Iron Deficiency in Plants
Aquaponics systems have many features that provide solutions to some problems that conventional farming, aquaculture (raising fish), and hydroponics (no soil) have. Some of these benefits include, but are not limited to, increased space efficiency, low toxicity water problems, low water and energy requirements, and natural nutrient sources for plants.
The Aquaponics system's effluent (water from the fish tank) provides nutrients that the plant needs but there are a few nutrients that must be added to these systems from the outside. Calcium, Potassium, and Iron are macro and micronutrients that need to be added at various times.
The role of IRON (Fe) in the Plant
- One of the essential elements required for biological nitrogen fixation.
- Adequate iron, in plant-available form, is essential for protein synthesis.
- Fe is the responsible element for O2 transport in Chlorophyll production.
- A central component of respiratory enzyme systems.
- Increases leaf thickness. Promotes nutrient uptake and increases the yield.
- Fe improves the color of the leaves and increases capacity to absorb solar energy.
Below are pictures showing coriander from my system with obvious sign of Iron deficiency. Look at the veins. Do you see the green veins and the yellow on the outside? Iron deficiency. Therefore I had to take a trip to the local nursery and buy chelated Iron. Chelated Iron is a water soluable form of Iron that makes it more readily available for the plants.
I added a few scoops of the Iron Chelate to the water and after two days I took the pictures below.
Can you see the difference in the plants leaves?
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| Iron Deficiency |
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| Iron Deficiency |
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| Two days after addition of the Iron Chelate |
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| Two days after the addition of Iron Chelate |
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| Two days after the addition of Iron Chelate |
Out for now...... Go Iron....
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