Functions of Iron (Fe)
The iron–sulfur clusters are pervasive and include nitrogenase, the enzymes responsible for biological nitrogen fixation. Iron-containing proteins participate in transport, storage and used of oxygen. Iron proteins are involved in electron transfer.
| Iron in plant health | Iron in animal health |
| Needed for Chlorophyll | Improves liver and the immune system |
| Prevents chlorosis | Needed in DNA synthesis |
| Nitrogen fixation | Hemoglobin production |
Iron (Fe) deficiency is a plant disorder also known as “lime-induced chlorosis”. Even if soil iron concentration is high, it can become unavailable for absorption due to excessive lime application and if soil pH is higher than 6.5. A typical symptom of lime-induced chlorosis is yellow color that occur in the newly emerging leaves instead of the older leaves.
Iron deficiency in animals is uncommon, as animals will eat soil to get Iron.
Lime-induced Iron Chlorosis in Citrus
Iron as a chemical elemental
Iron is a chemical element with symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 of the periodic table. It is by mass the most common element on Earth, forming much of Earth’s outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth’s crust.
