A 4R Approach to Iron Availability and Management Considerations
Though iron deficiency symptoms can be visually apparent in most crops, the underlying reasoning for reduced uptake or availability can be more complex. Dedicating time to understanding the soil‐plant environment in each distinctive soil where you suspect iron to be limiting productivity is well worth it.
Iron (Fe) is a nutrient required by all organisms, including microbes, plants, animals, and humans. It was first recognized as a necessary plant nutrient in the mid‐19th century when iron‐deficient grapes were successfully treated with foliar applications of iron‐bearing salts. Iron is a component of many vital plant enzymes and is required for a wide range of biological functions. As the fourth most common element in the earth’s crust, most soils contain abundant iron but in forms that are low in solubility and sometimes not readily available for plant uptake. The concepts of 4R Nutrient Stewardship — understanding how the right source of iron can be applied at the right rate with optimal timing and placement — can alleviate iron deficiencies.
Iron in Soils
Iron is abundant in many rocks and minerals, and as soils develop, there can be either enrichment or depletion of iron. Depletion commonly leads to deficiency, and enrichment can cause toxicity when potentially soluble iron minerals are high and in poorly drained soils. Iron concentration can be present at 50,000 times the crop’s annual demand, but factors that affect availability limit utilization. The main source of iron in soils for use by plants comes from secondary oxides absorbed or precipitated onto soil mineral particles and iron–organic matter complexes.
Continue reading at 4R Nutrient Stewardship.
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