Chelated Magnesium EDTA 6% – Uses, Dosage & Application

Chelated Magnesium (EDTA Magnesium 6%) is a straight micronutrient/secondary-nutrient fertilizer registered under India's Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985 (FCO). It supplies magnesium in an EDTA-chelated, water-soluble form for foliar and fertigation use. Since fertilizers fall under the FCO rather than the Central Insecticides Board (CIB), the crop, symptom and dosage information on this page is drawn from agricultural-university and ICAR-aligned package-of-practices guidance on magnesium deficiency management, along with the product's own FCO label application rate.

Which Deficiency Symptom Is This For? (Symptom Guide)

Magnesium deficiency is common on light, sandy, acidic soils and on fields receiving heavy potash application, since excess potassium competes with magnesium uptake. It shows up first on older, lower leaves. The table below lists crops where this deficiency is typically seen and its field symptoms.

Mode of Action

Magnesium is the central atom of the chlorophyll molecule, making it essential for photosynthesis, and it also activates numerous enzymes involved in energy transfer (ATP-driven reactions), sugar synthesis and translocation of assimilates from leaves to developing grain, fruit or tuber. Because magnesium is mobile within the plant, deficiency symptoms appear first on older leaves as the plant relocates it to actively growing tissue. Chelating magnesium with EDTA keeps it in a soluble, plant-available form that is readily absorbed through the leaf surface, bypassing antagonism from high soil potassium or calcium that can otherwise block magnesium uptake through the roots.

Features & Benefits

• Corrects magnesium deficiency causing interveinal chlorosis of older leaves in wheat, cotton, maize, citrus and vegetables.
• Central to chlorophyll formation, directly supporting photosynthetic capacity and green leaf colour.
• Improves translocation of sugars to grain, fruit and tuber, supporting yield and quality.
• EDTA chelation bypasses potassium/calcium antagonism that restricts root uptake of magnesium on heavily-fertilized soils.
• Fast-acting foliar correction where visible deficiency symptoms have already appeared.
• Can be combined with a fertigation programme for sustained supply through the season.

Recommended Usage

Chelated magnesium EDTA is applied at a higher percentage-based rate than trace micronutrients such as copper or zinc chelates, reflecting magnesium's larger role as a secondary nutrient. The doses below reflect the commonly followed foliar and fertigation rates for 6% chelated magnesium EDTA and the product's own FCO label directions.

The foliar rates are percentage/concentration-based, as is standard for EDTA-chelated nutrients — mix the stated grams per litre and spray to the point of leaf run-off. The fertigation rate is given directly on a per-acre basis as commonly followed for this product and its FCO label; where a source states it per hectare, 1 hectare ≈ 2.47 acres is used to derive the per-acre figure. Confirm the exact label rate and always patch-test on a small area before a full-field spray.

How to Use

1. Confirm magnesium deficiency before spraying — look for interveinal yellowing starting on older leaves, and where possible confirm with a soil or tissue test.
2. Dissolve the required quantity completely in the specified water volume; chelated magnesium is fully water-soluble.
3. Spray to the point of run-off using a knapsack or power sprayer fitted with a fine nozzle, ensuring coverage of older as well as younger leaves.
4. For fertigation, inject the required quantity evenly through the drip system during a normal irrigation cycle.
5. Apply foliar sprays during the cooler part of the day (early morning or evening) to reduce evaporation and leaf scorch risk.
6. Repeat only if deficiency symptoms persist after the first application; avoid routine repeated use on soils that are not magnesium-deficient.

Precautions & Safety

• Wear gloves and a mask while handling, mixing and applying, as a routine precaution for any fertilizer input.
• Avoid foliar spraying during peak heat, bright sunshine or before rain.
• Keep away from direct contact with eyes and skin; wash immediately with water if contact occurs.
• Do not exceed the recommended concentration — excess concentration can cause leaf scorch.
• Store in the original, tightly closed pack in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, and out of reach of children and livestock.
• Wash hands, face and any exposed skin thoroughly with soap and water after handling or spraying.

Brand names mentioned on this page are registered trademarks of their respective owners and are referenced here for identification purposes only; FarmMate is not affiliated with or endorsed by these brands. This page is for general information only — always consult your local agricultural extension office and confirm the current product label before use.