As a result should be a good practice to consider during normal handling of your yard and garden, especially if you notice symptoms of chlorosis.
But not all chemical forms of iron are equivalent: plants can only absorb ferrous ion (Fe2 +), which is very unstable in soils with high pH (alkaline soils and alkaline pH 8) as it quickly oxidizes becoming ion ferric (Fe3 +) unusable for plants.
That is, the addition of iron is ineffective if products ensuring the permanence in the soluble form of this element on the ground are used.
Effectiveness Chelated Iron
A chelate is nothing other than a substance which forms complexes by binding with metal ions, in this case with the ferrous iron (Fe2 +) that is of interest.
There are different types of chelates:
- EDTA, DPTA (pentetic acid) HEEDTA: This group chelates little stability in alkaline soils. Respectively, the range of protection: EDTA: pH 6.5-7; DTPA: pH 4.5-7 i HEEDDTA: pH 4.5-7.
- EDDHA: It is one of the most stable chelates in the world. Depending on their isometry can be of high stability and long-term efficacy (ortho-ortho) with a pH range of 3 to 11 or lower stability and fast response (ortho-para) with a pH range of 3 to 10. Today, the ortho-ortho EDDHA is one of the most used in alkaline soils.
- EDDHMA, EDDHSA, and EDDCHA: This group also has high stability, are intended for highly alkaline soils ends. PH range ≤ 11. The latter two are highly soluble and can be used in fertigation.
- IDHA: It is a biodegradable chelating agent.
Considering the above points, How useful iron chelate is chosen?
When choosing a top chelated iron, we should look at two critical aspects: wealth and type of chelating agent that form. This information can be found easily on the product label, in paragraph composition:
Wealth indicates the ratio, expressed as a percentage of soluble or assimilable iron-containing the product to total iron. That is, the amount of iron they can absorb the plants in your garden or orchard.
In general, most chelates have a total iron content of 6%, with the wealth, the value varies depending on each product. Depending on the richness and sensitivity to chlorosis of plants or culture, we determine the dose to be applied.
However, the type of chelating agent we mark stability and working pH range. As a result, it is essential to consider the pH and soil characteristics or substrate in which the plants are, because, in turn, we will mark the type of agent you use.
For example: Suppose we have a garden soil with an alkaline pH 8 (typical of our area), in that case, one would choose EDDHA chelate orto-orto that we ensure the permanence of iron as soluble long term.
If escogiésemos a chelate with a pH range less, not protect iron and quickly precipitate being unusable for plants in your garden or orchard, and if escogiésemos one of higher rank, for example, pH 11, also would give us problems since due to soil pH, it would cost iron yield and thus the contribution of this ore would be slower and less effective.
