Enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of foliar fertilization in agriculture

Abstract

When considering foliar fertilization, many questions arise about the differences between chelation, complexation, and their efficiency in supplying nutrients to plants. How efficiently are chelated and complexed nutrients absorbed by plants? Are chelates and complexes absorbed by plants? How do they perform in foliar and soil applications? Do they exhibit greater efficiency when compared to pure inorganic fertilizers? and, which ones are the best: soluble, sparingly soluble, or insoluble inorganic fertilizers? Although many people believe chelation and complexation are similar, some differences must be considered when choosing products to better supply plants with nutrients, avoid problems with tank mixtures, and enhance plant nutrition efficiency. The same is true for the vast variety of inorganic sources of fertilizers available for agriculture. They do not behave the same. For instance, inorganic water-soluble fertilizers such as nitrates, sulfates, and chlorides present different performances and should be chosen not only based on their nutrient concentration, availability, and price. All this information will assist farmers and technicians in better defining and selecting products to improve sustainability, efficiency, and achieve better results.