Iron chelate how to dilute for spraying. The use of iron chelate and the manufacture at home

A complex organic microfertilizer containing iron in a chelate form is called iron chelate. It is effective tool to combat lime (iron) chlorosis of agricultural plants. The drug is used to treat open and greenhouse soil as a root top dressing, as well as for foliar processing of vineyards, vegetable and fruit crops.

Fertilizer is a compound of metal ions of 2-valent iron F (II) with two or more free atoms of neutral organic matter.

This symbiosis is ideal for the intracellular transport of iron ions through the biochemical barriers of any plant.

The main advantages of iron chelate include:

The chelator introduced into the soil remains available for assimilation by the root system for a long time. After three days of active interaction with plant cells, metal cations pass into tissue metabolites, significantly enhancing the process of photosynthesis.

Compounds in chelated form are much more stable than trace elements in the form of inorganic salts.

The most effective and available for plants amino acid polychelated concentrates of the following metals:

• iron;
• copper;
• manganese;
• zinc.

Plant enzymatic systems cannot function without iron. The lack of this trace element inhibits the conversion of carbon dioxide into organic matter, makes impossible the oxidative and energy processes that precede the formation of chlorophyll. And as a result, the growth and development of the vegetative mass of agricultural crops slows down.

Plants need an average from 0.6 to 9 kg/ha of iron oxide (its formula is Fe203).

Basically, the soil contains a sufficient amount of this element - about 4%, but the sparingly soluble form of the useful substance is absorbed very poorly.

Especially often, iron deficiency is observed on carbonate, lime-rich soils.

The crops most sensitive to the lack of such a trace element are corn, grapes, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes and cucumbers, cabbage, raspberries, citrus fruits and all garden trees.

Being destroyed, chlorophyll makes sometime green leaf pale, light yellow with a creamy tint. In this case, leaf veins may not change color. These symptoms appear on the upper young sprouts. lower leaves still remain green, and the inflorescences become underdeveloped and small.

With severe iron deficiency plants cease to grow and bear fruit, and after a while they die.

Such signs are characteristic of a disease called calcareous chlorosis.

For the purpose of treatment and prevention of trace element deficiency - F (II) in horticulture and agriculture use the drug - iron chelate.

For plants, according to the rules of agricultural technology, what kind of fertilizer is required and carried out with certain periodicity. This allows:

• AT short time without fear of overdose, treat iron chlorosis even in very advanced cases. Discolored plants treated with the drug in the evening begin to gradually turn green in the morning.
• Even novice gardeners and gardeners can prevent the appearance of chlorosis on their plantations by applying preventive treatments.
• To increase the immunity of plants and increase their productivity, despite unfavourable conditions cultivation - poor soil, extreme temperature regime, flaw sunlight or drought.

The action of this microfertilizer is enhanced in combination with boron for such capricious and significantly depleting crops as radishes and strawberries. And the process of soil reclamation after them becomes less costly.

Foliar feeding is indispensable in modern technologies cultivation. On quality soils, when the yield can be affected by the absence of just a few macro or micronutrients, foliar top dressing the best way fertilizer application.

Antichlorosin (iron chelate) is ideal for this treatment method.

Instructions for use by spraying:

The same proportions of the initial solution are used for root dressing.

The amount of solution for preventive treatment will be:

• watering - 2 liters per 1 sq. m.;
• spraying - 1l per 10 sq. m.

And, accordingly, for medicinal purposes, the consumption and concentration will be 2 times greater.

Precautionary measures

Fertilizer, on contact with the skin, can cause irritation in people who are sensitive to such substances. Therefore, using the drug must adhere general rules security:

• work only in protective gloves, change of clothes and headgear;
• spray with goggles and a gauze bandage;
• wash off the drug that gets on the skin of the face or eyes large quantity clean water;
• After finishing processing plants, wash your hands with soap.

Shelf-life Unlimited.

When there is no ready-made preparation at hand, we can make iron chelate with our own hands. The plant is sick and needs to be rescued urgently, for this we take:

• 1 liter of rain or distilled water;
• 2.5 g citric acid;
• 4 g of iron sulfate.

We dilute vitriol and acid in separate containers and pour vitriol into a solution of citric acid.

Stir until smooth. The solution is ready.

We get iron chelate at a concentration of 0.5 g / l.

