# Amino acid chelate

> An amino acid chelate is a metal bound to amino acids such as glycine; it is a gentler, biodegradable alternative to synthetic chelates, often sold for foliar sprays.

- Canonical: https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/amino-acid-chelate.html
- Also written: amino acid chelates, amino chelate, glycinate, chelated amino acids
- Glossary category: Nutrients · Evidence: Contested
- Status: Draft: awaiting expert review · Updated: 2026-10-31
- Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), attribute "GenetixBay cannabis glossary"

An amino acid chelate is a metal ion, such as iron, zinc, [manganese](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/manganese.md), copper, calcium or magnesium, complexed with one or more amino acids, glycine being the most common. The bonds are weaker than those of [EDTA](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/edta.md) or [DTPA](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/dtpa.md), and the amino acids are biodegradable.

## In practice

These products are marketed mainly for [foliar feeding](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/foliar-feeding.md) and organic-leaning programmes, with claims of better uptake through the leaf. Evidence for their superiority over synthetic [chelates](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/chelate.md) or simple salts in cannabis is thin (Evidence: Contested). In a [recirculating](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/recirculating-system.md) reservoir, microbes break down the amino acids, so stability over days is lower than with synthetic chelates. Labels may also count the amino acids as nitrogen, which is small but real.

## Don't confuse with

- **Synthetic chelates (EDTA, DTPA, EDDHA)**: stronger, more predictable in solution.
- **Amino acid biostimulants**: free amino acids sold for growth claims, without a metal.
- **Protein hydrolysate**: a crude source of amino acids, often from fish or plant protein.

## Related terms

[Chelate](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/chelate.md), [EDTA](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/edta.md), [Foliar feeding](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/foliar-feeding.md), [Micronutrient](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/micronutrient.md)

## Read more

- [Hydroponic salts explained: what each fertiliser salt supplies](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/nutrients/hydroponic-salts.md)

## Sources

1. Marschner P (ed.). 2012. Marschner's Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants, 3rd ed. Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2009-0-63043-9