficient 3 P K 2.60% Sufficient 4 N Mg 0.13% Low 5K Ca 0.36% Sufficient 6 S Fe 1 75 PPM Sufficient 7 Cu Mn 44 PPM Sufficient 8 Mg B 1 3 PPM Sufficient 9 C Cu 8 PPM Sufficient 10 Mn Zn 24 PPM Sufficient 11 Fe Printout Recommendation: NONE Printout Recommendation: Apply 32 oz. zinc per acre in the form of an amino acid chelate.

Plot A-i 1 was treated with a foliar spray of zinc amino acid chelate at the rate of 32 oz. Zn per acre.

After Foliar Application SUFFICIENCY MOST TO LEAST LIMITING ELEMENT ASSAY VALUE ELEMENT N 2.82% Sufficient 1 P S 0.31% Sufficient 2 B P 0.42% Sufficient 3 N K 4.33% High 4 Mn Mg 0.27% Sufficient 5 K Ca 1.01% Excessive 6 Cu Fe 256 PPM High 7 S Mn 65 PPM Sufficient 8 Fe B 1 7 PPM Sufficient 9 Mg Cu 14 PPM Sufficient 10 Ca Zn 137 PPM High 11 Zn Yield 147.10 Bushels/acre Control 126.50 Bushels/acre Increase 120.600 Bushels/acre % Increase 16.3 The procedure used in the above examples was followed with other crops such as soybeans, potatoes, wheat and sugarbeets in controlled field tests where the most to least limiting elements were determined by the actual tissue assay of immature plants followed by a computer comparison with statistical data representative of the yields being sought and foliar application of metal amino acid chelates as recommended by such an analysis. The results follow: EXAMPLE 8 Crop: Soybeans Before Foliar Application SUFFICIENCY MOST TO LEAST LIMITING ELEMENT ASSAY VALUE ELEMENT N 5.57% High 1 Ca S 0.19% Low 2S P 0.41% Sufficient 3 Mg K 3.09% High 4 N Mg 0.43% Sufficient 5 K Ca 1.18% Sufficient 6 Pu Fe 282 PPM Sufficient 7 Cu Mn 105 PPM High 8 B B 24 PPM Sufficient 9 Zn Cu 5 PPM Low 10 Mn Zn 49 PPM Sufficient 11 Fe Printout Recommendations: Printout Recommendations: Apply 8 oz. Copper per Apply 12 oz. Calcium acre in the form of an and 8 oz.Magnesium per amino acid chelate. acre in the form of amino acid chelate.

In response to the above printouts, 8 oz. of calcium per acre was applied as a foliar spray in the form of an amino acid chelate.

After Foliar Application SUFFICIENCY MOST TO LEAST LIMITING ELEMENT ASSAY VALUE ELEMENT N 6.00% High 1 Mg S 0.73% High 2 K P 0.43% Sufficient 3 N K 2.51%Sufficient 4 Ca Mg 0.27% Low 5 S Ca 1.84% Sufficient 6 P Fe 200 PPM Sufficient 7 Cu Mn 97 PPM Sufficient 8 B B 28 PPM Sufficient 9 Zn Cu 9 PPM Sufficient 10 Mn Zn 49 PPM Sufficient 11 Fe Yield 34.30 Bushels/acre Control 32.78 Bushels/acre Increase 1.52 Bushels/acre % Increase 4.6 EXAMPLE 9 Crop:Potatoes Desired Yield 500 cwt/acre Before Foliar Application SUFFICIENCY MOST TO LEAST LIMITING ELEMENT ASSAY VALUE ELEMENT N 5.24% Sufficient 1 Ca S 0.56% High 2 S P 0.65% Sufficient 3 N K 5.74% Sufficient 4 Mg Mg 0.74% High 5 K Ca 1.12% Sufficient 6 P Fe 1163 PPM Excessive 7 B Mn 100 PPM High 8 Cu B 29 PPM Sufficient 9 Zn Cu 15 PPM Sufficient 10 Mn Zn 33 PPM Sufficient 11 Fe Printout Recommendation: NONE Printout Recommendation: Apply 1 2 oz. of calcium and 8 oz. of magnesium per acre in the form of amino acid chelates.

In response to the above printouts, 1 2 oz. of calcium and 8 oz. of magnesium per acre was applied as a foliar spray in the form of an amino acid chelate approximately 70 days post emergence.

