[NAME]
Welcome to the [NAME], a searchable collection of research and extension information relevant to micronutrient management for corn and soybean production in Ontario. Developed through a rigorous systematic mapping process, the [NAME] holds 126 Ontario-relevant records published between 2010 and 2025, providing a curated collection of the latest scientific evidence most applicable to Ontario's corn and soybean sectors.
The [NAME] includes a diverse range of sources, including peer-reviewed research articles, extension and advisory publications, handbooks, factsheets, and diagnostic and plant tissue testing resources, recognizing that important micronutrient management knowledge is generated through both scientific research and professional practice.
Only records determined to be relevant to Ontario production systems are included in the [NAME]. Ontario relevance was assessed using predefined criteria based on continental glaciation history, similar climate and corn and soybean production systems.
The [NAME] covers the nine micronutrients currently recognized as essential for corn and soybean production: boron, chlorine (chloride), cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, and zinc.
Each record included in the [NAME] has been systematically coded using a standardized evidence extraction framework that captured study characteristics, geographic location, crop, micronutrient(s), intervention method, reported outcomes, document type, study type, and key findings. This standardized structure enables users to efficiently search, filter, and compare evidence across multiple dimensions while maintaining complete traceability to the original source documents.
The [NAME] is intended to support researchers, agronomists, crop advisors, extension specialists, government agencies, commodity organizations, farmers, and policy makers seeking reliable, Ontario-relevant evidence. Users can rapidly locate information related to specific micronutrients, diagnostic approaches, critical soil and tissue testing considerations, micronutrient interactions, crop responses, application practices, and agronomic, economic, and environmental outcomes. By consolidating dispersed knowledge into a single searchable resource, the [NAME] reduces the time required to identify relevant evidence while improving transparency and consistency in evidence-informed decision making.
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Collection
The effect of zinc fertilizer on maize growth, leaf mineral nutrition, and caterpillar herbivory
Mineral nutrients, such as zinc (Zn), are critical for plant growth; however, the effect of Zn on insect herbivory is poorly characterized. Because Zn deficiency may compromise plant physiology while high levels of zinc may be directly toxic to herbivores, we predicted lepidopteran herbivores would perform best on plants deficient in Zn or those with an intermediate dose of Zn fertilizer. We first tested these hypotheses in a greenhouse experiment using maize (Zea mays L. [Poaceae]) and two noctuid caterpillars, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and evaluated the effects of a normal range of Zn (0-11.7 g m-3) on the interaction between maize and each caterpillar species. In the greenhouse, we found Zn increased uptake of other nutrients, particularly nitrogen (N), and fertilizing with just 2.5 g m-3 Zn maximized maize growth. Spodoptera frugiperda performance increased marginally with Zn fertilization. While neither caterpillar species was directly affected by Zn concentrations in leaves, S. frugiperda caterpillars responded to leaf N. In the field, we investigated the effect of Zn fertilization on leaf-nutrient concentrations, early season damage by resident herbivores, performance of S. frugiperda on excised leaf tissue, and maize yield. We found fertilizing with Zn increased leaf N, but compared to the greenhouse experiment, had a smaller effect on Zn uptake and no effect on herbivory. Zinc treatments did not affect maize yield in the field. We conclude that Zn fertilization can increase N leaf concentrations, which in turn can affect some herbivores, with species-specific effects.
