Maximizing Crop Yields with Plant Charge Balance: Insights from Darin Moon

In modern agriculture, achieving higher yields and maximizing fertilizer efficiency requires a deep understanding of plant nutrition and the science behind it. Darin Moon, owner of Redox Bio-Nutrients and a native of Burley, Idaho, is an expert in nutrient movement in soil and plants. Darin was a guest speaker at our Hiawatha Irrigation Clinic, where he shared his decades of knowledge on plant charge balance—a key factor in boosting crop production. This article explores his insights on water’s role in agriculture, the science of photosynthesis and charge balance, innovative approaches to nitrogen application, the potential of Redox Active Substrates, and the cutting-edge tools and technologies shaping the future of farming. By the end of this read, you’ll understand how to optimize your fertilizer use, achieve better yields, and enhance sustainability on your farm. 

The Foundation of Modern Agriculture: Water and Irrigation 

Darin began by emphasizing the role of water, calling it 

 “the number one fertilizer we put on crops.”  

Not only does water carry essential nutrients, but its interaction with soil and plants triggers vital chemical reactions. This makes effective water delivery systems, like those offered by NutraDrip, crucial for today’s agriculture. 

“As we grow in agriculture and try to improve yield and efficiency, the greatest challenge is the delivery of water. Water is becoming one of our limiting factors—not just in availability but also in quality.” 

Subsurface drip irrigation systems are at the forefront of this challenge, enabling precise water and nutrient application to enhance plant growth and minimize waste. 

Photosynthesis: More Than Just Carbohydrates 

Slide from Moon’s presentation. 

Photosynthesis powers plant growth, but as Darin explained, it does more than produce carbohydrates. “The first reaction of photosynthesis is charge. It releases an electron,” he noted. This charge movement starts a chain reaction leading to starch, sugar, and protein production. 

Understanding this process is key to optimizing nutrient uptake because all 16 essential elements that plants need carry a charge. 

The 16 essential elements plants need to grow, as highlighted in Darin Moon’s presentation. 

When a plant absorbs these nutrients, it must maintain a 50/50 balance of positive and negative charges to function efficiently.

The 16 essential elements plants need to grow, as highlighted in Darin Moon’s presentation. 

Why is this balance so important?
Darin explained that a plant’s electrical charge must always remain balanced at 50% positive and 50% negative. This balance is non-negotiable—if the plant absorbs too many negatively charged nutrients, it will automatically shift its internal processes to restore equilibrium. 

“If we overapply a negative charge, that plant will stop everything else it is doing—kernel filling, leaf growth, sugar production—until it restores that 50/50 balance,” Darin emphasized. This can severely limit yield potential, regardless of how much fertilizer is applied. 

For example, nitrogen is most commonly absorbed as nitrate (NO3-), which carries a negative charge. If a crop receives an excess of nitrate nitrogen, it must absorb positively charged nutrients to restore balance. If those nutrients aren’t available, the plant diverts energy away from growth and yield production to rebalance its internal charge. 

“50/50 balance is the king. It will always win over every other reaction in the plant because charge balance drives everything,” Darin stressed. 

This makes it essential for farmers to not only focus on the quantity of nutrients applied but also on the charge balance those nutrients bring to the plant. By maintaining a consistent 50/50 charge ratio, growers can enhance nutrient uptake efficiency, boost photosynthetic activity, and ultimately increase yield potential. 

Rethinking Fertilizer: From Pounds to Charge per Acre 

Farmers typically measure fertilizer application in pounds per acre, but Darin urged a shift in thinking, recommending growers focus on the charge per acre instead. He explained that the success of fertilizer depends on achieving the right charge balance, which affects nutrient availability and absorption efficiency. 

Using nitrogen as an example, Darin pointed out that while 78% of air is nitrogen, it’s not in a usable form for plants because it’s not charged. “That’s why we invest so much in nitrogen fertilizer—to give it a charge, enabling plants to absorb it.” 

He also highlighted that “80% of plant imbalances stem from synthetic nitrogen applications,” which is mainly absorbed as nitrate (NO3-), carrying a negative charge. If there is an imbalance in the plant’s charge, it disrupts the natural 50/50 balance of positive and negative charges, leading to issues like poor kernel fill and reduced yields. 

Darin emphasized that a plant’s electrical charge must always remain balanced—50% positive and 50% negative. This balance is crucial; if too many negatively charged nutrients are absorbed, the plant shifts its processes to restore equilibrium. “If we overapply a negative charge, the plant will stop everything else it is doing—kernel filling, leaf growth, sugar production—until it restores that 50/50 balance,” he explained. This can drastically limit yield potential, regardless of fertilizer quantity. 

For instance, nitrogen is primarily absorbed as nitrate, which carries a negative charge. If the plant receives too much nitrate, it must absorb positively charged nutrients to maintain balance. If those nutrients are unavailable, the plant diverts energy away from growth and yield production to rebalance its internal charge. 

“The 50/50 balance is crucial—it always takes priority over every other plant function because charge balance controls everything,” Darin stressed. 

This underlines the importance for farmers to consider not only the quantity of nutrients applied but also the charge balance they contribute. By maintaining a consistent 50/50 ratio, growers can enhance nutrient uptake, improve photosynthesis, and ultimately boost yield potential. 

Photosynthesis: More Than Just Carbohydrates 

Photosynthesis powers plant growth, but as Darin explained, it does more than produce carbohydrates. “The first reaction of photosynthesis is charge. It releases an electron,” he noted. This release of electrons initiates a series of complex biochemical reactions that lead to the production of starches, sugars, and proteins—the building blocks of plant growth. 

