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Without fertilizing, you will not grow a crop even on fertile soils. Fertilizers containing basic and additional chemical elements are used in households and industrial fields. These are the food sources of plants. Chelated fertilizers can be distinguished among their types. They have advantages over conventional ones, increase the productivity of agriculture.
Importance of trace elements in plant life
Nature has defined microelements for far more than one function in the life of plants. They help to most fully assimilate the main nutrients, water and solar energy. Trace elements are part of enzymes that regulate the course of biochemical processes in plant cells. They enhance the ability of tissues to regenerate, improve resistance to adverse environmental influences, such as heat, cold, dry air and soil, excessive humidity, temperature changes and lack of lighting.
The lack of trace elements leads to weakening and poor condition of plants, slowing down development and flowering, and deterioration in fruiting. As a result, the yield decreases. The fruits become small, ugly and tasteless, their number decreases.
Trace elements are involved in all vital plant processes
Signs of micronutrient deficiencies in plants
Despite the fact that trace elements in plants are contained in very small quantities, their deficiency greatly affects their vital activity. Iron is part of enzymes, is involved in the metabolism and synthesis of chlorophyll, in oxidation and reduction reactions, and in cell respiration. Iron cannot move into young tissues from old ones, so its deficiency can be seen on the upper leaves: they become yellowish and whitish, shoot growth slows down.
Manganese is involved in photosynthetic processes, the synthesis of sugars and vitamins, activates enzymes necessary for nitrogen metabolism and other reactions, and regulates water balance. Its deficiency is first detected on the upper leaves: yellowness appears between the veins, they themselves remain green. With further deficiency, spots appear on the leaves, their growth slows down.
Copper regulates photosynthesis, is included in the enzyme composition, increases the resistance of plants to fungal diseases, drought, heat and cold. Its deficiency is manifested by twisting and wilting of the leaves, the appearance of chlorosis spots, darkening and death of the edges of the leaf plates. Plants more than usual become infected with fungal diseases.
Molybdenum improves calcium nutrition, participates in respiration and photosynthesis, nitrogen metabolism and enzyme synthesis. The disadvantage of this trace element is a red or orange border on the leaves, their deformation and death, and the suspension of shoot growth. In fruits with a lack of molybdenum, the concentration of nitrates increases, the content of vitamin C decreases.
You can notice the lack of trace elements by the appearance of leaves and stems.
Zinc is involved in the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and phosphorus, in the synthesis of vitamins and auxins, and affects fruit set. The deficiency is manifested by yellowing and discoloration of young leaves, their deformation and reduction, the appearance of gray-brown and bronze spots scattered over the surface of the leaf. They turn brown and die. The stems become fibrous and thin, the inflorescences stop growing and may fall off. The root system rots.
Boron influences the development of tissues, especially young tissues (at growth points), regulates the number of phytohormones, and activates vital processes in cells. Stimulates flowering, increases the number of fruits, makes plants resistant to diseases, including viral ones. Its deficiency manifests itself on the tops, burns are visible on them, they bend and die. The leaves become thinner and brittle, necrotic tissue appears between the veins, the stems acquire a reddish color. Seed maturation is impaired.
Fertilizers with trace elements in chelated form
To normalize the content of microelements in plant cells, it is necessary to constantly feed the plants with complex fertilizers. It is recommended to use those in which trace elements are in chelate form. Chelates are a combination of a microelement and an organic substance in one molecule, in this form the elements are absorbed most fully.
Chelated fertilizers can be used for root irrigation and foliar spraying, for pre-sowing seed treatment. You can mix them with conventional fertilizers that do not contain microfertilizers, prepare solutions for drip irrigation.
Types of chelated fertilizers
The main microelements vital for plants, with the participation of which chelated fertilizers are produced, are zinc, iron, copper, manganese, cobalt, boron, molybdenum. In accordance with this, there is a chelate of zinc and copper, etc. By the name of the chelated fertilizer, you can understand which element is included in its composition.
Trace elements bind chelating components:
- EDTA (for soils with acidity pH 1,5-6).
- DTPA (with acidity pH 1,5-7).
- EDDNA (with acidity pH 3-10).
- EDP (with acidity pH 4,5-11).
