Growth and Nutrient Uptake by Barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv Herta): Studies Using an N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)ethylenedinitrilotriacetic Acid-Buffered Nutrient Solution Technique (I. Zinc Ion Requirements)

The critical range of Zn2+ activity in nutrient solution required for optimum growth of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv Herta) was studied using the synthetic chelating agent N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenedinitrilotriacetic acid to buffer micronutrient metal ions. The activity of Zn2+ was varied over a wide range from approximately 0.1 x 10-11 to 22 x 10-11 M Zn2+. The dry weight of barley shoots reached a maximum at Zn2+ activities above approximately 3 x 10-11 M and was clearly depressed when Zn2+ activities were below about 1 x 10-11 M. The relationship in shoots between dry weight and Zn concentrations supports the view that there is a critical Zn concentration of about 25 [mu]g g-1 dry weight in whole shoots of barley seedlings. When Zn2+ activities in solution were near or below approximately 3 x 10-11 M, barley shoots accumulated higher concentrations of P, Mn, Ca, Mg, and Na, whereas Cu concentrations were reduced. P and Mn began to accumulate in the shoots before differences in dry weights were apparent and provided the earliest index of Zn deficiency. In Zn-deficient roots, concentrations of Ca and Mg increased by 25 to 30%, and those of Fe and Mn more than doubled. Zn appears to play a special role in regulating uptake of several mineral nutrients in barley.     

Decomposition of leaf and root litter of Avicennia marina at Westernport Bay,Victoria, Australia

After 3 days in sea water, leaching losses caused a 13% reduction in the weight of new leaf litter of Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh., and a 20% reduction of N, 35–40% of P, 60–85% of K, 30–40% of Mg and 0–12% of Ca. In the field, leaf litter in litter bags lost 80–90% of its initial weight and 89–99% of its initial K, 90–95% of its Mg, 85–90% of its P, 70–80% of its Ca and 60–80% of its N after 230–270 days. During this same period, Avicennia fibrous- and main-root litter in bags buried at a depth of 10–15 cm lost an average of 10–15% and 60% of their initial weight, respectively. Fibrous roots lost 80% of their K, 40–50% of their P, 15% of their N, 10–15% of their Mg and 5–10% of their Ca. Elemental losses from main roots ranged from 90% for K to 30% for Mg, with P, Ca and N losses of 70, 70 and 50%, respectively. Litter decomposition curves for leaf litter and fibrous-root litter begun at different times were not significantly different. A study with unbagged leaf litter indicated that crabs ate about 50% of the litter retained in the mangrove zone. Unbagged litter not eaten by crabs lost weight more rapidly than bagged litter because it lost leaf fragments more readily as it aged. We estimate from our studies and field observations that about 40% of the leaf litter produced each summer is exported from the mangrove zone in the form of whole leaves, particulate organic matter and dissolved organic matter. Root litter is neither exported from the mangrove zone nor eaten by crabs.     

Nutrient content and dynamics in north Swedish shrub tundra areas

Forbs and leaves of deciduous shrubs had high concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, P, and N. Deciduous dwarf shrubs had intermediate concentrations but higher than evergreen dwarf shrubs. Monocots, cryptogams, woody and belowground tissues had low concentrations.
Plant nutrient concentrations and nutrient content in soil organic matter increased from dry towards moist tundra areas.
The residence time of nutrients was considerably less than ten years in surface litter, but several decades or centuries in total organic matter. The longest residence time was found in the moist part of the tundra.
N, K, and P in Betula nana leaves were translocated to a great extent prior to leaf fall, whereas Mg and particularly Ca were only slightly translocated. As on other tundra areas shortage of nutrients probably limits plant growth. In that case short supply of N and F seems most probable due to retention in litter and soil organic matter.     

Variations in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) progeny response to high aluminium concentrations in solution culture

Aluminium (Al) phytotoxicity is an important soil constraint that limits crop yield. The objectives of this study were to investigate how growth, physiology, nutrient content and organic acid concentration is affected by Al, and to assess the degree of Al tolerance in different oil palm progeny (OPP). Four OPPs ['A' (Angola dura × Angola dura), 'B' (Nigerian dura × Nigerian dura), 'C' (Deli dura × AVROS pisifera) and 'D' (Deli dura × Dumpy AVROS pisifera)] were grown in different Al concentrations (0, 100 and 200 μm) in aerated Hoagland solution, pH 4.4, for 80 days. We observed a severe reduction (57.5%) in shoot dry weight, and root tips were reduced by 46.5% in 200 μm Al. In 'B' and 'C', the majority of macro- and micronutrients in plants were reduced significantly by 200 μm Al, with Mg being lowered by more than 50% in roots and shoots. The 200 μm Al treatment resulted in a 56.50% reduction in total leaf area, a 20% reduction in net photosynthesis and a 17% reduction in SPAD chlorophyll value in the third leaf. Root tips (0-5 mm) showed a significant increase in oxalic acid content with increasing Al concentration (～ 5.86-fold); progeny 'A' had the highest concentration of oxalic acid. There was a significant interaction between Al concentration × OPP on total leaf number, root volume, lateral root length, Mg and K in root and shoot tissues, and Ca and N in shoots. The OPPs could be ranked in their tolerance to Al as: 'A' > 'D' > 'B' > 'C'.     

Nutrient dynamics within amazonian forests

Summary Relationships between fine root growth, rates of litter decomposition and nutrient release were analysed in a mixed forest on Tierra Firme, a Tall Amazon Caatinga and a Low Bana on podsolized sands near San Carlos de Rio Negro. Fine root growth in the upper soil layers (root mat+10 cm upper soil) was considerably higher in the Tierra Firme forest (1117 g m^-2 yr^-1) than in tall Cattinga (120) and Bana (235). Fine root growth on top of the root mat was stimulated significantly by added N in Tall Caatinga and Low Bana forests, by P in Tierra Firme and Bana forests, and by Ca only in the Tierra Firme forest. Rate of fine root growth in Tierra Firme forest on fresh litter is strongly correlated with the Mg and Ca content of litter. Rate of litter decomposition was inversely related to % lignin and the lignin/N ratio of litter. Litter contact with the dense root mat of the Tierra Firme increased rates of disappearance for biomass, Ca and Mg as compared with litter permanently separated or lifted weekly from the root mat to avoid root attachment. Nitrogen concentration of decomposing litter increased in all forests, net N released being observed only in Caryocar glabrum and Aspidosperma megalocarpum of the Tierra Firme forest after one year of exposure. Results emphasize the differences in limiting nutrients in amazonian forest ecosystems on contrasting soil types: Tierra Firme forests are particularly limited by Ca and Mg, while Caatinga and Bana forests are limited mainly by N availability.     

川西亚高山林线交错带植被凋落物量及养分归还动态

从2006—2008年,研究了川西亚高山林线交错带群落凋落物产量及N、P、K、Ca和Mg主要养分归还动态。结果表明:林线交错带植被凋落物年产量为389.83kg.hm-2.a-1,5种主要养分年归还量总量为15.82kg.hm-2.a-1,归还量排序为Ca>N>K>Mg>P。其中,叶、枝和其他混合杂物分别占凋落物总量的72.2%、17.9%和9.9%,占养分归还总量的87.4%、7.0%和5.6%。凋落物各组分及养分归还月动态均呈单峰曲线型变化,叶高峰期在9月,而枝、杂物则在10月。凋落物养分含量季节动态因不同凋落物组分和养分元素而异。叶凋落物中N、P、K和Mg含量在生长高峰的6、7月较高,而Ca含量较低;枝凋落物各元素含量总体上月变化不显著,其他混合杂物各元素含量6与10月相对较高,其余各月则无显著差异。     

