Foliar fertilization with Metalosates

Abstract

Two crops of wheat were grown in a calcareous sandy soil and with foliar sprays of synthetic chelates and Metalosates involving iron, zinc, manganese and copper. In the first crop test iron and manganese were absorbed more readily frcm the Metalosates than from the synthetic chelates. In the second crop all four micronutrients were absorbed more from the Metalosates than from the synthetic chelates. The Metalosates resulted in boron uptake which might have given a slight toxicity. Since there were no micronutrient deficiencies in the plants no yield increases for the sprays were obtained. In another experiment, one crop of corn was grown in solution culture under iron deficient conditions (with an adequate iron control). Foliar sprays of FeEDTA, Fe Metalosate and FeSO₄ indicated best response when a urea‐NH₄NO₃ carrier at 1000 mg N/liter of spray was in the solution. All three iron sources did reasonably well with the carrier. With no carrier Fe Metalosate was inferior; with an organic phosphorus carrier, FeSO₄, was inferior. More iron was translocated to the roots with the chelate sprays than with the FeSO₄.

Notes

Albion Laboratories, Inc., Clearfield, Utah 84015.