Abstract
Muck from the Huleh Valley, Israel (drained peat containing about 35% inorganic material) was enriched with inorganic iron salt and tested as an iron source with peanuts as indicator plants. In a pot experiment conducted with a mountain rendzina soil, containing 63% CaCO3, control plants exhibited severe chlorosis and stunted growth, which were completely avoided by the application of FeEDtHA. Iron‐enriched muck increased chlorophyl content threefold over the control up to a level equal to that of FeEDDHA. Dry matter yield was doubled. Levels of Na4P2O7‐ and DTPA‐ extractable iron after three months of growth, were found to be 2–3 times higher than those of the control and FeEDDHA treatments. A field experiment was conducted in the Bet‐Shean Valley on a rendzina soil containing 42% CaCO3. During the growth period, the Fe‐muck and FeEDDHA. treatments exhibited clear advantage over the untreated plots. Pod and hay yields of the Fe‐muck treatments were about 175% of those of the control and about 80% of those of the FeEDDHA. Since the Fe‐muck developed from very inexpensive components proved effective on extremely calcareous soils, prospects for economically solving problems of iron deficiency seem good.