Varietal differences in uptake and utilization of nitrogen and other macro-elements in seedlings of barley, Hordeum vulgare

Growth and uptake of N, P, S, K, Ca and Mg in barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) were studied in water culture using young plants of 17 cultivars. Large varietal differences were obtained in dry weight production and mineral accumulation. The differences were not the same for plants grown in high- and low-salt media. For plants grown under both conditions there was a good correlation between dry weight production and total N content. Total shoot contents of K and Ca were closely correlated with shoot dry weight. Utilization of P and S in high- and low-salt plants and Mg in low-salt plants was variable in relation to dry weight production in both types of nutrient conditions. The correlation between dry weight and total content of Mg in high-salt plants was good. These differences in mineral economy between young barley plants were partly caused by varietal differences in relative growth rate, and in high-salt seedlings also by differences in seed content of N. The significance of root size, and of uptake, root-shoot partitioning and use-efficiency of specific elements differed; all four factors were important for P and S, but had varying impact on K, Mg and Ca. For N, differences in root size and ion accumulation were the most important factors causing varietal variation in mineral nutrition. – In a special experiment seedlings of barley were transferred to N-free nutrient solution after six days of adequate N supply. There was no significant varietal differences in use-efficiency ratio of N. Root/shoot partitioning of N was unaffected.     

Influence of aqueous leaf extract of common lambsquarters and NaCl salinity on the germination, growth, and nutrient content of wheat

Aqueous leaf extract of common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.) was evaluated alone or in combination with NaCl salinity for its influence on germination, seedling growth and contents of Na, K, and Ca by shoots and roots of wheat. The leaf extract and NaCl alone or in combination did not have any significant effect on germination, but the shoot and root lengths of seedlings and their dry weight decreased significantly by the treatments. Root growth was affected more than the shoot. The combination of leaf extract and NaCl drastically reduced the growth more than the separate effects of these stress treatments. The incorporation of leaf extract in the growth media decreased the content of Na by shoot, whereas the contents of K and Ca increased. NaCl treatments in combination with leaf extract increased the content of Na. Similar increases were observed for K and Ca in shoot, while these nutrients were increased in roots compared to control.     

Nutrient return with leaf litter fall in Fagus sylvatica forests across a soil fertility gradient

Leaf litter fall is an important nutrient flux in temperature deciduous forests which supplies a large part of the rapidly mineralisable nutrient fraction to the soil. This study investigates nutrient return with leaf litter fall in 36 old-growth forest stands of Fagus sylvatica across a broad gradient of soil fertility covering 9 mesozoic and kaenozoic parent material types (three limestones, two sandstones, two clay stones, one sand and one loess substrate). Study objectives were to analyse (i) the dependency of leaf litter nutrient concentrations on soil fertility, and (ii) the relationship between soil fertility and nutrient return with leaf litter at the stand level. Beech stands on the nine parent material types produced similar annual leaf litter masses irrespective of soil fertility or acidity. Leaf litter from the nine parent materials showed only minor variation with respect to N and K concentrations (factors of 1.5 and 1.4), moderate variation for Ca, Mg and P concentrations (factors of 2.2 to 2.9), and high variation for Al and Mn concentrations (factors of 6.7 and 10.5). Consequently, annual nutrient return with litter fall (leaf litter mass x litter nutrient concentration) was more similar among the parent materials for N (165–273 mmol m⁻² yr1) ⁻¹ and K (16–30 mm m⁻² yr⁻¹) than for Ca, P, Mg, Mn and Al. A possible explanation is increased N deposition in recent time. According to a correlation analysis, return rates of N, P, K and Mg (but not Ca) were independent of the pool size of the respective nutrient in the soil. N return rate was neither influenced by the soil pools of Nt, plant- available P (Pa) or exchangeable Ca, K and Mg, nor by soil acidity or the exchangeable Al pool. P return, in contrast, showed a negative relation to soil fertility. We hypothesize that nutrient fluxes with leaf litter fall do not necessarily reduce the fitness of tree populations as has been postulated from a tree-centred view. Rather, we suggest that nutrient fluxes with litter fall can increase, instead of decrease, plant fitness by improving nutrient availability in the densely rooted topsoil which reduces the roots’ carbon and nutrient costs of nutrient acquisition.     

