Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #116966
Title: FE EDTA PHOTODEGRADATION IN COMMERCIALLY-PRODUCED SOLUBLE FERTILIZERS

Author
item Albano, Joseph
item MILLER, WILLIAM - CORNELL UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/19/2000
Publication Date: 4/1/2001
Citation: Albano,J.P.,Miller,W.B. 2001. FE EDTA photodegradation in commercially-produced soluble fertilizers. Hortscience, 11:265-267.

Interpretive Summary: Iron-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (FeEDTA) is a common component of many water-soluble fertilizers used in plant production. Irradiation of FeEDTA-containing commercial fertilizer solutions by fluorescent plus incandescent lamps resulted in the loss of both FeEDTA and soluble Fe, and the formation of a yellow-tan precipitate that was mostly composed of Fe. The ratio of soluble Fe:Mn was altered due to FeEDTA photodegradation from 2:1 in the non-irradiated solutions to 1:4 in the irradiated solutions, respectively. Storing fertilizer solutions in containers that were impervious to light prevented FeEDTA photodegradation. The results are important to manufacturers of water-soluble fertilizers in developing new labeling information on how to store FeEDTA-containing fertilizer solutions.

Technical Abstract: Irradiation of FeEDTA-containing commercial fertilizer solutions by fluorescent plus incandescent lamps resulted in the loss of both FeEDTA and soluble Fe, and the formation of a yellow-tan precipitate that was mostly composed of Fe. Ninety-eight percent of solar radiation between 330-455 nm was absorbed by a 10 cm light-path of a 100X FeEDTA-containing commercial fertilizer stock solution, based on a 1X concentration of 200 mg.L**-1 N. Chemical name used: ferric ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid.