{rfName}
Ch

Indexed in

License and use

Altmetrics

Analysis of institutional authors

Hernandez Apaolaza, Maria LourdesAuthorLucena Marotta, Juan JoseAuthor

Share

February 6, 2014
Publications
>
Article
No

Characterization of Fe-Leonardite Complexes as Novel Natural Iron Fertilizers

Publicated to:JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY. 61 (50): 12200-12210 - 2013-12-18 61(50), DOI: 10.1021/jf404455y

Authors: Kovacs, Krisztina; Czech, Viktoria; Fodor, Ferenc; Solti, Adam; Lucena, Juan J; Santos-Rosell, Sheila; Hernandez-Apaolaza, Lourdes

Affiliations

Eotvos Lorand Univ, Dept Plant Physiol & Mol Plant Biol, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary - Author
Eotvos Lorand Univ, Inst Chem, Lab Nucl Chem, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary - Author
Eötvös Loránd University - Author
Univ Autonoma Madrid, Dept Agr Chem, E-28049 Madrid, Spain - Author

Abstract

Water-soluble humic substances (denoted by LN) extracted at alkaline pH from leonardite are proposed to be used as complexing agents to overcome micronutrient deficiencies in plants such as iron chlorosis. LN presents oxidized functional groups that can bind Fe(2+) and Fe(3+). The knowledge of the environment of Fe in the Fe-LN complexes is a key point in the studies on their efficacy as Fe fertilizers. The aim of this work was to study the Fe(2+)/Fe(3+) species formed in Fe-LN complexes with (57)Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy under different experimental conditions in relation to the Fe-complexing capacities, chemical characteristics, and efficiency to provide iron in hydroponics. A high oxidation rate of Fe(2+) to Fe(3+) was found when samples were prepared with Fe(2+), although no well-crystalline magnetically ordered ferric oxide formation could be observed in slightly acidic or neutral media. It seems to be the case that the formation of Fe(3+)-LN compounds is favored over Fe(2+)-LN compounds, although at acidic pH no complex formation between Fe(3+) and LN occurred. The Fe(2+)/Fe(3+) speciation provided by the Mössbauer data showed that Fe(2+)-LN could be efficient in hydroponics while Fe(3+)-LN is suggested to be used more effectively under calcareous soil conditions. However, according to the biological assay, Fe(3+)-LN proved to be effective as a chlorosis corrector applied to iron-deficient cucumber in nutrient solution.

Keywords

AcidComplexesCucumis sativusDeficiencyDriftFertilizersHumic substancesIronIron chelating agentsKineticsLeonarditeMineralsMossbauer spectroscopyOxidation-reductionPlant-growthSoil

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2013, it was in position 2/56, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Agriculture, Multidisciplinary.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 1.39. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 1.85 (source consulted: FECYT Feb 2024)
  • Field Citation Ratio (FCR) from Dimensions: 2.56 (source consulted: Dimensions Jul 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-07-18, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 22
  • Scopus: 25
  • Europe PMC: 5

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-07-18:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 36 (PlumX).

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Hungary; Washington.