Biphasic mineral nutrition of the submersed aquatic macrophyte Potamogeton pectinatus L.

The mineral nutrition of a clone of the submersed aquatic macrophyte Potamogeton pectinatus L. was examined in relation to the ability of the roots to mobilize N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg, dissolved inorganic C and micronutrients to the shoots from a constant small volume of sediment in the absence of one or more of these nutrients in the water phase. Survival, biomass production and shoot nutrient concentration values were measured after 35 days of growth under controlled conditions. Flower production and shoot morphology were also noted.The roots of P. pectinatus were capable of mobilizing sufficient P, N, S, K and micronutrients from the sediment to the shoots to meet normal growth requirements. In the absence of K from the water phase, Na replaced it, but the vigor of the plants suffered somewhat by the substitution. The roots were not capable of mobilizing sufficient Mg, Ca, or dissolved inorganic C from the sediment to the shoots to meet normal growth requirements. Survival and normal growth occurred with a minimum of 2 ppm Ca, 10 ppm Mg, and 0.5 meq HCO₃^? in the water phase. Water-phase Ca was necessary to prevent the toxicity of other cations such as Mg when present in the water phase.A seasonal periodicity in biomass production occurred under standardized environmental conditions, suggesting an internal regulation independent of obvious external signals.     

密云水库水源保护区板栗林主要养分元素生物循环研究

对密云水库北京集水区板栗林主要养分元素循环进行了研究。结果表明,22年生板栗林的生物量为38638kg·hm^-2;板栗林5种主要养分元素N、P、K、Ca、Mg贮存量为315．38kg·hm^-2,各器官中5种元素贮存量大小排序是干>枝>根>叶>花>果苞>果。板栗林生态系统乔木层每年从土壤中吸收的5种养分元素量为79．17kg·hm^-2,吸收量占0～30cm土层5种养分元素总量的0．15％,占0～30cm土层中5种元素有效养分量的1．95％。年吸收量中存留量为11．25kg·hm^-2,枯落物归还量为58．08kg·hm^-2。雨水及雨水淋溶输入到板栗林生态系统的养分元素量为38．63kg·hm^-2,果实输出量为9．84kg·hm^-2。雨水和雨水淋溶量与枯落物归还量之和大于吸收量,表明研究期间板栗林生态系统养分元素的收入略大于支出,5种元素的吸收系数排序为N>P>K>Ca>Mg,利用系数排序为K>N>Mg>P>Ca。循环系数排序为K>N>P>Mg>Ca。周转期排序是Ca>P>Mg>N>K。     

Decomposition of emergent macrophytes in a Wisconsin marsh

Loss of both dry weight and nutrients during decomposition was measured using litter bags, both in a natural marsh and in controlled experiments. At 348 days dry weight remains of Typha latifolia, Sparganium eurycarpum, Scirpus fluviatilis shoot litter in the marsh were 47.5, 26.9, 51.4% respectively, and for the rootrhizome litter were 59.1, 42.1, 27.8% (Scirpus > Sparganium > Typha). Under controlled conditions both temperature and type of water produced significant effect on dry weight loss of Typha leaves. Sterilization and antibiotics effectively inhibited the growth and activities of decomposers. Initial weight, N, P, Ca, and Mg losses resulted chiefly from leaching. These elements accumulated in spring and summer; N exhibited the highest accumulation. In the laboratory, N accumulation occurred within 15 days, as a result of microorganisms inhabiting the litter. Increase in P, Ca, Mg in later stages of decomposition were attributed to microorganisms, epiphytes, and precipitation from solution. High C : N ratios and relatively low P, Ca, Mg in original standing crop may be the cause of low herbivore consumption, whereas the relative increases in N, P, Ca, Mg in decomposed litter provide a more nutrient-rich substrate for detritivores. Much of the nutrient uptake in the annual cycle is via microbial and detritivore growth rather than by macrophyte producers.     

杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)、火力楠(Michelia macclurei)纯林及其混交林细根分布、分解与养分归还

用土钻法研究了杉木（Ｃｕｎｎｉｎｇｈａｍｉａｌａｎｃｅｏｌａｔａ）、火力楠（Ｍｉｃｈｅｌｉａｍａｃｌｕｒｅｉ）纯林和混交林的细根分布,用分解袋法研究了杉木和火力楠细根的分解,计算了３个林分中细根分解的Ｎ,Ｐ,Ｋ,Ｃａ,Ｍｇ的归还量。活细根的垂直分布以火力楠纯林层次性最强,混交林次之,杉木纯林最差。火力楠细根的养分含量比杉木细根高,而Ｃ／Ｎ比低。火力楠细根年分解率比杉木快,火力楠为５７．７％,而杉木为３２．７８％。细根分解的养分归还量多少顺序依次为：火力楠纯林、杉木火力楠混交林和杉木纯林。混交林中,细根分解的Ｎ,Ｐ,Ｋ,Ｃａ和Ｍｇ归还量分别为枯枝落叶的３３．３８％,５．８２％,２６９．３３％,３４．１２％和３７６．０８％。细根在３个林分的物质循环和周转中起着不可忽视的作用。     

神农架巴山冷杉天然林凋落量及养分特征

研究了湖北神农架巴山冷杉 (Abies fargesii) 天然林凋落物量、凋落物N、P、K、Ca、Mg的含量及其归还量。结果表明:巴山冷杉天然林的年凋落量为5702.99kg·hm-2;巴山冷杉林的凋落 物组成比较丰富, 主要有落叶、落枝、球花、球果和其他5部分, 其中以落叶为多, 占总凋落量的46.00%;凋落量的月变化模式呈双峰型, 分别在2006年10~11月和2007年4~5月达到峰值;凋落物养分含量的大小顺序为:N>K>Ca>P>Mg;N、P、 K、Ca、Mg的年归还量分别为:39.1063、4.5346、13.4367、5.4965和0.0911kg·hm-2;就凋落物各组分的养分年归 还量而言, 落叶的养分归还量远远大于其余组分的养分归还量, 占总归还量的52.65%。因此, 不论凋落量还是养分归还量, 巴山冷杉林凋落物中的落叶都占绝对优势。     

Experimental litterfall manipulation drives large and rapid changes in soil carbon cycling in a wet tropical forest

Global changes such as variations in plant net primary production are likely to drive shifts in leaf litterfall inputs to forest soils, but the effects of such changes on soil carbon (C) cycling and storage remain largely unknown, especially in C‐rich tropical forest ecosystems. We initiated a leaf litterfall manipulation experiment in a tropical rain forest in Costa Rica to test the sensitivity of surface soil C pools and fluxes to different litter inputs. After only 2 years of treatment, doubling litterfall inputs increased surface soil C concentrations by 31%, removing litter from the forest floor drove a 26% reduction over the same time period, and these changes in soil C concentrations were associated with variations in dissolved organic matter fluxes, fine root biomass, microbial biomass, soil moisture, and nutrient fluxes. However, the litter manipulations had only small effects on soil organic C (SOC) chemistry, suggesting that changes in C cycling, nutrient cycling, and microbial processes in response to litter manipulation reflect shifts in the quantity rather than quality of SOC. The manipulation also affected soil CO ₂ fluxes; the relative decline in CO ₂ production was greater in the litter removal plots (?22%) than the increase in the litter addition plots (+15%). Our analysis showed that variations in CO ₂ fluxes were strongly correlated with microbial biomass pools, soil C and nitrogen (N) pools, soil inorganic P fluxes, dissolved organic C fluxes, and fine root biomass. Together, our data suggest that shifts in leaf litter inputs in response to localized human disturbances and global environmental change could have rapid and important consequences for belowground C storage and fluxes in tropical rain forests, and highlight differences between tropical and temperate ecosystems, where belowground C cycling responses to changes in litterfall are generally slower and more subtle.     

