iron's effect on plant development

[Mackenna]

Does the growth of a plant depend on iron ? Does it need a certain amount? And if it does how much? In my project so far I have 3 sprouts. But 2 of them havent. I have a half a tablespoon 1,2,4tablespoons of iron.The plant I'm using is a red native poppy. Do You think they'll sprout?

[carolinethorn]

Hi,

Its difficult to answer your question without some extra information. You described how much iron you have added as a volume. Generally when scientists measure the action of a nutrient they use a measure of concentration. Concentration = mass divided by volume. So how much volume or mass of nutrient (in this case iron) divided by the total volume of plant food. So if you have one tablespoon of iron in a cup of soil or water it would be different from one tablespoon of iron in a large bucket of soil or water. Understand what I mean?

Another detail that could be important is what type of iron you are using. Is it iron element (the metal) as a powder or as chippings? or is it a compound as a powder or a solution. This can make a difference in how much of the nutrient is "bioavailable". It can be easier for the plant to access the iron from certain types of solutions than from solid iron metal for example.

Keep posting and let us know how its going,

Best of luck,
Caroline