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Cornell, Wi

My water is from a well, and is very high in iron. So much that if you fill the bath tub with the softener off it looks like apple cider. I noticed a film on my leaves after watering. I just wonder if this is a bad thing or could it actually be good for iron intake. Maybe it makes no differenc either. Any thoghts appreciated. Tremor feel free to post. Thanks

7/4/2007 9:41:03 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

You would do well to have a tissue nutrient test performed.

Not all crops react adversely to high Iron - others do. Look for small flecks of necrotic tissue (brown spots) on the older leaves.

Iron in tissue tests of 400-2500ppm can be bad depending on the crop. But maybe the biggest concern is for disrupting the availability of other micronutrients such as boron or zinc. This is what makes field diagnosis of micronutrient deficiencies so difficult. What appears to be a deficiency of one thing might really be a surplus of something else.

http://www.ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/Place/66180505/JASHSVol121Pgs430-4371996.pdf

7/4/2007 11:38:28 PM

I have the same high iron in water here from my well and seemingly didn't create any problems last year for the AG's. My iron level in the soil shows high on soil tests as well, I would guess you could have problems locking up some nutrients but it didn't seem to be the case.

just my .02

7/5/2007 5:40:54 AM

hey cotterpins, I don't know much about iron in water, even though at my patch we have a well too. But I just saw you were from Cornell, WI. Jim Falls is right up the road (or bike trail!), give me an email sometime. brigi85@yahoo.com

7/5/2007 1:34:04 PM