MPXA Chelating Products

Q. What is Humic Acid?

A. Humic Acid refers to a group of acids which contains all of the following sub-products:

1. Humic Acid
2. Fulvic Acid
3. Ulmic Acid

Q. What significance do these acids have?

A. Humic acid is defined as that organic acid which is soluble only in solutions with a pH of 7.1 and above, or an alkaline (i.e. basic) solution.

Fulvic Acid is defined as that organic acid that is soluble in any solution, regardless of pH; therefore Fulvic Acid is soluble in both acidic and basic solutions.

Ulmic Acid, found in small percentages (<2%) in the humic group, is only soluble in petroleum based solutions; this acid may be considered a precursor to more advanced flammable humic, i.e. peat.

Most importantly, Humic Acids are nature's most perfect form of fertilizer. Humics are the "black stuff" found at the bottom of compost piles, under layers of leafs and pine needles after the spring thaw, and the natural brown coloration found in streams in the north east part of our country.

Humic acid is the beginning and end of all organic matter. A seed dropped in a weak solution of Humic will start rooting almost immediately.

Q. Which acid do we use in MPXA^® Chelating Agent and MPXA^® chelated Micronutrients?

A. MPXA^® is over 96% Fulvic Acid. Not only is this a totally soluble acid but will enable chelation to take place in both acid and basic solutions.

Q. What is Chelation?

A. Wherein a chemical compound or "chelating agent" causes a nonmetallic (usually organic), molecule to combine with a metallic atom, this forms an organic micronutrient which allows the plant to more easily absorb the compound.

Q. What other types of chelating agents are on the market, and how do they work?

A. The predominate chelating agent on the market, and the one most widely used in agriculture is EDTA. The problem with this product is:

1. its inability to chelate effectively in a solution lower then a pH of 7.5, and
2. it requires 7 molecules for each metallic ion to be effective.

Q. How does MPXA^® Chelating Agent differ from EDTA?

A. MPXA^® Chelating Agent, because of its total solubility, and very large molecular size (over 100,000 mole weight units) is capable of complexing literally thousands of metallic ions with a single molecule of MPXA^®. Tests have shown that MPXA^® Chelating Agent is 700 times more efficient than EDTA in all pH solutions.

Q. Why is MPXA^® so unique to the market?

A. MPXA^® is derived from Leonardite Ore, a form of lignite coal. Our proprietary manufacturing process has the unique ability to produce a chelating agent that is 96% pure Fulvic acid, the strongest and most effective of its kind.

Q. So what does that mean to the golf course industry?

A. Analysis of your soils will list "non-available" micronutrients in the sample along with the quantity of available micros. The reason these micros are listed as non-available is due to there salt form. That is, the metallic cation which is tied tightly to the anion forming a salt which may be soluble, but not available to the plant. The more you fertilize, the more non-available micros are produced because of the alkalinity of the soil. A situation of diminishing efficiency of the fertilization program is established, and sooner or later the ground becomes so alkaline as to produce very little growth.

This situation may be avoided by the use of MPXA^® Chelating Agent. When watered in, this product actively brakes down these salts, rendering the metallic cation available to the plant and leaving the anion product free to be leached deep into the soil. Because of the increased availability of micros when using MPXA^® Chelating Agent, it is recommended that the fertilization program be reduced by about 20% after the first application.

Q. Why is Calcium Important?

A. As in human physiology, calcium adds to skeletal strength. It is an essential part of the cell wall structure and must be present for the formation of new cells. Calcium is non-mobile in plants, and therefore continued application is essential. Young tissue is affected first under conditions of deficiency. Greens and fairways treated with MPXA^® products are stronger, less likely to be damaged by excessive wear or heat, and better looking after mowing. Calcium also keeps irrigation water balanced when a high level of magnesium is present.

Calcium is often applied to "tight" soils to improve their physical properties. Calcium replaces sodium soil partials and allows the sodium to be leached below the root zone. Because of the large amounts of calcium needed in some situations, MPXA^® Chelated Calcium uses calcium carbonate rather then calcium sulfate as its base product. This prevents sulfur from being added as a by-product of calcium, lowering the overall application rates of sulfur and giving the manager a choice in the sulfur question. Sulfur may be added when and if necessary.

Q. Why is Iron important?

A. Iron is required for the formation of chlorophyll in plant cells. It serves as an activator for biochemical process such as respiration, photosynthesis, and symbiotic nitrogen fixation. The use of MPXA^® Chelated Iron will produce a strong green color lasting 25-30 days. Used in conjunction with growth inhibitors, MPXA^® Chelated Iron will produce a lovely green turf, without the necessity of additional mowing.

Q. How about some info on your MPXA^® Chelated Manganese + Magnesium + Iron Combo?

A. Manganese serves as an activator for enzymes in growth processes. It assists iron in chlorophyll formation. The chlorophyll molecule contains magnesium. It is therefore essential for photosynthesis, along with Iron. Magnesium also serves as an activator for many plant enzymes required in growth process, as well as acting like calcium wherein it will replace sodium cations in soil, reducing salinity. The use of this product becomes quite evident from the above.

Levels of all MPXA^® micronutrients are formulated on the generally accepted need per acre (per pound) for well maintained greens and fairways. Because our products are 95-98% chelated, and therefore twice as effective as most products currently in use, the base recommendation of one pound per acre may seem low, however when taking into consideration there efficiency, this makes very good economic sense.