Yield 449 cwt/acre Control 382 xwt/acre Increase 57 cwt/acre % Increase 14.9 EXAMPLE 10 Crop: Sugarbeets Desired Yield: 40 Tons/acre Before Foliar Application SUFFICIENCY MOST TO LEAST LIMITING ELEMENT ASSAY VALUE ELEMENT N 6.69% High 1 Ca S 0.46% Sufficient 2 S P 0.51% Sufficient 3 N K 8.82% Excessive 4 P Mg 1.28% Sufficient 5 Mg Ca 1.28% Sufficient 6 K Fe 556 PPM Excessive 7 Bu Mn 102 PPM High 8 Cu B 17 PPM Sufficient 9 Mn Cu 10 PPM Low 10 Zn Zn 48 PPM Sufficient 11 Fe Printout Recommendation: Printout Recommendations: Apply copper amino acid Apply calcium amino acid xhelate 8 oz/acre. chelate 1 6 oz/acre.

The field was divided into three plots. One plot was sprayed with 8 oz. of copper per acre as an amino acid chelate as per the "sufficiency" printout. A second plot was sprayed with 1 6 oz.

of calcium per acre as an amino acid chelate as per the ''most to least limiting" printout and the third plot served as a control. The spraying was done about 67 days post emergence.

Upon harvesting, the control plot yielded 31.09 tons/acre of sugarbeets, the "sufficiency" plot yielded 30.49 tons/acre and the plot sprayed according to the invention yielded 33.71 tons/acre. The plot treated according to the invention yielded 2.62 tons/acre more than the control and 3.22 tons/acre more than the plot treated by the "sufficiency" recommendation.

This resulted in a yield increase of 8.4% and 10.6% respectively.

EXAMPLE 1 1 Crop: Wheat Desired Yield: 150 Bushels/Acre Before Foliar Application SUFFICIENCY MOST TO LEAST LIMITING ELEMENT ASSAY VALUE ELEMENT N 6.54% High 1 Ca S 0.54% High 2 Mn P 0.60% High 3 Cu K 5.55% High 4 Mg Mg 0.27% Sufficient 5 P Ca 0.21% Sufficient 6 Fe Fe 224 PPM Sufficient 7 Zn Mn 81 PPM Sufficient 8 K B 20 PPM Sufficient 9 N Cu 1 3 PPM Sufficient Zn 51 PPM Sufficient Printout Recommendation: NONE Printout Recommendations: Apply 16 oz. Ca, 8 oz.

Mn and 4 oz. Cu per acre as amino acid chelates in a foliar spray.

The spray was applied about 25 days post emergence. Upon harvesting, yields were taken from selected treated and control plots with the results being reported as bushels per acre.

Yield 124.5 Control 101.0 Increase 23.5 % Increase 23.3 The above examples are illustrated only and are not intended to determine the scope of the invention which is to be limited only by the appended claims.

Claims (11)

1. A method of increasing crop yields of a given plant species which comprises: (a) assaying tissue from growing immature plants to determine essential trace mineral content.

(b) comparing the results of said assay with statistical trace mineral data for said plant species to determine the most to least limiting trace minerals needed to increase crop yield and (c) applying to said growing immature plants an effective amount of at least the most limiting trace mineral in the form of a bioavailable amino acid chelate.

2. A method according to Claim 1 wherein the most to the least limiting trace minerals needed to increase crop yield are selected from the group consisting of calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper and zinc.

3. A method according to Claim 2 wherein an effective amount of at least the two most limiting trace minerals in the form of amino acid chelates are applied to said plant.

4. A method according to Claim 2 wherein an effective amount of more than two of the most limiting trace minerals in the form of amino acid chelates are applied to said plant.

5. A method according to Claims 2, 3 and 4 wherein during the comparison step to determine the most to least limiting trace minerals the effective amounts of such trace minerals needed to increase crop yield are also determined.

6. A method according to Claims 2, 3 and 4 wherein said amino said chelates are applied to said plants in the form of a foliar spray.

7. A method according to Claims 2, 3 and 4 wherein immature plant tissues are again assayed after the amino acid chelates have been applied to said plant to determine trace mineral content and wherein the most to the least limiting trace minerals as a result of that assay are determined followed by the application to said plant of at least the most recently determined limiting trace in the form of an amino acid chelate.

8. A method according to Claims 2, 3 and 4 wherein the soil is assayed prior to the plants being planted and wherein a fertilizer is added to said soil according to its needs as determined by said assay.

9. A method according to Claims 2, 3 and 4 wherein statistical trace mineral data used for comparing the results of the plant assay are data for a specific crop yield to be attained.

10. A method according to Claims 2, 3 and 4 wherein the statistical trace mineral data are utilized in said comparison by a consideration of trace mineral amounts, ratios, balances and relationships to arrive at the most to the least limiting elements.

11. A method according to Claims 2, 3 and 4 wherein the plant assay is taken prior to the time the plant genetics determines the fruit yield.

1 2. A method of increasing crop yields substantially as hereinbefore described and exemplified.