Quality Check of Iron Chelates Applied to Ornamental Shrubs on Sphagnum Peat

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Responses of Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Alumii’ and Chaenomeles superba ‘Nicoline’ on moss peat (slightly decomposed young Sphagnum) to various added iron chelates and lime were studied in pot experiments. The best results were obtained with Fe-EDDHA, which was a more effective Fe source at pH 5.6 and 6.3 than either Fe-EDTA or Fe-DTPA for Chaenomeles. Iron deficiency symptoms were mild at pH 4.5 and differences in effectiveness between chelates could not be established at that pH. Results obtained with another commercial iron chelate, Fe-EDDHA, containing only one third of its Fe as Fe-EDDHA, were inferior. The remaining Fe fraction proved largely ineffective in controlling foliar chlorosis. A close relationship was found between the visual colour scores and oxygen production (catalase activity) in Chaenomeles, but not in Chamaecyparis. The results agree with tests using gel chromatography as a means of determining the effectiveness of the chelates. Characterization of commercial iron chelates by this method before marketing is deemed necessary.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: