By Md. Rasel Parvej and Justin Keay et.al
In modern agriculture, the drive to maximize crop yields frequently results in the over-application of fertilizers. Unnecessary application of fertilizer can reduce profit margins and increase the environmental risk of nutrient pollution in Missouri’s bodies of water, along with the associated negative impacts on aquatic life. Plant nutrients such as phosphorus exist in finite amounts in the earth’s crust, and stewardship of this mineral resource ensures its availability for future generations of farmers. Although nutrients are vital for plant development, excessive amounts of certain elements can interfere with the uptake of others, a phenomenon known as nutrient antagonism. These imbalances can lead to secondary deficiencies, reduced crop performance, and increased environmental risks. In this context, “more is less”: applying too much of one nutrient can unintentionally trigger subtle, yet significant, deficiencies in others.
Mechanism of nutrient antagonism
Plants require a balanced supply of essential nutrients to grow and thrive. These include macronutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S), as well as micronutrients like zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), boron (B), and molybdenum (Mo).
Source : missouri.edu