Fertigation with Fe-EDTA, Fe-DTPA, and Fe-EDDHA Chelates to Prevent Iron Chlorosis of Sensitive Species in High-pH Soilless Media

Multiple studies have examined the use of chelates to correct pH-induced Fe chlorosis. Here we report the effects of three common chelates on prevention of Fe chlorosis in two sensitive species at high pH. Calibrachoa and soybean were grown in three media pH ranges (6.0 to 6.5, 7.0 to 7.2, and 7.6 to 7.8) and supplied with 1 mg·L −1 Fe as Fe-EDTA, Fe-DTPA, or Fe-EDDHA through fertigation. Chelate effectiveness was quantified by chlorosis rating and dry mass. In Calibrachoa , all three chelates prevented chlorosis at media pH up to 6.5, but above pH 7.2 only Fe-EDDHA was effective. Dry mass decreased as pH increased, but the decrease was less within the Fe-EDDHA treatment. Fe-DTPA was intermediate. There is a wide range in cost: Fe-EDDHA is currently four times, and Fe-DTPA is two times, the cost of Fe-EDTA. Fe-EDDHA binds Fe to pH 9, Fe-DTPA binds to pH 7.5, and Fe-EDTA binds to pH 6.5. Consistent with the stability constants for each chelate, the lower-cost Fe-EDTA chelate was effective in preventing chlorosis in Calibrachoa at media pH below 6.5. We conclude that the additional expense of Fe-DTPA and Fe-EDDHA is only necessary for Calibrachoa when the pH is above 6.5. However, Fe-EDDHA consistently resulted in greater dry mass of soybeans than Fe-EDTA in all pH levels. This suggests that Fe-EDDHA might improve growth of some species, even at a pH below 6.5.