The first chapter is a review in four parts. Part one considers, firstly, the forms in which trace metals appear in soil, methods of extraction, and the relation between the quantity of metal extracted by reagents and the quantity naturally available to the plant, and, secondly, the nature of soil organic matter, its extraction and fractionation. Part two reviews both the evidence for and studies into the nature of trace metal-organic matter interactions. Part three discusses various methods of applying trace metals to soil. Finally, in the last part, consideration is given to the influence on trace metal levels in plants of chelating and complexing agents (trace metal free)
