Determination of ferrous and ferric iron ratio in spinach plants and their relation to iron application

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Abstract
Two greenhouse pot experiments, namely sand culture and calcareous soil were carried out to evaluate Fe++ /Fe+++ ratio in spinach plants. Six rates of iron fertilization as ferric‐EDTA, i.e., control, 5, 15, 39 50 and 100 ppm. Fe were applied. Determination of Fe++ and Fe+++ iron is based on the fact that Fe ++ reacts with 8 N HCl in absence of water forming tetrachloroferrate (FeCl4)‐ which is soluble in diethyl ether but insoluble in water, therefore, Fe++ and Fe+++ in plant tissue could be extracted and separated from each others. FeT and Fe++ content in spinach plants were increased as the soil iron applications were increased . At the mean tine, Fe+++ content was only increased up to 15 ppm iron treatment. However, beyond this rate, Fe+++ content was almostly tended to remain constant, despite the increased amount of total iron. Values of FeT, Fe++ , Fe+++ concentration in spinach plants tissues grown in calcareous soil were significantly lower, than those obtained in case of sand culture experiment.