Agspec Australia Pty Ltd market a wide range of EDTA, DTPA and EDDHA technology formulations for broadacre, horticulture and other specialty crops throughout Australia.
The EDTA technology is one of the strongest and most stable forms of true bond used in commercial agriculture. The usefulness is because of its multiple toothed claw chelating capacity, which envelops the metal ion. The RapiSol product range utilises this EDTA technology. As such, the RapiSol EDTA molecule binds to the metal ion such as zinc. Thus enables the trace element to remain and enables the material to remain in solution when added to water but not react to any other additives or contaminants in the water, e.g. Ca or Mg ions.
The hydroxide ion (OH-) and other ions are abundant in alkaline soils. Positively charged metal ions (also known as cations), Zn++, Mn++, Cu++ and Fe++, readily react with negatively charged ions such as hydroxide ions (OH-), phosphates (PO4–) and carbonates (CO3–), locking them up, and making them unavailable to plants. The EDTA encases the metal cation, protecting it from the surrounding anions. RapiSol EDTA micronutrients remain stable in the soil and do not bind up where the pH is high or where excessive cations exist.
Hard water in alkaline areas is another cause of concern, for weak bonded fertilisers such as sulphate or nitrate based are rapidly bound to the soil and become unavailable for root absorption. Hard water consists of calcium and magnesium ions, which are both positively charged. However, these cations cannot bind to RapiSol EDTA fertiliser and hence do not fall out of solution.
With all reaction sites bound by the EDTA, we now have micronutrients, in an inert form to agricultural chemicals, and the chemical reactions that often occur. Thus creating a highly efficient delivery of micronutrients from the spay tank to inside the plant.
The RapiSol EDTA range allows low use rates to be used, while the high solubility of the RapiSol formulation does not contribute to blocking of filters. RapiSol EDTA is an ideal way to also apply micronutrients by aircraft application with various mixtures.
The RapiSol EDTA technology formulations include:
In addition, Agspec Australia market DTPA and EDDHA formulations for specific situations and use patterns. These formulations are ideal for delivering Iron fertiliser solutions for hydroponics or horticultural crops in highly alkaline soils.
Iron is a complex nutrient to manage in the soil and therefore, requires various solutions depending on the crop and situation.
For soils or water with a soil pH below 6.5, the preferred product is the RapiSol Fe using EDTA technology. However, when the pH is between 6.5-7.5, the preferred product is RapiSol DTPA (11% Fe as DTPA) using DTPA technology. But when soils and/or water exceed pH 7.5, then RapiSol EDDHA (6% Fe as EDDHA) using EDDHA technology is the most suitable formulation to deliver an Iron solution for the crop in this environment.
The Benefits of RapiSol EDTA (DTPA and EDDHA) technology include:
- RapiSol Technologies are widely used in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and parts of Asia;
- Flexible application since RapiSol EDTA Technologies can be used for both soil and foliar application, being ideal for fertigation, hydroponics, or boom application;
- RapiSol Technologies have high stability (much higher than citrics) at a wide range of soil pH;
- RapiSol EDDHA is the most stable formulation for delivering an Iron solution up to pH 11);
- More environmentally friendly as there are no drums, as RapiSol are packed in convenient 1kg and 20kg packs. So, No Drummuster, No returnables and No deposits;
- Significant savings on transport and storage;
- Easy to use; and
- Highly compatible with other chemicals and nutrients.
RapiSol® is a registered trademark of Agspec Australia Pty Ltd.