Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Diagnosis and correction of iron chlorosis in fruit trees: A review

Author(s):

Maribela Pestana ^1*, Amarilis de Varennes ², Eugénio Araújo Faria ¹

Recieved Date: 2002-09-07, Accepted Date: 2003-01-02

Abstract:

Several plant species grown in calcareous soils in arid and semiarid regions are iron-deficient, a condition known as lime-induced iron chlorosis, or simply as iron chlorosis. The nutritional status of perennial plants is commonly evaluated by leaf analysis. However, there is often no correlation between iron in leaves and degree of chlorosis, and therefore leaf analysis presents serious limitations as a technique to evaluate lime-induced iron chlorosis. Recently, a technique for the early prognosis of iron chlorosis based on floral analysis was developed for fruit trees to help prevent the development of iron deficiency and avoid losses in yield and quality. Correction of iron chlorosis is commonly carried out by massive applications of synthetic iron chelates to soils. Since iron is rapidly immobilized in the soil, this treatment has to be repeated each year, representing a major part of fertilizer costs. Environmental impacts of chelates in soils have not been properly investigated, but it is known that they also result in enhanced plant uptake of metals such as copper and nickel. Alternative, more environment-friendly treatments are being evaluated. In this article we concentrate on reviewing current methods to detect and correct iron chlorosis in fruit trees.

Keywords:

Floral analysis, foliar treatments, fruit trees, lime-induced chlorosis

---

Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2003
Volume: 1
Issue: 1
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 46-51

---

Full text for Subscribers

---

Information:

Note to users

The requested document is freely available only to subscribers/registered users with an online subscription to the Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment. If you have set up a personal subscription to this title please enter your user name and password. All abstracts are available for free.

Article purchasing

If you like to purchase this specific document such as article, review or this journal issue, contact us. Specify the title of the article or review, issue, number, volume and date of the publication. Software and compilation, Science & Technology, all rights reserved. Your use of this website details or service is governed by terms of use. Authors are invited to check from time to time news or information.

---

Purchase this Article:   20 Purchase PDF Order Reprints for 15

---

Share this article :