Lignosulphonates are derived from Lignin and are a by-product of the pulp and paper industry, meaning they are organic in nature. In trees and higher plants lignin acts as a cementing agent to bind the matrix of cellulose fibers together into a rigid woody structure.
Lignosulphonates have very complex structures; their varying ionic charges make them a uniform chelating agent for all the trace elements required for supplying micronutrients. Their primary functions include:
As a Foliar Spray:
• Easily absorbed by plants.
• Translocated readily within the plants.
• Easily decomposed within the plant so that the trace element becomes available.
• Not detrimental to plants at concentrations necessary to control deficiencies.
• Are naturally tacky and exhibit excellent binding properties on leaves, assisting in rain-fastness.
• Ability to act as a wetting and dispersing agent.
As a Soil Application:
• Having high stability not easily replaced by other nutrient elements in the soil.
• Each of the metals chelated are very stable against hydrolysis.
• Trace elements chelated are resistant to micro-biological decomposition.
• The chelated micro-nutrients are soluble in water.
• Not easily precipitated by ions or colloids in soils.
• Metal chelates are available to plants either at root surfaces or within the plant.
• Chelated micro-nutrients are not detrimental to plants at concentrations required to prevent deficiencies.
In liquid formulations lignins act as complexing agents keeping micronutrients in an available form under pH conditions which would normally cause insolubilization. Complexed micronutrients made from lignins are easily applied and readily available to the plant. When applied as foliar sprays, they do not cause leaf burn (i.e. are non-phytotoxic). When used in soil treatment, they maintain availability longer than if the elements are applied alone. Typical lignin-based formulations for such applications range from simple (i.e. one element) to highly complex (i.e. six or more elements), and the dosage of lignosulphonates in such formulations ranges from 5-15%.
Lignosulphonates are classified as intermediate strength chelates (refer to Newsletter 103). One of the reasons that intermediate strength chelates are able to correct nutrient deficiencies better than inorganic salts, is because the chelates are able to translocate within the plants better than the inorganic salts. Most of the inorganic salts taken up by the plants are accumulated in the roots or at the area where the foliar material was applied. In contrast to the inorganic salts, the chelates are able to translocate to different parts of the plants to meet the demands of the nutrients applied. Results about the comparison of the translocation of chelates vs. inorganic salts within the plants indicated more minerals applied as chelates were translocated from the roots to the leaves than were the inorganic salts. More of the minerals from chelates were translocated to the roots than the inorganic salts when they were applied to the foliages as a foliar spray. There may be a different translocation pathway within the plants for chelates than for inorganic salts.
Complexed micronutrients made from lignosulphonates are weaker than those made from amine-based complexing agents such as EDTA, often an advantage for micronutrient availability to the plant. They are compatible with most pesticide formulations and urea-based fertilizers. Their use in phosphate-based fertilizers, however, depends on the specific formulation of interest, and pre-testing is suggested.
Lignins are classified by the EPA/FDA as non-toxic and are easy to handle and use. Their environmental friendliness makes them a “natural” choice in both granular and liquid products.
As a Foliar Spray:
• Easily absorbed by plants.
• Translocated readily within the plants.
• Easily decomposed within the plant so that the trace element becomes available.
• Not detrimental to plants at concentrations necessary to control deficiencies.
• Are naturally tacky and exhibit excellent binding properties on leaves, assisting in rain-fastness.
• Ability to act as a wetting and dispersing agent.
As a Soil Application:
• Having high stability not easily replaced by other nutrient elements in the soil.
• Each of the metals chelated are very stable against hydrolysis.
• Trace elements chelated are resistant to micro-biological decomposition.
• The chelated micro-nutrients are soluble in water.
• Not easily precipitated by ions or colloids in soils.
• Metal chelates are available to plants either at root surfaces or within the plant.
• Chelated micro-nutrients are not detrimental to plants at concentrations required to prevent deficiencies.
In liquid formulations lignins act as complexing agents keeping micronutrients in an available form under pH conditions which would normally cause insolubilization. Complexed micronutrients made from lignins are easily applied and readily available to the plant. When applied as foliar sprays, they do not cause leaf burn (i.e. are non-phytotoxic). When used in soil treatment, they maintain availability longer than if the elements are applied alone. Typical lignin-based formulations for such applications range from simple (i.e. one element) to highly complex (i.e. six or more elements), and the dosage of lignosulphonates in such formulations ranges from 5-15%.
Lignosulphonates are classified as intermediate strength chelates (refer to Newsletter 103). One of the reasons that intermediate strength chelates are able to correct nutrient deficiencies better than inorganic salts, is because the chelates are able to translocate within the plants better than the inorganic salts. Most of the inorganic salts taken up by the plants are accumulated in the roots or at the area where the foliar material was applied. In contrast to the inorganic salts, the chelates are able to translocate to different parts of the plants to meet the demands of the nutrients applied. Results about the comparison of the translocation of chelates vs. inorganic salts within the plants indicated more minerals applied as chelates were translocated from the roots to the leaves than were the inorganic salts. More of the minerals from chelates were translocated to the roots than the inorganic salts when they were applied to the foliages as a foliar spray. There may be a different translocation pathway within the plants for chelates than for inorganic salts.
Complexed micronutrients made from lignosulphonates are weaker than those made from amine-based complexing agents such as EDTA, often an advantage for micronutrient availability to the plant. They are compatible with most pesticide formulations and urea-based fertilizers. Their use in phosphate-based fertilizers, however, depends on the specific formulation of interest, and pre-testing is suggested.
Lignins are classified by the EPA/FDA as non-toxic and are easy to handle and use. Their environmental friendliness makes them a “natural” choice in both granular and liquid products.