Chelated Micronutrient Mixture

Chelates are useful for micronutrients applied to alkaline soils. Iron, manganese, zinc and copper react with the ions found at high pH to form insoluble substances. As a result, the nutrients are made unavailable to plants. The organic coating in the chelate prevents these reactions from occurring in the soil. The plant roots take up the chelated nutrient and the chelate releases the nutrient within the plant. Chelated nutrients are also useful for foliar application. Plant leaves have a waxy coating that prevents them from drying. The wax repels water and inorganic substances making it difficult for inorganic nutrients to penetrate into the leaf. However, organic molecules can penetrate the wax. Micronutrients are elements which are essential for plant growth, but are required in much smaller amounts than those of the primary nutrients; Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium.