ES378926A1 - Foliar sprays and methods of application thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Foliar sprays for overcoming iron deficiency in iron chlorotic evergreen trees, e.g. citrus trees, Mexican and Guatemalan avocado trees and coffee bean trees, comprise water-soluble compounds which are non-toxic to the trees and are selected from the group consisting of polyols, ethers thereof and mixtures thereof, e.g. glycerol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, triethyleneglycol, 1,3-butanediol, polypropylene glycol with an average molecular weight of around 425, pentaerythritol, sorbitol, mannitol, [alpha]-methyl-D-glucoside, [alpha]-methyl-D- mannoside, polyethylene glycols with up to 28 carbon atoms and mixtures thereof in conjunction with organic iron sources in the form of ferrous complexes of sulphomethylated conifer barks, ferrous and ferric salts of hydroxy acids or salts thereof, the hydroxy acids being, for example, gluconic acid, glucoheptonic acid, mixed gluconic and idonic acids, glucosaccharic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, mannoheptonic acid, isosaccharinic acid. The non-toxic watersoluble compounds are present in amounts from 0À3% to 4% by weight of the spray solution and the organic iron sources are present in an amount sufficient to provide concentrations from 0À5 to 6À0 pounds of iron per 100 gallons of spray solution. The sprays may also contain lowbiuret urea in an amount ranging from 2À5 to 10 pounds per 100 gallons of spray solution. A spreader, e.g. sodium dioctyl sulphosuccinate, and a sticker may be included in the sprays. The sprays eliminate iron deficiency in the trees by penetrating the waxy surface of the leaves of the trees, thus allowing the iron in the spray to permeate throughout the iron-deficient area of the leaves.