North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Stephen Sadler" <Docshiva@Docshiva.org>]

Chelated forms of metals can be more or less bioavailable to specific organisms depending on which chelating compound is used.  Organisms are chemical factories.  Calcium’s very reactive, and you won’t find pure calcium available as a nutrient.  It will usually be an ionic compound, or salt, or chelated compound, where there are more types of atoms present and they are bonded less simply.  An organism will be accustomed (have the necessary enzymes) to being able to free, and therefore use, the calcium from some types of compounds and not from others.  Organisms have evolved to use (or fail to absorb, if that’s more advantageous) compounds similar or identical to those found in their habitats.

 

Stephen Sadler, Ph.D.

USDA 9, AHS heat zone 8,

Sacramento CA - Mediterranean climate

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From: nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of mauch1@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2006 6:26 AM
To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [NAFEX] Fertilizing and Calcium

 

Anyone speak to why the chelated form (I looked up chelated:   

1. Chemistry. To combine (a metal ion) with a chemical compound to form a ring.

)

 

is superior?

 

Chris MauchlineSE PA, zone 6
40° 5' N 75° 51'W
~650 ft elevation