Table 1. Advantages and disadvantages of iron chlorosis control
methods.
|
|
Method
|
Advantages
|
Disadvantages
|
|
| Soil application: Iron sulfate-elemental sulfur |
- Lasts up to several years
- Relatively inexpensive
- No injury to plant
- Simple procedure
|
- Slow response
- Results sometimes variable
- Too expensive for large areas of low-value crops
- Can be labor-intensive
|
| Soil application: Iron chelates |
- Simple procedure
- Generally no injury to plant
- Relatively quick response
|
- May last less than one season
- Expensive
- Results sometimes variable
|
| Foliar application: Chelates or iron sulfate |
- Quick response
- Fairly simple, easy procedure (except for large trees)
|
- Only practical method for field crops
- Expensive on trees
- Can cause temporary leaf burning
- Often lasts less than one season
|
| Trunk injection or implantation |
- Lasts up to several years!Moderate expense
|
- Injures tree's trunk
- Can't be used on shrubs or non-woody plants
- Results sometimes variable
- Can cause temporary leaf burning
- Somewhat complicated procedure
|