Litter fall and nutrient dynamics in a Nigerian rain forest seven years after a ground fire

Abstract. Seasonal litter fall and mineral element content (N, P, Ca, Mg, K) of regrowth forest communities at the base and on the slope of an inselberg in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, were studied 7 yr after a ground fire ravaged the forest. Litter fall (tha^?1 yr^?1) was 4.6 (total), 4.2 (leaf), 0.3 (small wood < 2.5 cm diameter) and 0.1 (reproductive parts: fruits and flowers) in the base community and 6.4 (total), 5.4 (leaf), 0.9 (small wood) and 0.1 (reproductive parts) in the slope community. There was significant monthly variation in litter fall in the two communities with lowest amount of litter recorded during the wettest months of the year (May - August) and the highest amount during the dry season. Significant monthly variation (P<0.05) in Ca, Mg and K concentration in leaf litter and for Mg (P < 0.01) in fruit litter occurred, with the lowest concentration recorded during the wettest months (May-August). In leaf and wood litter the order of mineral element concentration was Ca>N>K> Mg > P while in fruit litter it was N > K > Ca > Mg > P. Quantities of mineral element (kg ha^-1 yr¹) returned to the soil via litterfall were N: 66; P: 4; Ca: 97; Mg: 15; K: 45 in base forest, and N: 112; P: 5; Ca: 142; Mg: 20; K: 66 in slope forest. Through leaf litter >88.5% of these elements was returned into the two communities, through wood > 4.0% and through reproductive organs > 0.3%. The order of quantities of these elements returned in leaf and wood litter was Ca > N > K > Mg > P, in fruit litter N ～ K > Ca > Mg > P. Significant monthly variation in the amounts of the various elements returned were recorded in leaf litter, but not in wood and fruit litter. The lowest amount of various elements was returned during the wettest months (May-August) which coincided with the period of the lowest element concentration and litter fall.     

Hormonal Control of the Shoot-to-Root Ratio Is Not Related to Water Deficiency in Wheat Plants under Mineral Deficiency

We measured the content of hormones, the rate of growth, and some parameters of water regime (water content, transpiration, and stomatal and hydraulic conductivities) one and two days after wheat plant transfer from 10 to 1% Hoagland-Arnon nutrient medium. It was shown that, a day after dilution of nutrient solution, the content of various cytokinin forms decreased in the xylem sap, shoots, and roots. This decrease was most pronounced in the case of zeatin in the xylem sap and zeatin riboside in the mature zone of the first leaf. ABA was found to accumulate in shoots. A day after dilution of nutrient solution, we observed root elongation evidently induced by mineral nutrient deficiency, and this accelerated root growth was maintained later. Two days after dilution of nutrient solution, we observed the slowing of shoot weight accumulation, whereas root weight remained unchanged. Plant growth response could be related to ABA accumulation in shoots and cytokinin depletion in the whole plant. A reduced hydraulic conductivity and water content in the growing leaf zone was detected only two days after dilution of nutrient solution. Thus, changes in the growth rates and hormone contents could not result from disturbances in water regime induced by mineral nutrient deficiency.     