Usually the type of chelating component is indicated on the packaging. In one preparation there can be 1 microelement (monochelates) or several (complex). They are available in the form of powder (microcrystals) and liquid.
Chelated fertilizers are available in professional (canister) packaging and in small containers for home use.
Pros and cons of application
Chelates have undeniable advantages over microelement compounds in inorganic salts:
- dissolve well in water;
- easy to digest;
- do not change properties even in highly acidic soils;
- in this form, trace elements are protected from destabilization by other elements;
- perfectly absorbed by the roots and leaves of plants;
- non-toxic to plants and soil;
- washed out of the soil more slowly;
- combined with pesticides and complex fertilizers (taking into account the recommendations of manufacturers).
The disadvantage of chelated fertilizers is the cost, which is higher than that of conventional ones. The price also depends on the strength of the chelates themselves. Otherwise, they are superior to simple mixtures with trace elements in many respects.
What plants are chelates used for?
Solutions can be watered and sprayed on vegetable, fruit, berry, ornamental crops, garden and indoor flowers (for example, chelated rose fertilizer is popular among those who grow roses for cutting, which improves the size and quality of the flower). They have no restrictions on their use, since all plants need trace elements for normal life.
Root irrigation is one way to apply chelated fertilizers
When and how to apply chelated fertilizers correctly
To achieve the best effect from chelates, they need to be applied during certain periods of plant growth. For example, to process:
- seed before sowing. Soaking in a fertilizer solution can be combined with dressing, at the same time it is possible to disinfect the seeds and increase their germination.
- Seedlings and seedlings. Watering with a chelate solution after transplantation accelerates the survival and development of plants in a new place, helps them adapt faster, get used to non-standard environmental conditions, and resist infections.
- Crops before flowering, which gives multiplication and preservation of the ovary.
- During fruit growth. The yield and quality increase, they become sweeter, the tubers are starchy, they are stored longer, they show a decrease in the content of nitrates.
Chelates can be combined with pesticides, watered or sprayed on crops with solutions after chemical treatment. This allows plants to recover faster after the application of agricultural chemistry.
Ways to use chelated fertilizers
Crystalline and liquid chelate fertilizers can be used to make a solution. Seeds are soaked in it, watered under the root of the plant and sprayed. At the same time, a significant efficiency of foliar feeding is noted, since microelements immediately enter the leaf tissues and are quickly completely absorbed by the plant.
Watering at the root has some drawback – with excessive moisture, part of the chelate elements will go into the soil, after which it will become inaccessible to crops. The problem can be solved with the help of drip irrigation, which delivers water and substances dissolved in it to the roots of plants locally and dosed.
Chelated fertilizers can be added to irrigation solutions of a drip irrigation system
How to make DIY chelated fertilizers
You can usually find liquid chelated fertilizers on sale. They are produced in this form, as they are easy to use – you need to measure the required volume and dissolve in water. Chelates in crystalline form also need to be dissolved in water, as indicated in the instructions.
It turns out that you can make such fertilizers (copper and iron chelate) at home. You will need reagents: copper and iron sulfate, citric acid and pure distilled water.
The sequence of preparation of chelate fertilizers:
- Dissolve 2 g of ferrous sulfate in 8 liters of water.
- Dissolve 2 g of acid in another 5 liters of water.
- Pour the first solution slowly into the second, stirring the liquid without interruption.
- Add another 1 liter of water to the resulting volume.
The output will be 5 liters of iron chelate fertilizer. It should be transparent, without turbidity and sediment, have an orange color. It must be used immediately. Do not dilute, if a larger volume is required, a new batch must be prepared.
Chelated copper fertilizer is prepared in the same way, but ascorbic acid (40 g) and copper sulfate (20 g) are taken.
Homemade chelated fertilizers are not stored and are less effective than industrial fertilizers, so it is recommended to use them for preventive application, and not for quick treatment of plants from micronutrient deficiencies.
Conclusion
Chelated fertilizers, as follows from the practice of their use in farms and private households, are much more effective than simple complex ones with microelements. They are easy to use, there is no need to prepare complex solutions to feed vegetables or trees, you just need to dissolve the right amount of chelates in water. Despite the fact that such fertilizers are expensive, the cost of acquiring them will quickly pay off after harvest.
