Scribd
Upload
272 views

Chelates

Chelated micronutrients are inorganic nutrients enclosed by organic molecules to prevent reactions in alkaline soils and allow nutrient penetration of plant leaves. Common chelating agents are EDTA, DTPA, and natural products, with the chelate protecting and then releasing the nutrient inside the plant.

Uploaded by

anon_282013308
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
272 views

Chelates

Chelated micronutrients are inorganic nutrients enclosed by organic molecules to prevent reactions in alkaline soils and allow nutrient penetration of plant leaves. Common chelating agents are EDTA, DTPA, and natural products, with the chelate protecting and then releasing the nutrient inside the plant.

Uploaded by

anon_282013308
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Chelated Micronutrients

by Dr. Terrence Fullerton

Chelated micronutrients are widely used in agriculture and are strongly promoted by the
fertilizer industry. Exactly what are they and why should they be used?

The word chelate is derived from the Greek word for “claw”. In fertilizer technology, it
refers to inorganic nutrients that are enclosed by an organic molecule. The example
below shows how a nutrient such as iron combines with the chemical EDTA to form a
chelate.

+ =
Iron EDTA Chelate

The EDTA surrounds the inorganic iron and forms weak bonds with it, effectively giving
the nutrient an organic coating. A chelate is also called a “complex” in other areas of
chemistry but this term is not usually used in the fertilizer industry.

Chelates are useful for micronutrients applied to alkaline soils. Iron, manganese, zinc
and copper react with the ions found at high pH to form insoluble substances. As a
result, the nutrients are made unavailable to plants. The organic coating in the chelate
prevents these reactions from occurring in the soil. The plant roots take up the chelated
nutrient and the chelate releases the nutrient within the plant.

Chelated nutrients are also useful for foliar application. Plant leaves have a waxy
coating that prevents them from drying. The wax repels water and inorganic substances
making it difficult for inorganic nutrients to penetrate into the leaf. However, organic
molecules can penetrate the wax.
The organic coating around the chelated nutrient allows it to penetrate through
the wax into the leaf. Once in the leaf, the chelate releases the nutrient so that it
can be used by the plant.

Inorganic nutrient Chelated nutrient Chelate releases nutrient


cannot easily penetrates into leaf
penetrate waxy leaf

The bond between the organic chemical and the inorganic nutrient must be
strong enough to protect the nutrient, but must be weak enough to release the
nutrient once it gets into the plant. Also, the chelating agent must not be harmful
to plants.

Not all nutrients can be chelated. Iron, zinc, copper, manganese, calcium and
magnesium can be chelated, the other nutrients cannot.

Several organic substances (chelating agents) are used to produce chelates.


EDTA is the most common synthetic chelating agent and is used for both soil and
foliar applied nutrients. DTPA is used mainly for chelates applied to alkaline soils.
It is more effective than EDTA but is usually more expensive. Iron chelates made
with HEDTA and EDDHA are the most effective iron fertilizers on high pH soils
but are also the most expensive.

There are a number of natural products used as chelating agents.


Lignosulfonates, phenols and polyflavinoid chelates are produced using
fermented by-products mainly from the wood pulp industry. Citric acid and other
organic acids are also used .

There is considerable debate over which chelating agents are the most cost-
effective, but remember that whichever chelate you choose, it must contain the
the nutrients that your plants need.

© 2005 Agro Services International Inc. Tel 386 775 6601


205 East Michigan Avenue Fax 321 445 4678
Orange City, Florida, 32763-2332 email [email protected]
www.agrotesting.com

You might also like