Micronutrients Considerations for Warm-Season Grass Systems in Florida

Warm-season grasses are vital to livestock production systems and dominate ground cover in tropical and subtropical areas. Many popular warm-season grasses, such as bahiagrass and bermudagrass, have roots that penetrate deeper into the soil profile, which aids in both drought tolerance, nutrient uptake, and the minimization of soil erosion. In Florida, spodosols are the predominant soil order used for forage production and have limited fertility. Micronutrients are essential elements that are required in smaller quantities than macronutrients but are equally as important for proper plant growth and performance. An element can be considered essential for plant growth if a plant fails to complete its life cycle in the absence of the element, the elements action is specific and cannot be completely replaced by another element, it has a direct effect on the organism, or it is a constituent of a molecule that is known to be essential. The objective of this publication is to describe the role of micronutrients in warm-season grass production.