Over 50% of Indian soils are deficient in zinc and boron, two vital micronutrients for crops. This hidden nutrient gap limits plant growth, reduces yields, and weakens crop quality despite regular NPK usage.

Targeted application of micronutrients can reverse these losses. And with Leher’s drone-powered precision spraying, you can deliver the right nutrients exactly where and when your crops need them.

This blog explores why micronutrients are essential, how to spot their deficiency, effective delivery methods, including drone solutions, and how Leher can help you improve crop health and productivity.

What Are Micronutrients and Why Do Crops Need Them?

Crops need more than just nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to grow well. Just like humans need vitamins in small doses to stay healthy, plants require micronutrients, essential elements needed in minute quantities for proper physiological functioning. Yet, these tiny nutrients make a big difference in growth, quality, and resilience.

Micronutrients drive critical plant processes, including photosynthesis, enzyme activity, and nutrient absorption. Without them, crops may survive, but they won’t thrive.

Key Micronutrients That Support Healthy Crop Growth

Each of the following micronutrients has a specific role in plant development. Deficiencies can lead to visible symptoms and long-term soil health issues.

• Zinc (Zn): Vital for enzyme function, auxin (growth hormone) production, and protein synthesis.

• Boron (B): Supports cell wall strength, sugar transport, and reproductive development.

• Iron (Fe): Crucial for chlorophyll formation and energy production.

• Manganese (Mn): Key to photosynthesis and nitrogen metabolism.

• Copper (Cu): Aids in lignin formation, reproductive growth, and disease resistance.

• Molybdenum (Mo): Essential for nitrogen fixation in legumes.

• Chlorine (Cl) and Nickel (Ni): Required in trace amounts but still critical. They help regulate osmotic pressure and aid in urea metabolism.

When even one of these micronutrients is deficient, plants show stress symptoms, often mistaken for pest attacks or disease. In reality, the issue lies beneath the surface.

Micronutrient management isn’t just about boosting yields. It’s about giving your crops the full nutritional support they need to reach their potential.

What Micronutrient Deficiencies Are Common in Indian Soils?

Micronutrient deficiencies are a growing concern in Indian agriculture. The shift toward high-input farming and repeated use of NPK fertilisers without replenishing trace nutrients has led to long-term soil exhaustion.

Unlike nitrogen or phosphorus shortages, micronutrient deficiencies are harder to detect. Their symptoms can be mistaken for disease, drought stress, or pest damage until it’s too late.

Here are the most widespread deficiencies observed in Indian soils and how they affect plant health:

• Zinc (Zn): Common in alluvial and alkaline soils, zinc deficiency causes shortened internodes, smaller leaves, and reduced tillering in crops like paddy and wheat. It also weakens root growth and lowers grain size.

• Boron (B): Sandy and acidic soils, especially in eastern and northeastern India, often lack boron. This results in hollow stems in cauliflower, fruit cracking in tomatoes and guava, and low seed setting in pulses.

• Iron (Fe): Predominant in calcareous soils with high pH, iron deficiency leads to pale or yellow upper leaves in crops like groundnut, sugarcane, and citrus. It restricts chlorophyll formation, slowing down growth.

• Manganese (Mn): Affected soils show fading green patches or grey specks on leaves. This deficiency hits legumes and cotton hard, reducing photosynthetic efficiency and plant vigour.

• Copper (Cu): Often found in peat and sandy soils of eastern UP and parts of Karnataka, copper deficiency can cause tip dieback in citrus, wilting in vegetables, and poor flowering in cereal crops.

• Molybdenum (Mo): Especially relevant in acidic soils, molybdenum deficiency disrupts nitrogen fixation in legumes, leading to pale foliage and low pod formation in soybeans, chickpeas, and lentils.

• Chlorine (Cl) and Nickel (Ni): These are less frequently deficient but still essential. Lack of chloride can lead to leaf wilting and necrosis, while nickel deficiency disrupts urea metabolism in crops like maize.

Why This Matters for Your Farm?

Micronutrient deficiencies often show up silently without clear symptoms until it's too late. Crops may look healthy at first, but fail to reach their full yield potential.

Over time, this slow decline weakens soil health. Fields become less responsive to fertilisers, and farmers end up using more inputs for smaller gains.

That’s why proactive soil testing and balanced nutrient management are critical. Correcting even one micronutrient imbalance can revive a struggling crop, improve quality, and restore profitability, especially when combined with precision application through drone spraying.

Quick Overview: Common Micronutrient Deficiencies in Indian Agriculture

Before diving into detailed solutions, here’s a snapshot of key micronutrient deficiencies, their visible symptoms, and the major crops they affect.

Use this overview as a reference guide during spray planning or soil testing, especially if you suspect nutrition-related crop stress.

How Do Micronutrient Deficiencies Affect Crop Production?

Micronutrient shortages may seem minor, but their effects ripple through every stage of the crop cycle. Unlike major nutrient deficiencies, these issues often remain hidden until the damage is done, impacting plant health, harvest timing, and overall farm profitability.

Even when NPK levels are adequate, lacking just one essential micronutrient can disrupt a plant’s ability to grow, defend itself, and absorb nutrients. The result? Weaker plants, lower yields, and wasted investment.

Here’s how different types of micronutrient deficiencies silently harm your farm:

1. Reduced Yield and Grain Quality

Deficiencies interfere with crucial processes, such as pollination, seed development, and enzyme activity, leading to fewer, lighter, and lower-quality grains or fruits.

2. Delayed Maturity and Growth

Micronutrients regulate hormonal balance and energy transfer. Without them, plant development slows down, delaying flowering and harvests, costing you valuable time during peak seasons.

3. Weakened Disease and Pest Resistance

Plants deficient in micronutrients are more prone to fungal attacks, viral infections, and pest infestations due to compromised structural integrity and metabolic defence.

4. Inefficient Macronutrient Utilisation

Even if you apply adequate nitrogen or phosphorus, a lack of micronutrients like zinc or molybdenum can hinder their absorption, resulting in nutrient imbalance and input wastage.

5. Stressed Plants Under Changing Weather

Crops facing drought, heat, or excess rainfall are more vulnerable when micronutrient levels are low. These nutrients help crops manage environmental stress by strengthening internal systems.

When left unchecked, these deficiencies reduce current yields and the long-term health and productivity of your soil. That’s why every farm, large or small, needs a balanced nutrition plan that includes micronutrients, ideally delivered through precise and efficient methods like drone spraying.

Why Are Indian Farmers Facing Micronutrient Shortages?

Micronutrient imbalances in Indian soils aren’t accidental. They are the outcome of long-standing practices that overlook the full nutritional needs of crops. Despite using large quantities of fertilisers, many farmers continue to face stunted growth, lower productivity, and soil fatigue. The problem lies in what’s missing, not how much is applied.

Several agronomic and environmental factors are contributing to this silent crisis across regions:

1. Alkaline and Calcareous Soils in Key Regions

Soils with high pH, especially in northwestern states such as Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, tend to bind micronutrients like iron and zinc, making them unavailable to plants even when present in the soil.

2. Imbalanced Fertiliser Use Focused on NPK

Over-reliance on nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, often without soil testing, disrupts the natural nutrient balance. This oversupply reduces the uptake of secondary and micronutrients, particularly zinc, copper, and boron.

3. Declining Organic Carbon and Soil Microbial Activity

Years of residue burning, reduced organic manure use, and shallow tillage practices have depleted soil organic matter. This lowers the soil’s natural capacity to retain and cycle micronutrients effectively.

4. High-Yielding Varieties with Greater Nutrient Demand

Modern hybrid seeds produce higher yields but also extract more nutrients from the soil. Without tailored micronutrient supplementation, these crops face stress and underperform despite appearing healthy.

