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On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Chelated micronutrients are those that have been attached to another molecule, often a carbohydrate. These new molecules can be absorbed by the plant roots or leaves. Once absorbed the molecule is broken down by the plant and the micronutrient then utilized. There are quite a few of these available and for a good while people were and maybe still are using products from Agro K. I still have some. My question is, "Are chelated micronutriets better than just the regular micronutrients that are available in such products as All Purpose Miracle Grow?" They do cost a bit more and so are they worth the added expense? Maybe cost is not that important with pumpkin and tomato growers etc when they are going for big?

8/18/2013 12:54:03 PM

Muddy Waters

Yes Marv the chelated are not as salty.So you dont have the bulid up ,which burn the plant.The Chelated are more easily taken up by plant.

8/19/2013 5:54:41 AM

Bethlehem CT

I agree the chelated forms were probably chelated for a reason. Better plant availability, less likely to get locked up into an unusable form. These are just a couple of ideas that came to mind.

8/19/2013 7:22:58 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Marv. as stated above chelated micronutrients resist tie up in the soil. They maybe better for some types of soils and situations where irrigation water is difficult to manage or treat with acids.

The agro K products used what they called a Dextro Lac. I believe this was some type of complex carbohydrate. I used vigor-cal for years and liked it very much.

I use ETDA types sparingly by foliar only, however they are far cheaper and readily available.

My favorite is Fulvic acid, it is an extremely potent natural chelating agent. I combine it with Ca, Mn, Mg, and other nutrients often drenching with Fructose type sugars and Citric type ascorbic acids. I find this works well for me keeping solubility within my soil.

Russ

8/22/2013 11:15:55 AM