Iron Deficiency
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Iron Deficiency  Iron deficiency, also know as lime-induced chlorosis has very similar symptoms to and often occurs with manganese deficiency.Susceptible Plants- Pears, raspberries, acid soil lovers such as camellias and azaleas growing on alkaline soils, but any type of plant can be affected. by iron deficiency.. Symptoms- Leaves turn yellow or brown around the margins. This extends between the veins. Young leaves may be totally yellow or bleached white with no green present. Fruit quality and quantity are poor. On corn and sorghum, this gives the plants a definite striped appearance. If the condition is severe, the whole plant may be affected and turn a very light yellow or even white. In many cases where moderate iron deficiencies occur early in the season, plants tend to recover later. Causes- Soil pH too is high for acid loving plants.Waterlogging and excessive use of phosphates are the main causes of iron deficiency.
Prevention and Control- Choose plants to suit the soil conditions. Apply well rotted manure or compost. Test soil before applying any treatments to insure proper soil preparation. Excessive irrigation or poor drainage magnifies iron chlorosis problems. Growers and home gardeners need to more effectively control the amount of water being applied to susceptible plants. Plants in low lying or poorly drained areas are especially susceptible to iron chlorosis because of saturated soil conditions.
This is especially important in the spring of the year when cooler temperatures also decrease the availability of iron to growing plants. It is much easier to prevent chlorosis than to overcome the problem after the symptoms of iron deficiency appear.One way to do this, is to apply iron containing products to the soil in the spring before new leaves appear. Three classes of soil-applied materials are available with different iron chemistry: inorganic salts(NOT RECOMMENDED for organic gardens), chelates/organic complexes, and acidulated soil amendments to eliminate iron deficiency. When a true iron deficiency is diagnosed Greensand an iron supplement for plants and shrubs is a premium, iron-rich sand from old marine deposits. It is derived from glauconite, a green-colored mineral. Because it is unprocessed, it is slow release.Greensand has three effects: correcting yellowing of leaves due to chlorosis due too little iron in the soil, helping release minerals into the soil, and helping clay soil hold water. This occurs because it is a natural water softener and it frees minerals like calcium and magnesium as it comes into contact with water, making them available to the plants.
Another good option is Garden Iron From Espoma
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