5. Flooded Paddy Fields and Over-Irrigation

 Continuous standing water in paddy fields and excessive irrigation in canal-command areas cause leaching and denitrification. Water-soluble nutrients like boron and molybdenum are often the first to be lost.

6. Topsoil Erosion in Dryland and Hilly Areas

 In states like Odisha, Jharkhand, and the Northeast, poor land management and rainfall runoff have stripped topsoil, removing essential micronutrients along with it.

Understanding these root causes helps farmers take proactive measures, instead of reacting after damage is done.

Ignoring the reasons behind micronutrient shortages leads to recurring crop health issues and input inefficiencies. However, with improved awareness, soil testing, and modern delivery tools like Leher’s precision spraying, farmers can restore soil health and ensure their crops receive a complete nutritional profile, thereby boosting both yield and quality.

Also Read: Future of Agriculture: Key Technology Innovations

What Are the Best Micronutrient Application Methods for Indian Farmers?

Applying micronutrients isn’t just about what you apply; it’s about how you apply it. For farmers looking to maximise results while reducing costs, choosing the right application method is crucial. Different crops, soil types, and deficiency levels require distinct approaches.

Below are the four most commonly used and effective application techniques used across Indian farms:

1. Foliar Spraying – For Quick and Targeted Correction

This is one of the fastest and most precise ways to deliver micronutrients directly to plants.

• Micronutrients are sprayed onto the leaf surface and absorbed rapidly.

• Ideal for correcting visible deficiency symptoms during critical growth stages.

• Especially useful for crops like paddy, cotton, fruits, and vegetables.

• Fine mist droplets increase surface area, ensuring better absorption and less runoff.

2. Soil Application – For Pre-Season Nutrient Management

This method prepares the soil before the cropping season begins.

• Micronutrient granules, sulphates, or chelated forms are mixed into the topsoil.

• Works well for long-term correction, especially in zinc- or boron-deficient fields.

• Should be applied based on soil test reports to avoid overuse or antagonism with other nutrients.

• Often used in kharif crops like maize and soybean during field preparation.

3. Fertigation – For Efficient Delivery with Irrigation

This technique is ideal for farmers using drip or sprinkler systems.

• Micronutrients are dissolved in irrigation water and delivered evenly to the root zone.

• Reduces wastage and labour, and allows nutrients to be supplied in split doses.

• Commonly used in high-value crops like banana, tomato, grapes, and floriculture.

• Works best when water-soluble formulations are used, avoiding clogging.

4. Seed Treatment – For a Cost-Effective Start

Treating seeds before sowing gives crops a head start on nutrient uptake.

• Seeds are coated with micronutrient powders or solutions (e.g., zinc, molybdenum).

• Encourages early root development, uniform germination, and nitrogen fixation in legumes.

• Best suited for cereals and pulses like wheat, chickpea, maize, and lentils.

• Inexpensive and easy to implement at the farm level.

Choosing the Correct Method for Your Farm

Each method serves a different purpose. While soil application prepares the field, seed treatment supports early growth, fertigation sustains nutrient delivery, and foliar spraying provides rapid correction. Among these, foliar spraying stands out for its speed, precision, and adaptability, especially when delivered through Leher’s drone spraying service.

With Leher, micronutrients are sprayed evenly across crops, even in large or uneven terrains, ensuring your plants get exactly what they need, exactly where they need it.

How Can Drone-Based Precision Spraying Improve Micronutrient Use?

Traditional methods of applying micronutrients, such as manual spraying or blanket soil application, often result in uneven distribution, higher costs, and poor uptake. In many cases, nutrients are either over-applied in some areas or missed in others, especially in large or irregularly shaped fields.

That’s where drone-powered precision spraying offers a practical, scalable, and data-driven solution.

Here’s how Leher’s drone spraying service helps Indian farmers optimise micronutrient usage:

1. Consistent Leaf-Level Coverage

Each drone releases fine, evenly spread droplets that coat the leaf surface, ensuring maximum contact and efficient nutrient absorption.