Or we can use 20 g of ascorbic acid per 10 g of ferrous sulfate.

We cook according to the same technology until all components are completely dissolved.

How to make chelated iron at home and obtain a solution suitable for a single treatment. The mixture is not subject to long-term storage.

A large number of favorable reviews about this fertilizer confirms its effectiveness and indispensability in the fight against chlorosis. The drug helps to wait out adverse weather conditions with minimal crop losses and at the same time stimulates the production of stable immunity to various external factors in plants.

Attention, only TODAY!

Iron is one of the most essential nutrients. It is not classified as either a macro or a micronutrient, it simply must be constantly present in plant nutrition. Lack of iron leads to a disruption in the production of chlorophyll in the leaves, i.e., the gradual cessation of a vital function - the process of photosynthesis.

The most surprising thing is that iron is the most common element, and in the soil it is in sufficient quantity, but, unfortunately, in a form inaccessible to plants. The only available and easily digestible form of the metal is iron chelate.

What is iron chelate

Chelates are highly effective microfertilizers, which include one or more trace elements enclosed in a shell. As the shell breaks down, beneficial elements are released and nourish the plants. One such fertilizer is iron chelate.

In the free form in the soil is III-valent iron - Fe (III). But its molecules are inactive and do not bring practically any benefit to plants, they are not absorbed. The divalent form of iron Fe(II) is mobile, easily and quickly absorbed, but the problem is that such iron oxidizes very quickly, turning into a trivalent form (rust).

To prevent this from happening, Fe(II) is placed in a "shell" - a chelate complex, which consists of weak organic acids (most often - citric). Chelated iron can retain its II-valent structure long time until the chelate complex breaks down. The advantages of using iron chelate are that:

• the breakdown of chelates occurs at the same rate as the absorption of iron by plants, i.e. oversaturation with iron cannot occur, plants take as much as they need;

• the chelate shell breaks down into elements that do not clog the soil and are harmless to environment- oxygen, hydrogen, carbon.

Chlorosis, its causes and treatment

Why do plants need iron chelate? Iron is responsible for the normal course of the most important process in plants - photosynthesis. The lack of an element leads to infection of plant organisms with chlorosis, i.e. synthesis of chlorophyll in green leaves is disturbed.

Plants seem to lose their vitality, weaken and may even die. This manifests itself mainly on newly developing shoots as follows:

• the plates of young leaves between the veins turn yellow, but the veins themselves remain bright green;

• leaves become small;

• there is an unreasonable fall of foliage and unopened buds;

• the shape of the buds and flowers changes, bends;

• the edges of the leaves are twisted;

• apical shoots do not develop or dry out;

• the development of the root system slows down or stops, in the worst case, the death of the roots.

Even one of these symptoms indicates an insufficient amount of iron in the soil. To help the plants, it is necessary to make root or foliar top dressing with a solution of an iron preparation.

What is better for plants - iron chelate or ferrous sulfate?

The most common fertilizers containing iron are chelates and sulfates. However, many gardeners are inclined to believe that iron chelate is much more effective and safer than sulfate:

• during the decomposition of Fe2 (SO4) 3 fertilizer, ferrous iron is released much less than active SO4 ions;

• the rate of Fe(II) release and uptake by plants do not match, therefore most of useful element is lost;

• to achieve the norm of iron consumption, it will be necessary to oversaturate the plants with sulfur, as a result, sulfur poisoning occurs;

• ferrous sulfate is ineffective on depleted soils, in summer time and in difficult climatic conditions.

Much more efficient application iron chelate for plant nutrition.

How to apply

Fruit trees - apples, pears, plums, peaches, cherries, lemons - suffer the most from iron deficiency. In addition, a trace element deficiency is noticeable in such fruit and garden crops as tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, potatoes, corn, and raspberries. The most effective are foliar treatments of plants on the leaves, but root watering also gives good results.

For the prevention of chlorosis

For preventive purposes, the leaves are sprayed every two weeks from the appearance of new leaves to the beginning of flowering (but at least 2 times). To do this, prepare a solution: 5 g of iron chelate is diluted in 10 liters of water, which is used to treat plants at the rate of 1 liter per 10 m 2.

For the treatment of chlorosis

5 g of chelate are dissolved in 5 liters of water for fruit trees, in 8 liters of water for vegetable crops. Processing should be carried out at least 4 times with a break of 2 weeks. If it is necessary to treat deep chlorosis, you can water the plants under the root - 2 liters per 1 sq.m.

