Why a pesticide spray will not fix a nutrient problem
Many farmers spray pesticide when a crop looks weak, even with no pest. Why that rarely helps a nutrient problem, what it costs and what to check.
Read the full guideMicronutrients, soil health and sustainable farming
Why micronutrient shortage is a soil health problem, and how organic matter, residues, rotation and balanced feeding protect soil for the next generation.
Most micronutrient shortages in India are not caused by soil running out of the element but by tired soil that cannot supply it: low organic matter, high pH, poor drainage and unbalanced fertilizer use. Building organic matter, returning residues, rotating crops, feeding to a soil test and protecting soil life keep micronutrients available and cut the need for rescue sprays.
By Gafar Laiya and the Gujarat Bio Organics team. Updated November 2026.
On this page
Why soil organic matter matters
- Organic matter holds micronutrients in forms roots can use, even in alkaline soils.
- It feeds the soil microbes that release nutrients.
- It holds water, so nutrients reach the roots in dry spells.
- See soil health and compost and humic acid.
Practices that conserve soil and nutrients
- Return crop residues; do not burn straw or trash.
- Add farmyard manure, compost or green manure each season.
- Rotate crops and include legumes.
- Use irrigation carefully: over-watering washes nutrients and drowns roots.
- Feed to a soil test rather than by habit.
- Cover the soil with mulch or crops to stop erosion.
Balanced feeding protects the environment
- Less wasted nitrogen and phosphorus in rivers and groundwater.
- Fewer rescue sprays and lower residues.
- Lower costs for the same yield.
- See sustainable farming and the 5 Rs.
For the next generation
Soil is the farm's most valuable asset. Practices that keep it alive keep yields steady and costs down for the next generation, and grow food that carries the micronutrients people need.
Doses depend on the crop, soil and product, so this page gives methods, not amounts. Take the dose from your soil test report, the product label or your local agriculture officer or KVK. Results differ from farm to farm with soil, weather, crop and management. Farmer experiences on this site are their own reports, not a promise of results.
Read next
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Yellow leaves are often treated with more urea or NPK. Why that fails when sulphur, magnesium, iron or zinc is the real cause, and what to do instead.
Read the full guideMicronutrients for fruit size, quality, brix and market price
How boron, calcium, magnesium, zinc and potassium decide fruit set, size, sweetness, firmness and shelf life, and so the price a grower gets.
Read the full guideHow Gujarat Bio Organics can help
Since 2006, lakhs of farmers from Kashmir to Kanyakumari have used Immunity products on almost every crop: from the mango farms around Somnath to the apple orchards of Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir, the tea estates of Assam and Darjeeling, and the banana, coconut and cardamom farms of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. Each Special is one formula made for one crop and its common problems. Tell us your crop, soil test and what you see, and our team will tell you what to check, whether a micronutrient correction is needed, and which Special fits your programme.
- Mango guide and Immunity Mango Special
- Sugarcane guide and Immunity Sugarcane Special
- Potato guide and Immunity Potato Special
- Cotton guide and Immunity Cotton Special
Results differ from farm to farm with soil, weather, crop and management. Farmer experiences on this site are their own reports, not a promise of results.
Questions
Can organic matter fix micronutrient deficiency?
It helps keep micronutrients available and prevents many shortages over time. Severe shortages still need the nutrient applied, guided by a test.
Does burning crop residue affect micronutrients?
Yes. Burning destroys organic matter and soil life and removes nutrients such as silicon and sulphur held in the residue.