2. Minimal Input Loss and Soil Disruption

Unlike traditional boom sprayers, drones apply micronutrients directly on the canopy. This reduces runoff and prevents leaching into the soil, especially in light or sloped terrain.

3. Speed and Area Efficiency

A single drone can cover up to 50 acres per day, reducing the time and labour typically required for micronutrient spraying.

4. Smart Targeting with GPS and AB-Line Technology

Drones follow precise flight paths, adjusting application volume in real-time based on mapped field zones. This ensures nutrients go exactly where they’re needed, no more, no less.

5. Crop-Specific Suitability for Indian Conditions

 Foliar micronutrient application via drones is exceptionally effective for major Indian crops, including paddy, wheat, sugarcane, and cotton, as well as horticultural produce such as brinjal, tomato, and chilli.

6. Safer for Operators and the Environment

 With aerial application, the operator avoids direct exposure to chemical inputs, and sensitive areas or boundaries can be easily marked as no-spray zones.

Why It Matters for Your Farm?

Micronutrients are most effective when they reach the crop at the right time, right place, and right dose. Leher’s precision drone spraying ensures that every droplet contributes to crop growth, not to runoff, wastage, or soil imbalance.

And the best part? You don’t need to invest in your drone or hire extra labour. Simply book through the Leher App (Google Play, Apple Store) or WhatsApp, and a certified operator will handle the entire spraying process, from calibration to execution.

Also Read: Best Practices for Pesticide Spraying in Cole Crop

What Are the Challenges in Using Micronutrients and How Can Farmers Overcome Them?

While micronutrients can revive crop health and boost productivity, many farmers still struggle to use them effectively. The problem isn’t just about awareness; it’s also about access, affordability, and simplicity. Understanding the barriers can help pave the way for smarter nutrient use.

Here are the most common challenges faced by Indian farmers and practical ways to overcome them:

1. Limited Access to Soil Testing

Without knowing what’s lacking, farmers often apply the wrong mix or skip micronutrients altogether.

Solution: Promote affordable soil testing kits at local agri shops or through FPOs.

Add-on: Mobile labs and village-level soil testing camps by agri-extension officers can make diagnosis easier, faster, and more accessible.

2. Low Awareness About Micronutrient Benefits

 Farmers may notice poor crop growth but rarely link it to micronutrient deficiency.

Solution: Utilise KVK demonstrations, farmer field schools, and digital channels such as WhatsApp and YouTube to illustrate how specific deficiencies impact yield and quality.

Add-on: Partner with local agri-input retailers to offer bundled micronutrient solutions with NPK products.

3. Perceived High Cost of Application

The separate application of micronutrients, especially through manual spraying, can seem like an additional burden.

Solution: Combine micronutrient spraying with pesticide or fungicide applications using Leher drones.

Result: This saves both time and labour while maximising input efficiency from a single flight.

4. Inconsistent Product Quality

Poorly formulated or fake products can deliver little to no benefit, damaging farmers' trust.

Solution: Encourage the use of certified micronutrient brands recommended by ICAR or state agricultural universities. Leher drone partners can also help apply only verified, crop-safe formulations.

5. Lack of Skilled Application Methods

Even if farmers buy the right product, incorrect dosage or uneven application can reduce its effectiveness.

Solution: Use drone spraying for consistent, GPS-guided delivery and fine droplet size that improves absorption and minimises runoff.

Micronutrient management doesn’t have to be complex or costly. With better information, local testing support, and technology like drone spraying from Leher, even small and marginal farmers can take control of their soil health, one targeted spray at a time.

What’s the Future of Micronutrient Application in India?

Micronutrient management is all about what you apply and when, where, and how efficiently you do it. With advancements in agri-tech, policy support, and data-driven farming, India is moving toward smarter, precision-based micronutrient application.

Here are the key trends that will shape how farmers manage micronutrients in the coming years:

1. AI-Based Deficiency Detection via Drones

Instead of waiting for visible symptoms, drones with multispectral and hyperspectral cameras can detect early-stage nutrient stress.

