In an increasingly demanding production scenario, with erratic climate cycles and soils subjected to years of intensive use, wheat yield depends on more than just good agronomic management. The most efficient strategy lies not in a single product or crop stage, but in a comprehensive, coordinated intervention—from soil conditioning to seed nutrition.
Integrated fertilization is a systemic approach that combines complementary technologies to optimize the soil environment, plant physiology, and nutrient availability at key moments in the wheat cycle. An efficient strategy includes soil conditioning with nanoparticulate amendments, seed treatment with mineral or biological revitalizers, and the application of microgranulated fertilizers in the seed row. This approach improves crop establishment, nutrient use efficiency, and resilience under adverse conditions, enabling higher yield expression and a more efficient response to other inputs in the production system.
Together, these three levels of intervention anticipate the physiological and soil-related bottlenecks that typically limit yield potential. Acting in an integrated and sequential manner, they create a more resilient crop, with more stable physiology and a more efficient response to applied inputs. This intelligent agronomic design, grounded in system biology, represents an evolution from conventional fertilization schemes, which often operate in isolation without addressing the complexity of plant-soil-climate interactions.
Soil Conditioning: Correcting Limitations Before Planting
The first step is to prepare the soil as a fertile and balanced medium capable of supporting vigorous root growth and adequate nutrient availability. In many agricultural fields—especially those subjected to intensive management—limitations such as salinity, suboptimal pH, base imbalances, or low biological activity are common.
To address these constraints, liquid nanoparticulate amendments such as Mist TPS® offer an advanced and efficient solution.
Their application enables:
- Reduction of salinity and excess exchangeable sodium, common in soils with low infiltration rates or irrigation with poor-quality water.
- Supply of bioavailable calcium and magnesium, essential for the structuring of the clay-humic complex and enzymatic activity in roots.
- Stimulation of biological processes through improved porosity and reduced presence of compounds toxic to beneficial microorganisms.
Whether applied on the surface or incorporated, this conditioning creates a more hospitable physical and chemical environment for the radicle at emergence.
Seed Treatment with Revitalizers: Precision Nutrition in the Initial Microenvironment
The second level of intervention targets the physiological activation of the seed and the creation of a favorable environment in the first centimeters of soil. Seed revitalizers help plants overcome stress and increase resistance to adverse environmental factors. These mineral-based products are applied to seeds before planting and stimulate root development, promoting fast and uniform seedling growth. Their main function is to create a comfort zone in the rhizosphere during the critical early days after planting. This results in more uniform germination, vigorous emergence, and optimized root development—key factors in establishing healthier, more resilient crops.
Mist VG® is a high-efficiency mineral suspension designed for seed treatment. It can be applied alongside inoculants and other crop protectants, requiring very low doses (500–800 cc/100 kg of seed), making it both practical and economical.
Its benefits include:
- Stimulating uniform and early germination, shortening the emergence window and promoting field uniformity.
- Supplying key micronutrients such as zinc, iron, and silicon, which play enzymatic, structural, and hormonal signaling roles.
- Facilitating early calcium uptake, improving membrane integrity and root elongation.
Application is simple, compatible with inoculants and seed treatments, and represents a low-cost investment that can significantly improve crop establishment and final yield.
Supplementation with Microgranulates: Targeted Nutrition at a Critical Stage
Finally, the application of microgranulated fertilizers, such as products from the Biome B-Phos line, completes the strategy by delivering targeted nutrients during the early post-emergence phase, when the root system is still exploring a limited soil volume. B-Phos microgranules are finely sized solid fertilizers (0.8–1.2 mm) with an advanced formulation containing up to 13 nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, zinc, boron, copper, silicon, and molybdenum. Applied in-row with the seed, they ensure immediate nutrient availability in the rhizosphere.
The product’s nanostructure guarantees higher absorption efficiency and allows for lower application rates, reducing both operational costs and environmental impact.
Benefits include:
- Very high phosphorus use efficiency due to controlled-release sources and synergistic micronutrients.
- Immediate availability of nitrogen, sulfur, and micronutrients, supporting steady growth without peaks or deficiencies.
- Uniform granule size (0.8–1.2 mm), ensuring even in-row distribution and improved root contact.
- Reduced dosage and losses, by concentrating fertilizer in the zone of highest active absorption.
Trials show that this technology can significantly increase early biomass and root development—factors closely linked to final yield, especially underwater or heat stress conditions.
In 2024, a field trial was conducted at EEA INTA Pergamino, evaluating the response of the long-cycle wheat variety DM Carpintero to different integrated fertilization strategies. The experimental design included various nutrient combinations and sources, including seed-applied fertilization.
Results showed good yields despite water limitations. Fertilization proved to be an effective tool for increasing wheat yields. More comprehensive schemes—including seed treatments—achieved more balanced nutrition compared to traditional MAP-based fertilization, showing positive yield trends. The treatment that included 35 kg/ha of Biome + 5 ml/kg of Mist VG® seed revitalizer was statistically superior to conventional fertilization with 100 kg/ha of MAP.
Synergy Between Levels: Continuous and Resilient Nutrition
The strength of this integrated strategy lies in its functional coherence: each stage reinforces the next, generating a chain of competitive advantages for the crop.
Conditioned soil enables more vigorous and healthier germination. Revitalized seed establishes more uniform plants with enhanced root exploration capacity. Localized nutrition with microgranulates sustains growth during peak demand.
Additionally, this approach improves the system’s overall efficiency, allowing for reduced doses of traditional fertilizers, minimized losses through leaching or fixation, and enhanced response to other inputs such as biostimulants or inoculants.