Q: Exactly what is a chelated product? A: Chelation is the process of attaching a specific organic molecule to a mineral in two or more places to form a molecular ring. The molecule hold the mineral with a double ionic bond protecting it from adverse interactions. Chelates can be either synthetic or natural. Besides amino acids, other natural organic chelation agents include citric acid, fulvic acid, ligno sulfates, some types of sugars as well as other organic acids. EDTA, DTPA, EDDHA and similar molecules are examples of synthetic chelating agents.
Q:How does a chelate differ from a complex? A: In a complexed product the mineral is attached to the organic molecule with a single bond in a straight line carbon chain. An example of a complex would be the humic acids from many sources. There are strong complexes and weak complexes and there are strong and weak chelates. In general, chelates better protect the mineral, however many of either of these may have low stability constants and when mixed with anions such as phosphates may result in precipitation. Only a few select chelates work well for foliar absorption. Synthetic chelates work only with the metal minerals and only as a soil chelate.
Q: How are Grigg Brothers® products chelated? A: Grigg Brothers
® produces nutrient products chelated with amino acids. The amino acid chelates used by Grigg Brothers
® are naturally occuring amino acids found in plants. The chelation of minerals with amino acids provides a tremendous advantage because they increase the efficiency of absorption and translocation of the minerals within plants and make our products highly compatible by preventing precipitation when mixed together.
Q: What else does Grigg Brothers® products contain? A: All Grigg Brothers
® products contain an organic base. The organic base is comprised of a combination of selected amino acids, organic acids, carbohydrates, etc that are selected for each nutrient to enhance chelation, uptake, and translocation. These organic components are necessary for each product to give maximum effect. Iron for example requires different chelation factors than zinc; etc, etc. All Grigg Brothers
® chelated products contain the proper amount of the selected organic base to give the maximum performance and effect.
Q: How are the Grigg Brothers® fertilizers applied? A: Grigg Brothers
® foliar fertilizers are formulated for application directly onto plants as a foliar spray. This bypasses the reactions in the soil, which can, under many conditions, make the elements unavailable. Field and laboratory research studies have shown that properly chelated minerals go to work in the plant within hours of application. With foliar absorbed fertilizers there is less chance of nutrient loss resulting from rain or irrigation. Visual responses are frequently observed within hours of treatment where deficiencies exist.
Q: Do other products contain a higher percentage of amino acids and why are Grigg Brothers® products superior to others? A: A higher Percentage of amino acids, organic acids, carbohydrates etc does not make a product better, but what is being used and how strongly it is being chelated for rapid uptake of the particular nutrient is important.
For example:
One can have a high organic base and not truly chelate the product. You could have a humic acid product with over 20% organic base but it would not strongly chelate or protect the nutrient.
Not all amino acids chelate equally. Amino acids, peptides etc from hydrolyzed protein (animal or plant) do not give the strongest chelation nor provide optimum uptake and translocation.
Because of differences in products of different nutrients such as chelation and uptake, some products may contain well in excess of over 40% organic base, while other products may contain less than 10%. Again, it depends on how that organic base is chelating those nutrients for chelation strength as well as effectiveness and translocation of the specific nutrient/s. You may be comparing our products to others.
Some manufacturers use the same amino acid or organic mixture for all products (Fe, Ca, Mn, Mg, B, etc). This does not necessarily fully chelate all nutrients (products).
It only assures high amino acid or organic content! 
