January 13, 2025

The Science Behind YaraVita: Tackling Hidden Hunger in Canola and Wheat

YaraVita products are designed to address hidden hunger by delivering precise doses of essential micronutrients directly to crops through foliar applications.

The Science Behind YaraVita: Tackling Hidden Hunger in Canola and Wheat

In agriculture, “hidden hunger” refers to the deficiency of essential micronutrients in crops that often goes undetected due to the lack of visible symptoms. Despite the absence of overt signs like stunted growth or leaf discoloration, hidden hunger can drastically affect crop yield, quality, resilienc

copper and magnesium deficiency in wheat

e, and ultimately reduces profitability. As the foundation of modern agriculture, ensuring that crops receive the right balance of nutrients is essential for both productivity and sustainability.

YaraVita products are designed to address hidden hunger by delivering precise doses of essential micronutrients directly to crops through foliar applications. This ensures that plants receive the nutrients they need at key stages of growth. 

What Is Hidden Hunger?

Hidden hunger occurs when crops lack essential micronutrients such as zinc, boron, copper, and manganese. Unlike macronutrient deficiencies that often manifest through obvious physical symptoms, micronutrient deficiencies can quietly hinder plant growth, nutrient uptake, and metabolism. Without timely intervention, crops suffering from hidden hunger can experience reduced yields and diminished quality.

Micronutrients, though required in smaller amounts than macronutrients, play crucial roles in various plant functions, from enzyme activation and photosynthesis to root development and disease resistance. Soil conditions such as pH levels, organic matter content, and nutrient imbalances often limit the availability of these micronutrients. By offering foliar-applied nutrition, YaraVita products ensure these limitations are bypassed, delivering nutrients directly to where they’re most needed.

YaraVita BRASSITREL for Canola

Canola is particularly sensitive to boron and manganese deficiencies, which are critical for key physiological functions. Hidden hunger for these nutrients can lead to reduced flowering, poor pod set, and decreased oil content, which directly affects yield and profitability.

YaraVita BRASSITREL is a suspension concentrate that delivers essential micronutrients, including boron and manganese, formulated specifically for brassica crops like canola. By addressing these hidden deficiencies, YaraVita BRASSITREL helps farmers optimise canola production throughout the growing season.

Boron is essential for cell wall formation, pollen tube growth, and seed set in canola. A lack of boron can result in fewer flowers, poor pod formation, and hollow stems, significantly reducing yields. With YaraVita BRASSITREL, boron is delivered directly to the leaves, ensuring quick correction of deficiencies at key developmental stages such as flowering and pod fill.

Manganese plays a crucial role in photosynthesis and enzyme activation. Deficiencies can cause poor chlorophyll production, resulting in pale or yellowing leaves (chlorosis) and reduced growth. YaraVita BRASSITREL ensures canola crops receive sufficient manganese, supporting healthy leaf development and photosynthesis, improving both yield and oil content.

By delivering these essential micronutrients through a foliar application, YaraVita BRASSITREL ensures that canola plants thrive, maximising yield and quality, even in soils that limit nutrient availability.

YaraVita ZINTRAC for Wheat

Wheat is highly susceptible to zinc deficiency, especially in alkaline soils or soils high in phosphorus. Hidden hunger for zinc can lead to delayed maturity, reduced grain size, and lower overall yields. While the symptoms of zinc deficiency are not always obvious, they can still have a significant impact on crop performance.

YaraVita ZINTRAC is a suspension concentrate designed to address zinc deficiencies in crops like wheat and other cereals. By applying YaraVita ZINTRAC as a foliar spray, farmers can ensure that their wheat crops receive the zinc they need for optimal growth and development.

Zinc is crucial for protein synthesis, hormone production, and the development of plant roots and grains. Wheat crops deficient in zinc may show signs of stunted growth, poor tillering, and small grains. YaraVita ZINTRAC provides a rapid and effective solution to correct zinc deficiency, ensuring wheat plants develop strong root systems, healthy leaves, and full grain heads.

Without sufficient zinc, wheat crops can suffer from reduced kernel size and poor grain fill, directly affecting both yield and quality. YaraVita ZINTRAC’s sustained-release formula ensures a consistent supply of zinc throughout critical growth stages like tillering, stem elongation, and grain fill, helping to maximise yield potential and grain quality.

By addressing hidden zinc hunger early in the growing season, YaraVita ZINTRAC helps wheat crops reach their full potential, improving both the quantity and quality of the harvest.

Precision Nutrition for Canola and Wheat

Hidden hunger poses a significant challenge in modern farming, particularly for crops like canola and wheat, where micronutrient deficiencies can quietly erode yields and quality. By delivering targeted micronutrients through YaraVita’s foliar-applied solutions, farmers can correct these deficiencies and ensure that their crops receive the right nutrients at the right time.

YaraVita BRASSITREL and YaraVita ZINTRAC provide farmers with the precision tools needed to address hidden hunger in canola and wheat. These products deliver essential micronutrients directly to the crops, ensuring healthier plants, stronger root systems, and improved yields. By proactively managing hidden hunger, farmers can protect their crops from the silent damage caused by micronutrient deficiencies, enhancing productivity and sustainability. 

To learn more about how YaraVita can help you address hidden hunger in your canola and wheat crops, click here or contact us today.