Agricultural experts warn soil nutrient deficiencies limit crop yields in Argentina

Increased rainfall in Argentina can raise the productive potential for corn, soy, and sunflower crops, but specialists warn that water alone does not guarantee higher yields. Research from INTA Balcarce, the National University of Mar del Plata, and CONICET indicates that nutritional deficiencies in phosphorus, nitrogen, sulfur, and zinc can prevent farmers from reaching maximum productivity.

Studies show a yield gap of 30% to 50% between what crops could theoretically achieve and what producers actually harvest. This gap can widen during wet seasons if fertilization is not precisely managed. Experts emphasize that fertilization should not be based on volume alone but on laboratory diagnostics to determine the specific needs and combinations required for each soil type.

Soil analysis in the southern and southeastern regions of Buenos Aires province has been used to identify these limitations, with phosphorus identified as a primary constraint in recent studies.