‘Hawkeye’ (Fe‐chlorosis resistant) and ‘PI54619‐5‐I’ (Fechlorosis sensitive) soybeans (Glycine max L.) were grown with and without DTPA (diethylene triamine pentaacetate) in Yolo loam soil which had been amended (S or CaCO3) to give different soil pH values and to simulate high carbonate conditions in soil. The purpose was to study heavy metal relationships with the soil amendments including a synthetic chelating agent. Sulfur decreased yields, but CaCO3 did not. Sulfur consistently increased leaf concentrations of Mn, Zn, Cu, Co, and Ni, but decreased leaf concentration of Mo. Manganese toxicity was evident when soil had been acidified with S. CaCO3 (pH 7.5) increased leaf concentrations of Cu, Ni, and Mo. PI54619‐5‐1 soybeans tended to contain lower levels of metals than did Hawkeye. DTPA, particularly at 50 ppm in soil, increased leaf concentrations of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Co, Ni, and Mo. It increased Ti in leaves for the PI54619‐5‐1 soybeans only. DTPA increased the concentration ratio of leaves to stems for Fe, Zn, Cu, Co, Ni, and Mo. The effect was most pronounced for Ni. However, S increased the micronutrient concentrations in both leaves and stems. In bush beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. ‘Improved tendergreen’) DTPA at soil pH 6 increased the leaf‐stem ratio of Fe, Zn, Cu, and Ni, but to a lesser extent than in soybeans.
