Oasis Agri Prescription Blended Trace Elements Nutrients and Functions – Part 4: Iodine
IODINE (I)
Functions in Plants and Soil:
- Promotes Growth:
Iodine has been shown to increase both leaf and root biomass. Which in turn improves nutrient and water uptake.
- Enhances Photosynthesis:
Iodine is required for effective photosynthetic processes and can increase the concentration of photosynthetic pigments and phenolic compounds required for photosynthesis.
- Promotes Earlier Flowering and Increases Flowering:
Iodine is involved in gene regulation which contributes to improved and earlier flowering.
- Abiotic Stress Tolerance:
Iodine assists plants by activating defense pathways against biotic and abiotic stress by stimulating hydrogen peroxide accumulation within the plant and by activating plant defense hormones like salicylic acid and jasmonic acid. Iodine also activates enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants to combat oxidative stress.
- Calcium Signaling:
Iodine assists in calcium mobility within a plant and has been shown to improve fruit quality, firmness and shelf life.
- Animal Health:
Iodine is required for healthy functioning of the thyroid, especially important for livestock.
It also has a critical and interconnected relationship with selenium which contributes to thyroid function.
Deficiency Symptoms in Plants:
Note: Deficiency symptoms can present differently depending on the crop species
Iodine deficiency is not as clear as other nutrient deficiencies, typically symptoms are more related to crop growth and development. Symptoms are not usually noticeable, but when iodine is applied at adequate quantities there is a noticeable difference in the crop.
Symptoms include:
- Stunted growth with less foliage.
- Poor root development.
- Delayed flowering.
- Reduced seed production.
Oasis Agri provides prescription blends of essential trace elements, based on soil and leaf analysis results. These blends are available in both granular form and as water-soluble powders, providing a unique solution to addressing trace element deficiency in soils.
Contact info@oasis-agri.com for more information.