Introduction

New Fe-fertilizers, TetsuRiki-series developed by AICHI STEEL, are now under survey of the optimum application conditions to the crop plants and vegetables in the experimental field and farmyard either acidic soil in Japan or calcareous soil in other countries. This time we used weeds and broccolis in calcareous soil to test TetsuRiki-TypeX(powder & Fe²⁺-chelate) by pot experiments. Type X as a potent Fe-reagent for water culture experiment was also investigated. The results were as below.

Exp.1  Basal application of Type X to 50 species of weeds seeds in calcareous soil

Soil Condition: Fossil seashell soil (pH8.0, CaCO3 70%) 620g + water 80g/pot Basal NPK Fertilizer: Longtotal 70 (CHISSO-ASAHI FERTILIZAR CO.,LTD.),N:P:K=14:12:14. Fe Content of TetsuRiki Type X: 5.6%

Though only 1 kind of weed grew at control, plural species of weeds had grown using Type X and basal fertilizer, and biomass was increased. Appropriate amount of Type X and NPK was necessary for the better growth of weeds. 

Exp.2  Basal application of Type X to various varieties of broccoli in calcareous soil.

Soil Condition: Fossil seashell soil (pH8.0, CaCO3 70%) 380g + water 80g/pot Basal NPK Fertilizer: Longtotal 70,N:P:K=14:12:14
Exp.3  The more potent repression of Fe deficiency-inducible genes in rice by Type X than Fe-EDTA as an Fe reagent.


In the solution including Type X, Fe-deficiency inducible genes were not expressed under aerobic condition, but in the solution including Fe-EDTA, those genes were expressed.

Type X is durable to oxidation than Fe-EDTA at aerobic condition.

Conclusion
1.  TetsuRiki Type X has an ability to supply Fe to the plants at alkaline soil if used with appropriate amount or ratio of basal NPK fertilizer, and to be more durable to oxidation than Fe-EDTA.
2.  As the effective use of Type X, the more sophisticated method of application should be developed and favorable species of crop plants and vegetables should be selected.