A first-of-its-kind chelating agent that enhances and maximizes nutrient efficiency for crops is now available to growers. Levesol, exclusively from West Central, is made from the purest ortho-ortho EDDHA chelating agent that exists and is the only pure chelating agent that can be mixed directly with liquid fertilizer and applied in-furrow.

Crops start demanding nutrients right away, but most can’t efficiently utilize what’s near them in the soil during early development. Levesol overcomes this to make micronutrients in the soil, such as zinc, iron, copper and manganese, all more available for early uptake. After uptake, the chelate increases translocation within the plant. By keeping micronutrients in a soluble form, Levesol prevents them from binding with phosphorus. This leaves more phosphorus free for uptake and increases overall nutrient efficiency.

This process allows developing crops to utilize micronutrients more efficiently during early development. Levesol is proven to increase yield and root mass for a range of crops, including corn, sugar beets, soybeans, dry beans, sunflowers, wheat, barley and sorghum.

Market research shows that over 90% of farmers know they have a problem with nutrients in the soil being unavailable to plants. To combat this, farmers commonly add phosphorus and zinc to the soil to maximize yields. However, those two molecules tie each other up very quickly and become unavailable to plants, resulting in wasted money for growers. “Levesol prevents that tie up and makes both the micronutrients and the phosphorus in the soil more available to plants, consequently maximizing nutrient efficiency,” says Josh Nuytten, director of proprietary business for West Central. “Chelation improves the availability of nutrients both in starter fertilizer and the soil.”

“Soil extraction studies have shown up to 36% more phosphorus and even higher levels of micronutrient availability when applying a starter fertilizer program with Levesol versus without,” says Brian Kuehl, product development manager for West Central. “This nutrient availability is significant because it results in a faster and more even emergence for better yields.”

This superior chelate agent is the same agent used in West Central’s other proprietary products, Soygreen, Redline and Copper-Field, which have generated proven results across many crops. “All of these products make nutrients more efficient and available to plants. Anytime we can develop a product that helps farmers get more out of what they buy we are going to bring it to market,” says Nuytten. “We’re excited to offer Levesol as another way to help take in-furrow applications to a new level.”