Micronutrient availability to cereals from calcareous soils

Summary By contrast of strong phosphorus-zinc antagonism in upland crops, P strongly enhanced Zn uptake in flooded rice on a calcareous soil. Radioisotopic studies indicated increase to occur preferentially from applied Zn fertilizer. Phosphorus appeared to stimulate uptake predominantly by enhancing Zn concentration in soil solution and by increasing metabolic Zn absorption by plant roots. The ‘A’ value was not a reliable measure of labile soil Zn for rice as it markedly changed with levels of P and Zn fertilizers. No. VI in the series: Phosphorus-zinc interaction in rice. No. VI in the series: Phosphorus-zinc interaction in rice.     

Micronutrient availability to cereals from calcareous soils

Summary On several alkaline calcareous soils, Zn and Cu deficiency occurred mainly in lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.) and was rarely found in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Zinc and Cu requirement of plants was not responsible as the critical Zn and Cu contents in tops of the two plant species were almost similar i.e. 17.4, 6.5 and 14.5, 5.6 ppm respectively. Neither did rice absorb Zn and Cu less efficiently. On the contrary, their rates of absorption in rice were double than in wheat. They were 22.2, 6.3 and 10.2, 3.3 ng atoms/g fresh root/h respectively in the two plant species. Flooded soil conditions appeared to be responsible for Zn and Cu deficiency in rice as their deficiency was found mainly in plant samples collected from continuously flooded fields. The mechanism is not known.Both Zn and Cu inhibited uptake of each other in wheat on most of the soils. In rice, only applied Zn depressed Cu uptake but Cu had generally little effect on Zn uptake. Little Cu inhibition of Zn uptake in lowland rice seems to be related to flooded soil conditions. The mechanism is yet to be known. The antagonising element accentuated the deficiency of the other element both in wheat and rice and severely reduced their yields on soils marginal to deficient in Zn or Cu supplies. It is recommended that their soil availability status should be thoroughly considered before their fertilizers are applied. re]19750515     

Interaction of phosphorus and molybdenum and the availability of zinc,copper, manganese,molybdenum and phosphorus in waterlogged rice soil

Summary Laboratory incubation experiments were conducted with low-land rice soil to study the effect of applying three different levels of molybdenum (0, 2.5 and 5.0 ppm) and phosphorus (0, 100 and 200 ppm), in all possible combinations, on the changes in available Mo, P, Mn, Zn and Cu in soil. The results showed that application of Mo at both the levels increased the content of extractable Mo and P but decreased those of Cu and Mo in soil whereas application of Mo at higher level only increased the content of extractable Zn in soil. Application of P at both the levels decreased the content of extractable Mo, Mn and Cu but increased that of P whereas it showed an inconsistent effect on the extractable Zn content in soil. The P × Mo interaction effect was found to be beneficial for the content of P, Mo and Zn only. During the initial period of incubation all elements except Cu recorded an increase but with the progress of incubation period the content of all the elements except Mn gradually declined.     

Soil moisture influence on micronutrient cation availability under aerobic conditions

Summary The three major soil series comprising the Gezira scheme (Sudan) are Hosh, Suleimi, and Laota. Surface soil samples from each soil series were employed to study the effect of soil moisture on the DTPA-extractable micronutrient cation under aerobic conditions. The study continued for 8 weeks using an incubation technique at two levels of soil moisture (continuously moist and moist/dry cycles). The DTPA-extractable Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn from air-dry soil samples were much higher compared to values from their incubated counterparts. For the three soils the CO₂ production (microbial activity) reached the maximum in 5 weeks and then levelled off while the lowest values of micronutrient cation from the incubated soils were obtained between 2 to 8 weeks.Generally, the study suggests that the hot dry months preceding crop growth should increase clay surface acidity and hence availability of mironutrient cations.Contribution from the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Texas A&M University, College Station. TX 77843, U.S.A.     

Effect of zinc fertilization on the mineral nutrition of rices differing in tolerance to zinc deficiency

