The underestimated nutrient

Magnesium (Mg) is an essential plant nutrient and has many functions in the plant - in the leaves, roots, and yield organs, such as the ears, cobs, pods, or beet bodies. Magnesium, for example, protects against stress factors such as drought, heat, or high solar radiation. Moreover, as the central atom of chlorophyll - the leaf green - magnesium is involved in photosynthesis. Magnesium therefore supports the formation of carbohydrates. These are needed throughout the growth of all plants.

But plants need magnesium not only to form carbohydrates, but also to remove them. Magnesium is part of an energy complex that loads the plant's pathways. This is how carbohydrates are transported from the leaves to the parts of the plant that need them to grow.

With magnesium deficiency, this transportation is disturbed. Carbohydrates accumulate in the leaves and do not reach their destination. The roots and yield organs are no longer adequately supplied. This effect on root growth occurs in all crops - in addition to wheat, for example, also in corn, canola and sugarbeet.

In all crops, a magnesium deficiency first leads to impaired root growth, some time before deficiency symptoms are evident in the above-ground parts of the plant.

If you want to track down nutrient deficiencies in the field, we recommend the KALI-TOOLBOX app. With this app, you can identify the deficiency symptoms directly on site via your smartphone or tablet. Besides many informative pictures, the free app provides the appropriate nutrient recommendations.