TetsuRiki
Agri Provides Fe2+ (ferrous ion) Stably, Essential to
Photosynthesis
Iron is an indispensable element for plants, playing a
crucial role in their metabolic activities, including photosynthesis.
Severe Fe deficiency leads to chlorosis, which makes leaves yellow or
white and then causes them to wither. On average about 5% of soil is
iron, and acidic soils, common in Japan, are believed to work against
causing iron chlorosis. However, even in such acidic soils, iron can be
oxidized to form Fe (OH)3 , or Iron Hydroxide, a precipitate that does
not readily dissolve in solution. When oxidization takes place, iron
can only be found in the form of Fe3+ (ferric ion) in solution, as
little as 10-8 mg per liter. [See Chart
1.]
Such oxidized iron does not
help plants, which absorb Fe2+ in their iron uptake mechanism (Strategy
I). [See Chart
2.]
Limestone or chalk-containing, calcareous soils
found
elsewhere in the world may cause plants to be even more vulnerable to
iron chlorosis. In calcareous soils, where carbon oxide ion activity
causes alkalinity and the pH is higher than 7.5, the iron uptake
mechanism (Strategy I: Chart
2.)
in plants does not work, thereby
causing iron chlorosis. Since iron is essential for the formation of
chlorophyll, the
deficiency prevents photosynthesis, which converts sunlight into energy
for growth. High pH levels have been shown to be a factor in the
development of iron chlorosis in the case of a number of green house
plants, which are also given many kinds of fertilizers. Aichi Steel was
successful in developing a revolutionary, plant-energizing product,
TetsuRiki Agri and TetsuRiki Aqua, by achieving two technological
breakthroughs: mass production of FeO (ferrous oxide); and
stabilization of Fe(II) chelates (which is the iron plants like) by
organic acid. We marketed TetsuRiki Agri and TetsuRiki Aqua in Japan
beginning three years ago, and they have readily gained popularity in
the market. Despite their remarkable effects on plants, there are more
studies to be done on TetsuRiki Agri and TetsuRiki Aqua. By analysing
their mechanism of
supplying Fe2+ directly to plants [See Chart
3.],
we plan to accelerate
research into the effects of TetsuRiki Agri and TetsuRiki Aqua for
plants in infertile alkaline soils with a pH over 7.5, as well as study
growth in plants that don’t use ATP (Adenosine Tri-Phosphate) in iron
uptake (Strategy I). In addition, we are dedicated to developing new
and more effective products for growing plants. By offering such
products, we will play a role in augmenting plant-based food production
and increasing photosynthesis activity to elevate CO2 absorption in
plants, which in turn will help prevent global warming.
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