The application of FeEDDHA products is the most common practice to prevent or to remedy Fe chlorosis in crops grown on calcareous soils. These

FeEDDHA products are applied to correct iron chlorosis in plants and consist of a mixture of EDDHA isomers chelated to iron. In this study such mixtures have been divided into four (groups of) isomers: racemic o,o-EDDHA, meso o,o-EDDHA, o,p-EDDHA and rest-EDDHA. The physical and chemical properties of these isomers differ and hence does their ability to deliver Fe to plants. To come to a soil-specific iron fertilization recommendation, the behaviour of the EDDHA isomers in the soil needs to be understood. This behaviour has been examined in a soil interaction experiment as a function of time, and it has been related to soil properties. The isomer fractions remaining in solution can be ranked racemic

FeEDDHA products are widely used to prevent and remedy Fe chlorosis in crops grown on calcareous soils. These products consist of a mixture of FeEDDHA components: racemic o,o-FeEDDHA, meso o,o-FeEDDHA, o,p-FeEDDHA and rest-FeEDDHA. The FeEDDHA components differ in physical and chemical properties, and as a consequence also in effectiveness as Fe fertilizer. In order to efficiently match dose, frequency and moment of FeEDDHA application with the Fe requirements of plants, it is important to understand the behaviour of the FeEDDHA components in the soil-plant system as a function of time and dosage, and to relate this behaviour to Fe uptake by plants. These issues have been examined in a pot trial study with soybean plants (Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv Mycogen 5072) grown on calcareous soil from Santomera, Spain. Four FeEDDHA treatments (two compositions, two dosages) were applied prior to the set in of chlorosis.Leaching of FeEDDHA components was prevented. Plant and soil were sampled every week, for six weeks. From one week onward the Fe concentration in the pore water was largely gouverned by racemic and meso o,o-FeEDDHA. The concentration behaviour of the o,o-FeEDDHA isomers underwent two stages: a strong decline within the first week resulting from linear adsorption, and a gradual decline from one week onward. For meso o,o-FeEDDHA, unlike racemic o,o-FeDDHA, the gradual decline could be mathematically well described with an exponential decay function. Soybean plants mainly took up Fe in the progressed vegetative stage (3rd and 4th week) and in the reproductive stage, when the pods were being filled with seeds (6th week). Fe uptake and removal of racemic o,o-FeEDDHA from the soil system display a similar time-trend, whereas the removal of meso o,o-FeEDDHA had a plant-independent character. This indicates the removal of racemic o,o-FeEDDHA is to a larger extent plant-related.

FeEDDHA (iron(3+) ethylenediamine-N,N'-bis(hydroxyphenylacetic acid) products are commonly applied to mend and prevent Fe deficiency chlorosis in soil-grown crops. Plants mainly take up Fe in the progressed vegetative and in the reproductive stages. This study examined which of the principal constituents of FeEDDHA products (the isomers racemic o,o-FeEDDHA, meso o,o-FeEDDHA, and o,p-FeEDDHA), most effectively meets the Fe requirements of soybean plants (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) grown on calcareous soil in the aforementioned growth stages. FeEDDHA isomers were applied once, separately or in mixtures, at t = 0, in the progressed vegetative stage or in the reproductive stage. o,p-FeEDDHA did not significantly contribute to Fe uptake in either growth stage. Both racemic and meso o,o-FeEDDHA were effective in supplying plants with Fe, approximately to the same extent. The moment of application had a significant effect on yield and FeEDDHA pore water concentrations at harvest, but not on Fe uptake. To optimize yield while minimizing FeEDDHA dosage, FeEDDHA is best applied to soybean plants prior to the onset of chorosis.

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