Seed Treatment for Control of Irondeficiency Chlorosis of Soybean

Abstract

Several cultural practices have been employed as an attempt to limit yield reductions associated with Fe‐deficiency chlorosis of soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Seed treatment offers another approach to economically applying Fe to soybean grown on calcareous soils. The Fe chelate, Fe‐EDDHA [sodium ferric ethylenediamine di‐( o ‐hydroxyphenylacetate)], was evaluated as a seed treatment on soybean genotypes with varying levels of resistance to Fe‐deficiency chlorosis. A rate of 10 g Fe‐EDDHA kg −1 seed was applied to six soybean genotypes. The field study was conducted over 2 yr on two highly calcareous soils, a Harps clay loam (Typic Calciaquoll) and a Canisteo clay loam (Typic Haplaquoll). The seed treatment did not produce significantly higher yields for the susceptible genotypes, but did produce significantly higher yields for the more resistant genotypes. Iron seed treatment should not be used with susceptible genotypes, but seed treatment on genotypes with some resistance would be economical on some calcareous soils.