A miscible displacement technique was used to study the movement of EDTA and Zn EDTA in soils. EDTA moved quite readily through the soil. The EDTA from a Zn EDTA complex also moved readily through the soil cores; however, the Zn was replaced to a large extent. If the Zn EDTA complex remained intact, then it moved through the soil with the liquid phase. These data have implications on the use of chelated metals for plant nutrition. If the desired element remains in the chelate complex, it could move with water and thus can be leached out of a soil. If the complex breaks down in the soil, the metal can react with the soil. In either case, the desirable element may not remain available to plants.