The plants do get a lot of nutrition from the soil. But the fertilizers are needed for the additional nutrition to make the crops grow bigger and provide better yield. There are many types of fertilizers but the main focus of the farmers should be on the chelated fertilizers.
The chelated fertilizers prove beneficial in the long run by providing better nutrition, lower cost and higher yield than the traditional fertilizers. But what is chelated fertilizer? What are the different types of chelating agents used in fertilizers? If you have such questions, then we are here to solve them.
What is a Chelating agent?
A chelating agent is a chemical that binds to metal ions, forming stable elements. In fertilizers, these agents help nutrients remain soluble in the soil, making it easier for plants to absorb them. The chelating agents bind with the elements and prevent them from oxidizing in the soil.
Types of Chelating Agents
#1 – EDTA
Ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) is one of the most commonly used chelating agents in fertilizers. It binds to nutrients like iron, zinc, and copper, keeping them soluble and accessible to plants. EDTA is effective in soils with a low pH rate. This chelating agent is quite commonly used and easily available. The EDTA exporters like ACI are known for being a top exporter.
#2 – DTPA
Diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) is another chelating agent commonly used in fertilizers. It is more effective than EDTA in soils with a higher pH. That’s why it’s suitable for nutrient delivery in highly alkaline soils. DTPA is primarily used in iron-based micronutrient fertilizers.
#3 – EDDHA
Ethylenediamine di-o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (EDDHA) is considered one of the most effective chelating agents for alkaline soils. As this chelating agent works well in the high alkaline soils, it’s commonly used for iron and other micronutrients that may not work well in the soil. EDDHA has been proven effective in providing better nutrition to plants, but it’s still not commonly used in fertilizers compared to EDTA and DTPA.
Final Words
Chelating agents play an important role in farming, and farmers should not ignore them. With the right usage of ACI Industrial Organic chelated fertilizers, farmers can easily increase crop yields and save a lot of money spent on fertilizers. In this post, we explain the variety of chelating agents commonly used to achieve these benefits.