Use of iron sulfate in gardening in autumn

Fertilizers and preparations

Growing plants in open ground requires constant care, including top dressing and pest and disease control. Various chemical products are available for this purpose. Unfortunately, not all of them are readily available due to their high cost or potential toxicity. Experienced gardeners recommend using substances such as ferrous sulfate. This product is quite effective when used in gardening in the fall and spring.

Element availability in soil

Most of the iron (Fe) in soils is tightly bound in the crystal lattice of various minerals. Water and air erosion produce oxides and hydroxides, which are absorbed by plants. Their solubility decreases sharply with increasing soil acidity, reducing the total amount of available iron.

Depending on the soil's oxidation-reduction potential, iron oxides are present in either the trivalent or divalent forms. In low-oxygen conditions with low oxidation-reduction potential (wet soil), trivalent Fe ions are reduced to readily available Fe+2. In an air-rich environment—for example, during drought—divalent iron oxidizes to the trivalent form.

This form is unavailable for plant uptake, so Fe+3 must be chelated to Fe+2 in the soil or root system (iron reductase). Furthermore, the ability of crops to absorb the element is 50% dependent on soil acidity (pH). Bicarbonate, which is formed from carbon dioxide in soil water, is also important. High levels of bicarbonate halt the acidification process and indirectly inhibit iron uptake. Its content increases with increasing pH and water saturation.

Role in plant life

This element plays a vital role in plant respiration. Its deficiency always means impaired chlorophyll formation. As a result, vegetation slows or stops, affecting beauty and crop yield. While iron is transported from the soil to plant cells as citrate (Fe+3), it is present in leaf veins in the physiologically inactive trivalent form.

During the transition from the vessel portion to the cytoplasm of leaf cells, trivalent iron citrate is converted into the active divalent form. Iron mobility within the plant is limited. For example, the nutrient does not shift from older leaves to younger ones. Therefore, its deficiency is primarily observed on the youngest shoots., where the need for the presence of Fe for the formation of chlorophyll is very high.

Fact!

Even after treatment with iron, there's no adjustment in iron concentration between leaf generations. Therefore, newly formed shoots after treatment are often deep green, while older shoots are yellow (a sign of chlorosis). This means that leaves suffering from severe iron deficiency usually do not recover.

The main functions of the element:

It is a building block of numerous enzymes involved in the production of chlorophyll (about 80% is found in chloroplasts, indicating the central importance of this nutrient to the process).
Responsible for the transfer of energy in photosynthesis (the conversion of light energy into chemical energy).
Plays a role in the metabolism of nucleic acids, nitrate reduction, and protein synthesis.
A significant amount of it is contained in mitochondria (the “power plants” of cells).

Consequences of chlorosis

Iron deficiency always causes plant depletion, resulting in slower growth and reduced yields. Classic chlorosis is characterized by a complete loss of chlorophyll in the youngest leaves. They turn yellow with a pale green vascular network. Initially, a few branches are affected. If left untreated, the entire plant will turn yellow. In extreme cases, this leads to leaf loss and the death of individual branches or the entire plant.

Mild symptoms of Fe deficiency are often not recognized as such. They can be observed under the following adverse environmental conditions:

on heavy alkaline soils;
in swampy areas;
during cold periods (as a result of slower growth of small roots and reduced absorption of Fe).

Chlorosis is an imbalance of iron in plants. This disorder is sometimes called calcareous chlorosis because it often occurs on calcareous soils or surfaces. It can also be found:

in dry areas;
low-humus and phosphate-rich soils;
in crops with impaired root growth (compaction, rooting, high yields in the previous year).

Important!

The problem primarily appears in midsummer due to soil drying out and continues to affect the leaves long after watering and subsequent iron absorption. In drought conditions, symptoms are inevitable.

Beneficial properties of ferrous sulfate

Ferrous sulfate, or iron sulfate, is the most popular solution for Fe deficiency in gardening. It is a chemical compound (heptahydrate) with the formula FeSO4. It is available as ready-to-use, water-soluble, greenish granules and cannot be mixed with organophosphorus insecticides or other alkaline-degradable products.

Fertilizer is applied according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Typically, this procedure is performed every 4-6 weeks during the growing season from March to September. Granules are placed in moist soil, followed by watering. It is advisable to apply ferrous sulfate to plants in the fall, summer, or spring after analyzing the soil composition and acidity. This will help more accurately identify the problem and reduce unnecessary costs associated with correcting errors.

Areas of application

This product is used not only for root feeding but also for treating the above-ground parts of plants. It should be remembered that it is highly acidic, so it is not recommended to apply it to green leaves, as contact with it may cause burns. It is best used before bud break in early spring or after leaf fall in autumn.

The product is highly effective in combating fungal infections that can originate from dry leaves and branches that have fallen to the ground. For this reason autumn spraying of the garden The soil around the plants should be covered with iron sulfate.

The use of FeSO4 is effective for solving the following problems:

treatment of basement walls and vegetable storage facilities;
fight against chlorosis;
suppression of powdery mildew, anthracnose and gray mold;
treatment of damaged and cut trees, their disinfection;
destruction of moss, lichen and fungal infections;
treatment of spots on roses;
pest control.

Precautionary measures

Ferrous sulfate is harmless if safety precautions are followed when handling it. First and foremost, it's important to adhere to the recommended dosage. A solution with a higher concentration of the product (5-7%) should only be used before or after the growing season. In spring and summer, the concentration should not exceed 1%. The bark of young trees is too thin and should only be sprayed once in the spring. An additional treatment in the fall will not harm mature plants.

Important!

The FeSO4 solution should be prepared only in a glass or plastic container, using a mask and gloves to prevent contact with human skin and mucous membranes. When spraying the garden, a respirator should also be worn. The substance is non-toxic and, when used correctly, is safe for plants and people.

Treating your garden with ferrous sulfate in the fall and spring will help protect plants from infection and control pests. Regular fertilization will ensure sufficient iron is delivered to the soil in a form suitable for the root system. These measures will help preserve the beauty of your plants and ensure a bountiful harvest.