For indoor plants

Some types of home flowers are especially demanding on iron and other trace elements, as they are forced to remain in a closed substance for a long time. Iron deficiency is experienced by:

• citrus trees;

• azaleas;

• hydrangeas;

• clerodendrum;

• gardenia.

If the symptoms of chlorosis are observed in other plants, regular spraying of the leaves with an iron chelate solution will help maintain a healthy appearance and normal development of pets.

Preparation of the drug at home

It is easy to make your own iron chelate at home. When ferrous sulfate is dissolved in water, Fe(II) and Fe(III) ions are formed. Chelating agent (citric acid) captures ferrous iron and supplies plants with it.

The drug is effective for preventive treatments, but contains a large number of ballast - Fe (III), therefore, when cooking, the observance of proportions is important. The working solution must be used immediately as long as it retains Orange color and transparency.

Cooking method:

• in 2 liters of warm distilled or rain water (you can use clean settled water), dissolve 5 g of citric acid;

• dissolve 8 g of ferrous sulfate in the same amount of water;

• then slowly pour the vitriol solution into a solution of citric acid in a stream, constantly stirring with a wooden stick;

• then, in the same way, pour another 1 liter of water and immediately use the solution.

Proportions and sequence must be observed. Processing should be carried out in the evening or early cloudy (!) Morning.

In the soil, both deficiency and excess of iron can be observed. Trivalent iron, which forms rust, is not of great benefit to plants. For the production of chlorophyll, a divalent component is needed. Therefore created special agent- iron chelate. This is a modern and effective microfertilizer containing only one important trace element - 2-valent iron ions.

Iron chelate is great for making up for iron deficiency in plants

Main characteristic

For proper growth and formation, plants need special nutrients with which they need to be saturated throughout the growing season. Plants fully absorb iron, providing themselves with a balanced diet, protection from disease and proper growth.

Description and release form

Iron deficiency is easily diagnosed by outward signs: light foliage with green veins. Chelated iron is an ion covered by a shell of weak organic acid residues. Pear, apple, plum, cherry, lemon, as well as grapes grown on depleted soils suffer from a lack of an element. Trees bear little fruit, bloom slightly, and the color of the fruit becomes light or pale. The deficit also applies to vegetable crops.

Iron deficiency in plants is easily determined by appearance

Separate types indoor flowers demanding on iron and other trace elements, as they must remain in a closed substance. Azaleas, lemongrass, hydrangeas, gardenias and others are prone to iron deficiency. When the first signs of chlorosis are found, it is necessary to spray the leaves. This will ensure a healthy appearance and full development.

The tasks of iron chelate:

• rapid treatment of infectious chlorosis (yellowing of foliage) even at an advanced stage;
• prevention of chlorosis;
• restoration of plant photosynthesis in bad conditions cultivation (poor soil, deficiency or excess of light, cold or hot weather).

Iron chelate is available from different manufacturers and in different form factors.

Compounds of trace elements in the chelated form are more stable than in the form of inorganic salts. Polychelated concentrations are effective and available to plants various metals: iron, copper, manganese and zinc. Greatest effect the agent gives in combination with boron, improving land reclamation. For example, crops such as radishes and strawberries severely deplete the soil. Joint processing with boric acid will increase productivity.

In powder form or in other solid forms, the chelate is unstable when exposed to air and sunlight.

Benefits of using iron chelate:

• stable immunity to environmental conditions;
• replenishment of micronutrient deficiencies;
• improvement of cellular respiration, metabolism and photosynthesis;
• good plant growth;
• an increase in the amount of iron.

In this video you will learn about the use of iron sulfate:

It is sold in the form of tablets with stabilizers or in vials with a concentrated stock solution. last view is a dark brown liquid. The finished working solution is painted in a light brown or orange shade. Fertilizer is stored for one year in its pure form. After opening the package, if the substance was stored in a closed form, the expiration date does not change. The mother liquor in an uncorked container retains its properties for two weeks, the working solution is applied immediately.

Positive effect of fertilizer:

Plants do not have an overdose of iron-containing components, since the roots, leaves and stems will only absorb required amount trace elements.