At the core of photosynthesis is the electron transport chain within the chloroplasts. Sunlight energizes chlorophyll molecules, exciting electrons to a higher energy state. These energized electrons are transferred through a series of protein complexes, generating a flow of energy that drives the synthesis of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and NADPH. These molecules fuel the Calvin cycle, where carbon dioxide is converted into glucose.  

However, the process doesn’t end there. The movement of electrons also creates an electrical charge. As electrons pass through the transport chain, positively charged protons (H+) accumulate on one side of the thylakoid membrane, creating a charge gradient. This charge differential powers ATP synthesis and drives all chemical reactions in the plant. 

Darin emphasized the importance of this charge movement, stating, “It starts with sunlight energy warming up that leaf and releasing electrons. And those electrons are charged. That charge drives our world.” This initial release of electrons sets off a chain reaction that influences every aspect of plant metabolism. 

The Role of Charge in Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis isn’t just about producing energy—it’s about maintaining charge balance. As electrons are excited and transferred, a positive charge builds up on one side of the membrane, while a negative charge accumulates on the other. This separation of charges creates an electrochemical potential, which drives the synthesis of ATP. 

This charge movement doesn’t stop at energy production. It governs nutrient uptake and transport within the plant. Every nutrient absorbed from the soil carries either a positive or negative charge. Maintaining a 50/50 balance of positive and negative charges is essential for efficient nutrient uptake and metabolism. 

“The first reaction of photosynthesis is charge,” Darin emphasized, “and that charge must be balanced throughout the plant’s system.” If this balance is disrupted, the plant will divert energy to restore it, even at the expense of growth and yield. 

This understanding challenges the traditional view of photosynthesis as merely a carbohydrate production process. By recognizing its role in charge movement and balance, farmers can optimize nutrient applications to enhance photosynthetic efficiency and maximize yield. 

The 16 Essential Elements and Their Role in Charge Balance 

Plants require 16 essential elements to grow and complete their life cycles. These elements are categorized into macronutrients and micronutrients: 

• Macronutrients: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), and Sulfur (S). 

• Micronutrients: Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Boron (B), Molybdenum (Mo), Chlorine (Cl), Nickel (Ni), and Cobalt (Co). 

• Non-Mineral Elements: Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), and Oxygen (O), obtained from air and water. 

Each of these elements carries an electrical charge when dissolved in soil water. For example: 

• Cations (Positively Charged): Potassium (K+), Calcium (Ca2+), Magnesium (Mg2+), and Ammonium (NH4+). 

• Anions (Negatively Charged): Nitrate (NO3-), Phosphate (H2PO4-), and Sulfate (SO42-). 

Darin emphasized that “They all carry a charge. When you buy a fertilizer, it carries a charge.” This charge governs how nutrients move in the soil and enter the plant. Cations are attracted to negatively charged soil particles (clay and organic matter), while anions remain mobile in the soil solution. 

The Importance of Charge Balance
Each of these 16 elements contributes to the plant’s overall charge balance. For optimal growth, a plant must maintain an equal balance of positive and negative charges. This balance influences nutrient uptake, transport, and metabolism within the plant. 

“The plant’s charge must be 50/50—50% positive and 50% negative,” Darin explained. If the balance is disrupted, the plant will shift its internal processes to restore it. This can lead to reduced photosynthesis, poor nutrient uptake, and ultimately lower yields. 

For example, nitrogen is primarily absorbed as nitrate (NO3-), a negatively charged ion. If excess nitrate is absorbed without balancing positively charged nutrients (like potassium or calcium), the plant becomes electrically imbalanced. To restore balance, the plant diverts energy away from growth processes, leading to poor kernel fill and reduced yield. 

This explains why overapplication of certain fertilizers doesn’t always result in increased yield—it’s not just about the quantity of nutrients but the charge balance they bring to the plant. 

Why Is 50/50 Plant Charge Balance So Important? 

A plant’s electrical charge must always remain balanced at 50% positive and 50% negative. This balance is non-negotiable—if the plant absorbs too many negatively charged nutrients, it will automatically shift its internal processes to restore equilibrium. 

Slide from Moon’s presentation. 

Darin explained, “If we overapply a negative charge, that plant will stop everything else it is doing—kernel filling, leaf growth, sugar production—until it restores that 50/50 balance.” This can severely limit yield potential, regardless of how much fertilizer is applied. 

This is particularly relevant with nitrogen, which is most commonly absorbed as nitrate (NO3-), carrying a negative charge. If excess nitrate is absorbed without sufficient positive charges to balance it, the plant must compensate by absorbing positively charged nutrients. If those nutrients aren’t available, the plant diverts energy away from growth and yield production to rebalance its internal charge. 

“50/50 balance is the king. It will always win over every other reaction in the plant because charge balance drives everything,” Darin emphasized. 

This balance affects more than just growth. It influences starch production, sugar metabolism, and protein synthesis, impacting everything from kernel fill to crop quality. If the 50/50 balance isn’t maintained, the plant will prioritize restoring it over all other functions, including yield. 

This makes it essential for farmers to focus on both the quantity of nutrients applied and the charge balance they bring to the plant. By maintaining a consistent 50/50 charge ratio, growers can enhance nutrient uptake efficiency, boost photosynthetic activity, and ultimately increase yield potential. 

This understanding transforms fertilization from a simple nutrient application to a strategic management of plant charge balance. It’s not just about how much fertilizer is applied but how it interacts electrically within the plant’s system. By embracing this approach, farmers can optimize nutrient efficiency, reduce waste, and achieve higher yields.