How it helps: This allows real-time identification of zinc, iron, or boron deficiencies before they affect yield.

What’s next: Integration with AI models can recommend corrective sprays instantly, reducing guesswork.

2. Regional Nutrient Mapping and Advisory Systems

Soil health cards and regional micronutrient maps are becoming more accessible through digital platforms.

How it helps: Farmers will receive location-specific guidance based on their village or block’s soil profile.

What’s next: Panchayat-level advisory dashboards could enable group spraying decisions for entire clusters.

3. Stronger Government Push and Subsidy Expansion

More states are recognising the importance of micronutrients in long-term soil health and productivity.

How it helps: Some state agriculture departments have added boron, zinc sulphate, and ferrous chelates under input subsidy schemes.

What’s next: National programs may link micronutrient use to PM-KISAN or SMAM incentives for greater reach.

4. Smart Dashboards for Tracking and Planning

Farmers using digital tools like the Leher app can already monitor spray jobs, input quantities, and coverage in real-time.

How it helps: This ensures correct dosage and timing, preventing overuse or missed sprays.

What’s next: These dashboards may soon include crop-specific micronutrient plans and yield prediction models.

The future of micronutrient application is precise, predictive, and participatory. With drones, data, and digital tools working together, farmers can move from reactive fertilisation to proactive nutrition planning. And platforms like Leher are already making this future a reality.

Also Read: The Role of Drones to Detect Pests for Agriculture in India

How Does Leher Help You Apply Micronutrients Easily?

If your crops are struggling despite regular NPK use, the problem may lie in missing micronutrients. But correcting these deficiencies doesn’t have to mean buying new equipment or hiring extra labour.

Leher makes micronutrient spraying simple, precise, and affordable for every farmer. Here's how:

• Easy Booking: Use the Leher app or WhatsApp flow to book a micronutrient spray in minutes. No paperwork or follow-up calls are needed.

• No Equipment Needed: Our trained, DGCA-certified drone operators bring the drone, mix the right formulation, and complete the spray job with precision.

• Transparent Pricing: Get clear, upfront cost details on your phone. You only pay after the job is completed, without any advance or hidden charges.

• Real-Time Spray Tracking: View spray routes, dosage reports, operator details, and payment status directly on the Leher app.

• Backed by Trained Professionals: Leher drone pilots undergo specialised training to handle micronutrient application across crops and soil types.

Ready to Get These Results on Your Farm? Join thousands of farmers and agri-entrepreneurs already seeing the benefits of micronutrient spraying through drones.

Download the Leher App (Google Play, Apple Store) to book your spray job today.

No pilot training. No upfront investment. Just healthier crops that are sprayed the smart way.

FAQs

Q. How do I know if my crops need micronutrients if there are no visible symptoms?

A. Micronutrient deficiencies often don’t show clear signs until it’s too late. The best way to detect hidden gaps is through regular soil or leaf testing, available through agri labs, KVKs, or mobile testing vans in many regions.

Q. Can I mix micronutrients with pesticides or fungicides while spraying?

A. Yes, many micronutrients can be tank-mixed with compatible pesticides or fungicides. Leher drone operators can help prepare safe and effective combinations during a single spray job, saving time and cost.

Q. Are micronutrients needed for all crops or just high-value ones?

A. Micronutrients are essential for all crops, including cereals like wheat and rice. While high-value crops show quicker benefits, even staple crops respond better in terms of yield, disease resistance, and grain quality when micronutrients are balanced.

Q. How frequently should I apply micronutrients?

A. Application depends on the crop, growth stage, and soil test results. In general, one or two foliar applications during key stages (vegetative, flowering, fruiting) are effective. Leher’s app-based advisory can help you schedule the right timings.

Q. Do I need to buy my own drone to apply micronutrients with Leher?

A. Not at all. Leher provides drone spraying as a service. You can book a certified operator via the Leher app or WhatsApp, and they’ll handle everything, from chemical mixing to flight tracking.