Nutrient Uptake Insights
Nutrient uptake explained
Understand the basics and the scientific nitty gritty on nutrient uptake in plants. Follow this page as we expand the knowledge base that will allow you to make better informed decisions whilst delivering you increased plant performance.
How Zinc Oxide is Taken Up by Plant Roots
Zinc is an essential micronutrient that supports healthy root development, early crop vigour, enzyme activity and grain production in wheat. Applied as a fertiliser coating, zinc oxide (ZnO) provides a slow, sustained source of zinc that becomes available as the particles dissolve in the soil. Wheat roots take it up as plant-available zinc (Zn²⁺) through specialised transport proteins, helped along by root exudates, soil microbes and mycorrhizal fungi.
How much zinc becomes available depends on soil pH, moisture, root activity and soil biology, with active, healthy soils giving the best results. The full technical article covers each uptake pathway, the evidence for direct uptake of very fine particles, and the conditions that make the difference.
View the full article: How Zinc Oxide is Taken Up by Plant Roots (PDF)
How Copper Oxide is Taken Up by Plant Roots
Copper is an essential micronutrient that supports healthy root development, photosynthesis, enzyme activity, pollen formation and grain production. Copper oxide is less soluble than traditional copper fertilisers, so it releases gradually as plant-available copper ions, absorbed through specialised transport proteins in the roots. Compounds released by cereal roots mobilise further copper from the soil, and mycorrhizal fungi extend the effective reach of the root system.
Particle size and formulation are critical: they govern how quickly copper becomes available while avoiding excessive uptake and the risk of phytotoxicity. The full technical article sets out each uptake pathway and what that formulation control means in practice.
View the full article: How Copper Oxide is Taken Up by Plant Roots (PDF)
Nutrient uptake, made practical.
As we expand this knowledge base, talk to our agronomy and chemistry team about what the science means for your product, your soils and your customers.