b'ENVIOMETC applicationsChelated micronutrients are less reactive, less subject to precipitation and remain watersoluble for longer time, increasing the overall bioavailability compared to inorganicsources of nutrient metal ions.ENVIOMETC are effective chelating agents for copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn)and zinc (Zn) with the added advantage of readily biodegradability.We present in the following paragraphs agronomical testing showing the performance ofiron EDDS chelate in foliar and soil application.Foliar applicationThe efficacy of Fe-EDDS in comparison to Fe-EDTA chelates was tested on Maize and Soybean. Growth trials (80 plants) have indicated that EDDS is as effective as EDTA in delivering iron metal to soyabean and maize plants in foliar feeding applications.Plants grown in calcareous soil were each treated with 0.01% and 0.005% of Fe(EDDS) and Fe(EDTA) as foliar sprays in order to compare their effectiveness in alleviating Fe deficiency symptoms.The results obtained suggest that 0.01% Fe(EDDS) was the better foliar treatment for soyabean and maize deficient in iron. The work also suggests that application of iron as Fe(EDDS) may be a safer source because it does not produce the leaf scorching associated with higher levels of Fe(EDTA). The results showed a very good response of all plants to EDDS application, superior in comparison to EDTA.'