Turf Toughie: The newest essential trace element

Micronutrients have been essential to turf growth since before man first picked up a golf club. However, agronomists are only catching on to their vital role bit by bit. So…which is the newest element added to the list of essential trace elements:

1. Nickel
2. Molybdenum
3. Zinc
4. Copper

The answer is nickel…formally recognized in 1987. Some soil scientists like Dr. Mike Stewart, director of the International Plant Nutrition Institute, like to call Ni “the forgotten essential trace element.”

Nickel is taken up from soil as Ni+2. It is readily mobile in plants. Some species translocate Ni to developing seeds.

Go light with Ni – concentrations over 10 ppm can be toxic in some species and over 50 ppm becomes toxic even in moderately tolerant species. As soil pH increases, Ni availability decreases. High divalent concentrations of Zn, Cu or Fe can inhibit Ni uptake. Since trace amounts of Ni are found in most fertilizers it is unlikely you need to supplement.

If you do require more Ni, however, look to foliar sprays of nickel salts or organic Ni ligands. Ni-lignosulfonate is preferred due to potential safety concerns, Stewart says.