Economic soil treatment of iron chlorosis in grain sorghum grown on a gypsum affected soil

Abstract

Field studies in 1980, 1981 and 1982 were used to evaluate the effectiveness and economic feasibility of FeEDDHA, Fe‐lignosulfonate, acidified mining residue, and Eagle Iron for correction of iron chlorosis in grain sorghum grown on a gypsum affected soil. Treatments were applied as a band in the seed furrow at planting. Rates of Fe included 0.13 kg Fe/ha as FeEDDHA; 0.25, 0.49, 1.23, 1.48, 1.97, 2.46, and 3.70 kg Fe/ha as Fe‐lignosulfonate; 8.96, 11.2, and 17–9 kg Fe/ha as acidified mining residue; and 1.34 and 2.80 kg Fe/ha as Eagle Iron. Treatments of 0.31 kg Zn/ha as Zn‐lignosulfonate were also included with Fe‐lignosulfonate as complimentary treatments in 1980 and 1981. All treatments were selected based on their potential cost‐effectiveness to provide correction of iron chlorosis in grain sorghum.

All treatments gave some degree of increase in grain or stover yield, with the exception of the 0.49 and 1.48 Fe/ha and 8.96 kg Fe/ha rates of Fe‐lignosulfonate and acidified mining residue, respectively, in 1981. Significant yield increases were observed in 1981 and 1982 for stover and 1982 for grain. Head counts were generally equal or higher in the treated plots than in the controls.

The most consistently cost‐effective treatments during the three year period were those of Fe‐lignosulfonate. These studies indicate that soil treatments toy application of Fe in the seed furrow can be a practical, economical means of providing reduction of iron chlorosis in grain sorghum.

Key words:

• Iron deficiency
• grain sorghum
• gypsiferous soils
• Fe‐lignosulfonate
• acidified mining residue
• FeEDDHA
• Eagle Iron

Notes

Contribution of New Mexico Agri. Exp. Station. Scientific Paper No. SP‐184. New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003. This work was supported in part by Georgia‐Pacific Corporation and Duval Sales Corporation.

Area Research Agronomist and Extension Plant Nutrition Specialist.