As Detective Tip O' Root, I am directly responsible for plant health and yield. It is here at the root tip where nutrient uptake occurs. The entire plant's aboveground productivity depends on the work we roots do below. No matter what the nutrient – potassium, sulfur, phosphorous or magnesium – I must lead my team through the vast soil matrix to find them. As we slowly navigate centimeter by centimeter through the soil structure, we probe each soil pore for potential nutrients. This is no small task.

Spring Training
As soil temperatures rise, my root crew assembles. Excitement permeates the ground as I chart the course, and the roots take off for a new season of soil exploration. We don’t waste time searching laterally; we travel vertically to varying degrees. Skilled members of our elite team probe even deeper, looking for untapped sources of nutrition. We hale the farmer who has kept soil fertility in check with regular and balanced nutrient applications. And, we aim reward him with a bountiful crop in the fall!

And speaking of nutrients, I shouldn't pick favorites because I consider myself a professional. But I often seek potassium (K) first. It gives me an initial boost to keep exploring deeper in the soil. In fact, I have trouble resisting K, even if I have all I need. K gives me the strength to defend against disease organisms, while providing the plant structural support – even during dry periods.

But, I can earnestly say that I find joy in all 13 essential nutrients found in the soil, from magnesium to manganese. Each one is needed by the plant, and therefore a top priority for Detective Tip O’Root!

I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends
I've made some good friends down here that make my life a little easier. Diggery DeBorer, my earthworm pal, is well known for creating slick tunnels down through the soil profile. He churns up the earth, creating avenues for water – and roots – to flow. Water is essential in this profession. Without it, no nutrients are available, period.

But, you’ve heard the expression about “too much of a good thing.” It is true, too much moisture can push some nutrients further out of my reach.

Other nutrients, however, are virtually immobile no matter how much water abounds. Take phosphorous (P). That can be one tricky nutrient. I rarely find it in a soluble form, even though it's all around me. So I've enlisted the help of my buddy, Mike O'Rhizae, of the myccorhizal soil fungi family, to take advantage of his incredible P-searching skills. He piggybacks on our root tips, feasting on the carbon fuel we filter to him. As he grows, he extends beyond the roots, searching for the P we need.

Lucky for us, some growers supply nutrients in the water-soluble sulfate form. For instance, langbeinite (K-Mag NATURAL) supplies potassium, sulfur and magnesium in a highly available form. And, of course, the soil’s native microbial population continually transforms nutrients into plant-available forms. This means less work for us!

A “Tip” from the Detective
Take it from me – plants need all the help they can get. At the helm of this complex nutrient scavenger hunt, I can tell you it’s a constant challenge to provide nutrients. The dynamic underground world changes daily. Pores collapse, roots turnover, and viruses attack…

Providing a balanced blend of nutrients is the best way to ensure that I – and my root crew – can reach all the nutrients crops need. If you don't have active roots to anchor the plant and provide proper nutrition, you will have a crop mutiny instead of a bounty!