Dosing and use rules

Affordable price and ease of use will soon solve problems in plants. Root top dressing is used in complex and advanced cases of chlorosis, foliar top dressing is used to prevent the disease.

Also, iron chelate can be used as a prevention of chlorosis.

Foliar, external treatment is the spraying of plants or trees with a spray liquid. Primary treatment is carried out after the foliage unfolds, the next - after two weeks. Fruit trees irrigate 0.8% of chelated iron, and vegetable, berry and ornamental crops- 0.4% solution.

For root irrigation, 0.8% fertilizer is used. The agent is poured under the root in the appropriate volume.

The proportions of the product for root watering:

• 10-20 liters per tree;
• 1-2 liters per bush;
• 4-5 liters per 100 sq. m of vegetables or berries.

The instructions for use may contain other information about the dosage. This is due to the presence of ballast components in different forms release. When recalculating the active substance, the concentration remains the same.

It is important to adhere to the rules and safety precautions for the use of iron chelate

Spraying, irrigation and watering are carried out in the evening, a warm, overcast day is recommended. The atomizer should not spray, but spray a light drizzle. The irrigation procedure is completed when fine dew settles on the leaves. Drops should not roll down.

Before watering under the root, the soil should be well moistened. This is done in advance.

Do-it-yourself microfertilizer

The working solution is prepared from budget vitriol. The chelate forms an acidifier - citric or ascorbic acid. The action of the substance is explained by the fact that when vitriol is dissolved in water, iron ions are formed, which are captured by the chelating agent.

In two liters of warm water, divalent 8 g of copper sulfate are mixed until completely dissolved. In another bowl, observing a similar proportion, dissolve 5 g of citric acid. Copper sulphate is added in a thin stream to the resulting acidic solution. Stirring constantly, pour 1 liter of water. The result is a fertilizer with a volume of 5 liters. A solution with a base substance concentration of 0.5% is used immediately.

Iron chelate at home is ready. The suitability of the working composition is determined by the transparency and orange tint of the liquid. There should be no sediment and cloudy color. Ready solution should not be diluted; if necessary, to obtain a larger volume, increase the amount of water and reagents.

Another option is to add ascorbic acid. Tablets should not contain glucose. Ascorbic acid (10 g) is added to a solution of ferrous sulfate (1 tsp per 0.5 l of water). Dilute 3 liters of water, after the connection, chelated iron is formed.

The main disadvantage of creating an iron chelate at home is that it cannot be stored, as the drug oxidizes and precipitates. The decomposed chelate complex does not leave behind compounds harmful to the plant. Its decay products are carbon dioxide and water, which are harmless to the plant.

Safety rules and analogues of the tool

Treat plants in the garden or indoors with iron chelate with extreme caution. There are similar preparations that, in the absence of the original fertilizer, are successfully used in horticulture.

Precautionary measures

The agent belongs to substances of the third class of danger to humans, therefore, the treatment of plants is carried out using personal protective equipment. Getting on the skin, the fertilizer often causes inflammation and redness.

Using the drug, you must follow the general safety measures:

At the end of the procedure, you must wash your face and hands with soap, wash your clothes and treat with a soda solution.

Drug substitutes

The agronomic market is represented by a large number of fertilizers and fertilizers horticultural crops. Due to its easy absorption, iron chelate for plants is quite common. This is a versatile and environmentally friendly fertilizer that benefits the garden. Some analogues are identical to iron chelate, while others are inferior in quality.

It is not necessary to use iron chelate, any product containing iron ions will do.

Ferovit is a universal photosynthesis activator. The fertilizer contains chelated iron, urea and nitrogen. This tool is processed all year round vegetable and fruit crops as well as home and ornamental plants. Potted flowers suffer from hard water, which makes the earth alkaline and makes it difficult for iron to be freely absorbed from the soil. Fertilizer saturates the earth with iron, promotes good absorption of ions by plants, saturates seedlings.

Another analogue is Microvit K-1, containing iron, sulfur and nitrogenous compounds. The tool actively fights plant chlorosis, is used for external and root processing during the growing season. Used as a chelating agent citric acid protecting iron ions from oxidation.

Water-soluble granules and Fertik's water solution are well absorbed by the plant and soil. Plentiful moisture is necessary for granules.

Some time after fertilizing plants with iron, you will find improvements in their condition.

Ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) is used instead of chelate. This substrate is cheaper in cost, but also inferior in utility. During the decay of ions, most of the useful substances evaporate. The use of ferrous sulfate leads to excess sulfur and plant burns. Sulfate does not help with depleted soil and poor climatic conditions. This fertilizer should not be used on small areas(up to 10 acres) and in greenhouses).

Microfertilizer Orton Micro-Fe contains iron, boron, cobalt, manganese, zinc and other elements. It is used as a foliar top dressing in order to activate photosynthesis, prevent chlorosis, and increase resistance to diseases.

The introduction of any microelements into the soil or the treatment of plants with them plays the role of a healer for fruit crops.

The use of top dressing with Reakom increases the energy of germination, increases germination, resistance to diseases and bad weather conditions. Foliar top dressings provide even greater absorption of useful elements, accelerate flowering, pollination, and improve the quality of the crop.

It is important to understand that iron is extremely important element for plants, if the problem is not corrected in time, this is negative
will affect the result

Iron is an essential element for plant growth. Its lack leads to a violation of the production of chlorophyll in the leaves, the process of photosynthesis gradually stops. Iron deficiency is felt in alkaline lands. If the content of the element is sufficient, for its assimilation it is necessary to maintain the acidic reaction of the soil. The only form of metal available that is readily absorbed is chelated iron.

I will share mine with you excellent result in treatment iron deficiency :).

Short preface

In 2015, I discovered that I was anemic. I had a terrible weakness, it was very difficult to think, my hair fell out. After re-reading a sea of ​​information on the Internet, according to the symptoms, I began to suspect anemia in myself. As a result, I found out that the most informative analysis is ferritin, the depot of iron in the body. I passed this analysis in the laboratory and my result was 20 ng / ml, while 70 ng / ml is considered normal.

I wrote in detail about anemia and iron deficiency - signs and symptoms, test results, types of iron preparations, dosages, nutrition and much more - in my old blog in a series of articles:

The story goes on

So, since 2015, I have been treating iron deficiency with varying degrees of success. The maximum indicator that I managed to achieve in 4 months of continuous use of the pharmaceutical preparation of 3-valent iron Maltofer, 3 tablets per day, was 56 ng/ml. When I stopped taking it, or if I only took 1 tablet as a maintenance dose, my ferritin level dropped again to about 30 ng/ml .

Then, after a question from a blog reader, I researched a very good iron supplement, iron protein succinylate, and then bought it. However, due to the high cost, I could not take it for a long time and again switched to Maltofer with the same insufficient results.

In the end, I got tired of it and I decided to try chelated iron (glycinate chelate). I thought that in terms of price-quality ratio, it might be the best.

I researched the options on iHerb and ordered a large 250-tablet jar from Carlson Labs, intending to take it long term.

(if Carlson Labs is not available, see links to similar dietary supplements below in the text)

Before you start taking chelated iron I have been specially tested for ferritin to accurately track the dynamics in a month. My score was 31 ng/ml .

A month later, I stopped taking it and waited a week, as indicated in the recommendations of the laboratory, I wrote about this in an article, and again passed the analysis. I was very surprised - my ferritin test result was 64 ng/ml ! I have never had this. And it's only been a month and such a great result! 🙂

Now let me tell you more - chelated iron I took on 3 tablets per day. I took 3 at once at a time, because I drink a lot of other dietary supplements, and iron cannot be combined in one go with zinc and magnesium.

The dosage of 1 Carlson Lab tablet is 27 mg of iron, i.e. in a day I took 81 mg, which is consistent with the dosage indicated in scientific articles on various types gland.

« 80-100 mg iron per day for women with ferritin<30 µg/l;
40 mg iron per day, women with ferritin 31-70 µg/l;
40 mg iron per day for women with ferritin < или = 70 mcg/l.
Women with ferritin > 70 µg/l dont need in an iron supplement.

I took 81mg as my ferritin was 31ng/ml at the start of treatment. Do not be confused by different units of measurement, as mcg/l = ng/ml.

Chelated iron is well tolerated - without the slightest discomfort for the stomach and intestines. I can say this for sure, since my gastrointestinal tract is sensitive.

I'll take a little more iron to get up to 70ng/mL and then only take it a few days a month after my period to replenish blood loss.