稻镰状瓶霉促进水稻生长的机制

稻镰状瓶霉Falciphora oryzae是本实验室从野生稻根系分离获得的一株DSE,具有促生、防病等作用。本研究旨在对其促生机制进行初探。在室内平板共培养条件下,对水稻种子接种稻镰状瓶霉菌饼（4个/皿）,测定植株生长指标、营养元素含量及营养吸收相关基因表达量;温室盆栽条件下,将稻镰状瓶霉以菌肥形式（60g/桶）与水稻进行盆栽共培养,测定植株农艺性状指标。结果表明,接种稻镰状瓶霉后,平板上的水稻幼苗的株高、叶宽和茎秆直径显著增加,根长并未受影响。稻镰状瓶霉能够促进水稻根系对营养元素的吸收,提高地上部分和根系组织中N、P、K、S、Fe和Mg元素的含量,诱导根部与营养元素吸收相关的调控基因OsPTR9、OsAMT3;2、OsPT4、OsSULTR3;1、OsMRS2-8、OsHAK16、OsYSL15和OsIRO2的显著上调表达。盆栽试验表明,稻镰状瓶霉显著提高了水稻各农艺性状指标,包括叶宽、茎秆直径、植株鲜重、植株干重、叶绿素含量和光合强度。结果表明,稻镰状瓶霉的根部定殖能够诱导营养元素吸收相关基因的上调表达,从而促进根系对营养元素的吸收,进而促进水稻植株的生长。     

Soil micro-habitat effects on fine roots of Chamaecyparis obtusa Endl.: A field experiment using root ingrowth cores

Ingrowth cores in the field were used to compare fine root characteristics of hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) among rooting substrate in the form of needle leaf litter, decomposing organic material, and mineral soil. Fine root growth, morphology, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) associations, and tissue C and N concentration were determined. The inorganic N leaching from each soil substrate was taken as a measure of N availability. Although there was no significant difference in total N leaching among substrates, more NH ₊ ⁴ -N leached from the decomposing organic material than other substrates. Rapid fine root production was observed in the organic material, whereas root production in the litter substrate was suppressed. Annual net fine root productions in litter, organic material, and mineral soil were 51, 193, and 132 g m⁻², respectively. In the leaf litter substrate, AM colonization was suppressed and specific root length was higher than in the other substrates, indicating severe nutrient limitation in the litter. These responses of hinoki cypress roots seemed to be a soil exploitation pattern whereby absorptive fine roots were arranged to maximize nutrient acquisition.     

Aluminium effects on growth, nutrient net uptake and transport in 3 rice (Oryza sativa) cultivars with different sensitivity to aluminium

Varietal differences in net nutrient uptake rate and transport efficiency in the presence of aluminium have seldom been investigated in rice. Therefore, effects of Al on growth, uptake and transport of macronutrients (K, P, Ca, and Mg) and micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn) were evaluated in 3 rice cultivars (BG35, DA14 and IR45) with different Al sensitivity. The plants were grown in nutrient solution at pH 4.1. An initial growth was completed in the time interval 1 to 5 days immediately before the addition of Al. The final growth period with Al (0, 140, 280 or 560 μ M ) was completed on day 26. With Al, a comparatively high P accumulation occurred in shoots and roots of the Al tolerant cultivar BG35. In contrast, the Al sensitive cultivar IR45 maintained a relatively high Ca accumulation during the Al treatment. A reduced total net uptake rate of P and Ca by IR45 in the time period 5 to 26 days was due to both a reduced root fresh weight and a reduced net uptake rate per g fresh weight of root. Moreover, net Ca transport to the shoots higher than net uptake rate in DA14 and IR45 at > 140 μ M Al during the test period suggests restricted Ca uptake by the roots in combination with a continuous net loss of Ca from the roots to the shoots as time proceeds. In the case of Mg and Mn, there was a general reduction of net uptake rates, irrespective of Al sensitivity of cultivars. With Al treatment, comparatively high accumulation of Fe, Zn and Cu occurred in the roots of IR45, concomitant with a high net Zn and Cu uptake rate. It is concluded that differences in Al sensitivity among rice cultivars BG35, DA14 and IR45 are not primarily linked to the depressed internal Mg or Mn status of the plants but rather to changes in the uptake and distribution of Ca and P.