Every living being needs fuel to produce energy and grow, which are essential for them to survive. According to the researchers, there are 16 elements that are vital for plats to stay healthy. One of these elements is iron that is important for the growth and its food production. It helps in many functions in plants such as energy transfer, lignin formation, and nitrogen reduction as well as fixation.
Even plants experience iron deficiency, which is also known as iron chlorosis or lime chlorosis. The first symptoms of this condition are yellow patched between dark green veins, further the leaves turn whitish and black and then die. The new leaves also grow yellow in color because it cannot transport iron properly throughout the tissues. However, other deficiencies also show the same kind of symptoms and therefore, it is important to do a soil test to know the problem.
In case you find out that the plant is iron deficient then before adding any supplements or iron powder fertilizers; understand what kind of iron fused fertilizers are perfect to cure this condition. This article lists the common symptoms as well as treatments concerning the condition of iron deficiency in plants.
Importance of Iron in Plants
Iron is one of the essential elements but low use and less mobility for plants. Among all the micronutrients plants need to iron more than other. Among micronutrients, Iron (Fe) is a cofactor for approximately 140 enzymes that catalyze unique biochemical reactions [4]. Deficiency or low activity of iron in the plant causes chlorophyll is not produced in sufficient quantities and the leaves are pale
Chelated iron powder fertilizers, in which the iron is combined with an organic chemical called a chelate that helps keep the iron in a plant-available form, are most appropriate for application to the soil.iron plays a role in photosynthetic electron transport, respiration, chlorophyll formation, and numerous enzymatic reactions.
Chelated iron, on the other hand, does not bond to components in alkaline soil and remains available to the plant for absorption.
Symptoms of Iron Deficiency in Plants
• Top of the plants turn yellow
• The plant has a poor growth
• It produces fewer flowers or fruits
Causes of Iron Deficiency in Plants
• High pH or alkaline soil cannot absorb nutrients properly through the roots and lead to iron deficiency. The ideal pH level should be between 5.5 and 6.5
• Improper ratios of nutrients can cause an imbalance in the iron levels as well as iron deficiency
• Poor soil quality or cold soil can inhibit the iron intake of the plants
• Extreme weather conditions like high temperatures, exposure to too much sunlight fluctuate the pH level and lead to iron deficiency
Treatment of Iron Deficiency in Plants :
Biofortification is a promising, upcoming, sustainable and cost-effective technique for delivering the micronutrient to people who has limited access to various diets and micronutrient interventions. Unfortunately, main food crops are the poor source of micronutrients which are required for the normal human growth. Biofortification differs form the conventional fortification in which the biofortification aims in increasing the nutrient levels in the crops in the course of plant growth rather than a manual means which is done in the processing of crops.
The condition of iron deficiency can be treated by adding stable form of iron that have a long-lasting effect and helps in better absorption of the mineral. High purity iron is always beneficial to cure the condition of iron deficiency. Another type of iron helpful for plants is the Iron Sulfate or chelated iron compounds. There are several iron-based fertilizers that provide iron to the plants. These are available in the powder that mixed with sold or in liquid form, which is sprayed to provide iron to the plants. It upgrades the transport as well as utilization of ion and triggers proper growth, development, and health in the plants.
• Ferrous sulfate:It contains 20% iron and is available in liquid form that is used for foliar spraying. It is used in case the soil has a pH above 7.0 and this fertilizer is used to transform iron into Fe3+ and creates iron oxides.
• Iron Chelates: There are compounds used to stabilize metal ions and balance the pH levels in the plants and replace other high concentration nutrients with the ions.
• Fe-EDDHA:This fertilizer is used when the soil is alkaline and needs to decrease the pH level.
Where to get good quality Iron to make iron chelated or salts to make fertilizers?
Established in 1974, one of the most convenient source of high purity iron, Industrial Metal Powders (India) Pvt. Ltd is delivering the world best form of food and pharma grade of iron for food fortification as well as biofortifications since long time.As the purity is more than 99.5% with min impurities, it helps to make the good quality of iron chelated and ferrous salts to make as micronutrient in fertilizers. Due to its excellent bioavailability, it gets improve the absorption of iron into different crops and support to get the essential iron to the plants.