I also give links to similar dietary supplements of chelated iron in the same dosage (25-27 mg) from good manufacturers:
Solgar, Iron Chelate, 25 mg, 100 Tablets

Bluebonnet Nutrition, Chelated Iron Extra Strength, 27 mg
Thorne Research, Iron Bisglycinate, 25 mg

And in this variant, the increased dosage in 1 tablet is 50 mg. Keep this in mind when calculating your dosage.
Solaray, Iron, 50 mg

And now a little more about chelated iron

An iron chelate is the combination of iron ions with an amino acid, usually glycine. "Chela" is Latin for "claw". In a chelate compound, the iron atom is connected to amino acids, as if taken in a claw.

Chelated forms of minerals are considered the most effective and at the same time gentle - without side effects.

Concerning effectiveness of chelated iron I will give information from scientific research.

Children aged 6 months to 3 years took ferrous sulfate and iron bisglycinate chelate. The difference in serum ferritin concentration was significantly higher in the group that received iron bisglycinate chelate.

Another study compared the tolerability of ferrous sulfate and ferrous bisglycinate chelate. Both ferrous sulfate and ferrous bisglycinate chelate have been found to have equivalent therapeutic efficacy at the same dose (50 mg), but side effects were higher (37% vs 21%) in the ferrous sulfate group.

Iron chelate bisglycinate, due to its chemical structure, can be partially resistant to the action of enzymes and the binding of substances present in food, such as metals, dietary fibers, phytates and phenols, with which iron can form insoluble compounds.

In addition, due to amino acid binding, there is less direct effect of iron on gastrointestinal mucosal cells. This may reduce toxicity and side effects affecting the gastrointestinal tract such as constipation, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.

Given this information and my experience, I conclude that chelated iron is an effective and safe drug for the treatment of anemia and iron deficiency.

To receive good harvests plants need to be provided not only with basic nutrients, but also with microelements. Iron, along with copper, zinc, boron, manganese, cobalt and molybdenum, is among the seven most important. Iron chelate allows you to effectively feed the plants with this element. About what it is, how to use the drug and cook it with your own hands, will be discussed in the material.

Benefits of chelated mineral supplements

First of all, it is important to understand that nutrients are absorbed by plants only in a bioavailable form. Ordinary mineral fertilizers ( see → ) before it can be taken up by plants, it often has to go through a series of transformations. In chelated substances, the substances are initially in a bioavailable state. Chelated fertilizers penetrate better into plant cells, due to which they are absorbed by 90%. Ordinary mineral compounds absorb only 40-70%.

In addition to this important advantage, chelated fertilizers have an impressive list of others:

• do not have a phytotoxic effect;
• do not affect the acidity of the soil;
• do not accumulate in the soil, causing its salinization;
• do not enter into a chemical reaction with other substances, forming unwanted compounds;
• perfectly soluble in water and well absorbed by the roots and leaves.

Being organomineral fertilizers, chelates do not harm ecological state site and can be used on soils of any type.

Iron chelate: characteristics and purpose

Externally, iron chelate is a dark red fine powder. molecules given substance are complexes formed by iron itself and a chelating agent. Various organic acids can act as the latter:

As can be seen from the table, different iron chelates exhibit unequal stability in the external environment. So, for example, an EDTA-chelated preparation will work well in acidic soils, but will disintegrate in calcareous soils. These nuances must be considered when buying.

The main purpose of iron chelate is the treatment of non-infectious chlorosis caused by a deficiency of this trace element. Also, the drug can be used for prophylactic purposes.

Tip #1. Information about the chelating agent can be found on the package of the drug. It is usually given as a Latin abbreviation.

Signs of iron deficiency in plants

The most sensitive to iron deficiency in the soil are such crops as tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, raspberries, apple trees, apricots, cherries, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, grapes and greenhouses. citrus plants. Their deficient state is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• the upper young leaves lose their color, the lower old ones remain green;
• chlorotic areas of pale yellow, almost white color appear between the veins;
• areas affected by chlorosis expand, capture the entire interveinal space, leaving only the veins green.

The plant, being unable to carry out photosynthesis normally, slows down growth, sheds flowers and ovaries. If new leaves appear on it, then they already turn out to be chlorotic when deployed.

Non-infectious chlorosis in plants occurs because chlorophyll in the cells ceases to be synthesized and is destroyed. All the described signs are a signal for immediate feeding of plants with iron chelate.

The effect of iron chelate on plants

Iron plays an important role in the biochemical processes occurring in the plant cell:

• participates in the synthesis of chlorophyll;
• participates in the transfer of electrons during photosynthesis;
• participates in the construction of proteins that restore nitrites and sulfates;
• involved in the synthesis of nucleic acids.

It follows that iron chelate can be used not only for the treatment and prevention of iron deficiency chlorosis. Treatment with this drug allows you to achieve the following goals:

• increase photosynthetic activity and cellular respiration of plants growing in the shade;
• improve the condition of seedlings in the absence of additional illumination with phytolamps;
• normalize nitrogen metabolism in cells and improve the absorption of other mineral elements;
• improve pollen quality, stimulate flowering and fruiting.

Thus, iron chelate indirectly affects the volume and quality of the crop.

Ways to use iron chelate

One of the advantages of iron chelate is that this drug is equally well absorbed through the roots and through the leaves. This property allows you to use it for top dressing by any means.

Most often, chelate solutions are used for leaf dressing. For this right amount powder dissolves in water. The concentration of the working solution is as follows:

• for top dressing fruit trees- 5 g per 5 liters of water;
• for other crops - 5 g per 8 liters of water.

You can spray plants with iron chelate throughout the growing season. However, the greatest efficiency is observed when processing during the period of active growth - in late spring and the first half of summer. At this time, you need to do four foliar top dressing with an interval of 2 weeks.

Equally useful is the delivery of iron chelate with irrigation water. The solution is made in the same way as for spraying, only its concentration in any case should be 5 g of chelate per 5 liters of water. For 1 m 2 of soil during irrigation, you need to spend about 2 liters of working solution.

Important! If iron chelate treatment is carried out with medicinal purposes, stop feeding only after the disappearance of symptoms of chlorosis. This can be done both on the sheet and under the root. If the growing leaves acquire a normal color, then the iron deficiency is replenished.

Manufacturers of iron chelate and drug prices

Powdered iron chelate can be purchased from various agrochemical manufacturers:

Manufacturer	Chelating agent	Permissible reaction of the soil solution	Price
NPP VIOST	DTPA	acidic or neutral	20 rubles for 5 g
OOO "Electrochemistry"	DTPA	acidic or neutral	22 rubles for 5 g
TPK Technoexport (Green Belt)	Not specified	Not specified	23 rubles per 10 g
"Agromaster"	EDDHA	alkaline	4200 rubles for 5 kg
Valagro	EDDHA	alkaline	1700 rubles per 1 kg
Yugreaktiv	EDTA	Sour	350 rubles per 1 kg
"Buy Fertilizers"	EDTA	Sour	700 rubles per 1 kg

Iron chelate can also be produced in liquid form. In particular, it is included in the "Hydroponics Kit Micro" solution, which can be used not only for hydroponic growing of plants, but also for watering the soil.

Do-it-yourself preparation of iron chelate

Given that the consumption of iron chelate and the working solution is quite high, and at least four treatments are required to achieve the effect, this drug cannot be called cheap. Fortunately, iron can be easily chelated at home. For this, substances that are available to any summer resident will fit:

• ascorbic or citric acid, apple cider vinegar;
• inkstone.

These acids form unstable compounds with iron molecules, so you need to prepare homemade chelates immediately before use. If they are stored for a long time, the solutions age, change color, and iron precipitates.

Citric acid has an important property that will allow not only to feed plants with iron. In biochemistry, there is such a thing as the Krebs cycle. This is the basis of plant cell metabolism, thanks to which it is supplied with energy. chemical reactions, occurring at the same time, occur with the participation of citric acid.

To make iron chelate, you need to take iron sulfate powder and citric acid in a ratio of 1: 1.5⊕ . For example, to prepare 1 liter of chelate solution

4 g of acid and 2.5 g of vitriol are required. First, the acid dissolves completely in water. Then vitriol is gradually mixed into the solution. The result is a lemon-colored liquid that contains 0.5 g/l of ferrous iron in the form of citrate.

If ascorbic acid in tablets is taken for chelation, it must be pure, without dyes and glucose. Tablets are pre-ground into powder. A half-liter jar of water will require 10 g of ascorbic acid. After dissolving the acid, 1 teaspoon of ferrous sulfate is introduced into the solution. Then everything is diluted with water - the final volume of liquid should be equal to 3 liters.