Summary The effects of four Zn levels on the electrochemical and chemical properties of the soil solution, and on the growth and mineral nutrition of two rice varieties (IR26 and IR34) differing in tolerance to Zn deficiency were studied in the greenhouse using Zn-deficient soils from two locations. A similar experiment was conducted in culture solution to check how Zn addition affects translocation of other nutrients.In both soil and culture solution, plant Zn concentrations alone was not enough to account for varietal tolerance to Zn deficiency. Comparison of nutrient to Zn and shoot to root ratios of nutrients was more useful in determining the possible mechanism of varietal tolerance. IR 34 appeared to tolerate the disorder due to its lower Zn requirement, more efficient Zn translocation and ability to maintain lower Fe/Zn, Cu/Zn, Mg/Zn and P/Zn ratios in the shoot than the more susceptible variety, IR26. This was shown to be due to decreased translocation of Fe, Mg and P to shoots and decreased absorption of Cu by the root in IR34 in culture solution studies. Adding Zn further reduces translocation or absorption of these nutrients and depending on the nutrient supply of the soil, could cause deficiencies or mineral imbalances, especially of Fe, Cu, and P.These observed varietal differences regarding Zn requirement and the interaction of Zn with absorption and translocation of plant nutrients necessitates revision of recommendations for Zn fertilization. There is an inevitable need for Zn application in severely Zn-deficient soils regardless of rice variety. But on marginally Zn-deficient soils especially those low in Fe, Cu, or P, Zn fertilization is not advisable when resistant rice varieties are used.     

Interaction of phosphorus and molybdenum in relation to uptake and utilization of molybdenum,phosphorus, zinc,copper and manganese by rice

Summary The effect of phosphorus and molybdenum alone and combined, on the uptake and utilization of Mo, Mn, Zn, Cu and P by rice (Var. IR-579) was studied in the greenhouse at varying levels of Mo (0, 2.5 and 5.0 ppm) and (0,100 and 200 ppm). Application of P increased the dry matter yield of shoot and root. Combined application of P and Mo increased the dry matter yield of shoot. Application of Mo increased the concentration of Mo and P in shoot. Applied P caused an increase in the concentration of Mo, Zn and P in shoot. Combined application of P and Mo resulted in an increase in concentration and uptake of Mo in shoot.     

Co-limitation of plant primary productivity by nitrogen and phosphorus in a species-rich wooded meadow on calcareous soils

High small-scale species richness of calcareous grasslands is generally thought to result from evening of species competitive potentials by limited N availability, because of relatively low herb N/P ratios in these communities. However, P mobility is low in alkaline soils as well. We studied soil chemistry and productivity of herb and moss layers in a very diverse calcareous meadow (up to 76 vascular plant species per m²) to test the hypotheses of a co-limitation of herb productivity by both soil N and P availabilities and moss productivity primarily by P availability. The effect of nutrient supply on productivity was investigated using both a natural productivity gradient as well as fertilization experiments. We observed strong positive correlations of soil P availability and total soil N with the above-ground productivity of herb layer. A long-term fertilization experiment demonstrated that P alone and N and P together increased productivity of vascular species, and that the productivity continuously declined after cessation of fertilization with the effect of previous fertilization occasionally visible even 14 years after treatment termination. A short-term fertilization experiment further demonstrated that N and P when supplied alone increase productivity of vascular plants, suggesting that both elements were limiting. Furthermore, there was a significant interaction between N and P on productivity, indicating that simultaneous N and P supply increased productivity more than separate nutrient additions. Moss productivity was negatively associated with vascular plant productivity. In particular, N addition decreased moss productivity, but moss productivity did not decline in P addition treatments. P requirements of mosses were larger than those of vascular plants. Our data indicate co-limitation of herb productivity by both soil N and P in this highly diverse grassland, while limitation of moss productivity mainly by P. We suggest that N and P co-limitations are common in calcareous diverse grasslands, and may partly explain the extreme small-scale species diversity in these communities.     

Micronutrient uptake and distribution in mycorrhizal or phosphorus-fertilized soybeans

Summary Soybean plants were grown in a soil very low in available P. Seedlings were inoculated with two vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi or were left non-inoculated and fertilized with P. Assimilation and allocation of micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu) were determined during host development, and the uptake of trace elements in VAM plants was compared to P-fertilized, non-VAM plants of similar weight, growth stage, and P status. Copper and zinc concentrations were always higher in VAM plants, while iron and manganese concentrations were lower than in the equivalent P-fertilized soybeans. Differences in the micronutrient content of fully-mature soybean pods reflected differences in the leaves and roots. Thus, for trace elements, seed quality can be altered by VAM colonization in a fashion not duplicated by P fertilizer. Contribution from the Western Regional Research Center, USDA-ARS (CRIS No. 5325-20580-003).     

Transition metal binding to cod otolith proteins

Otolith microchemistry can be very useful in identifying fish populations and reconstructing fish movements. Recent attempts have been made to evaluate otoliths as proxies of ambient levels of transition metals, but findings have been inconsistent. Some of the difficulty with obtaining a definitive answer stems from an incomplete understanding of the biological control of transition metal speciation in otoliths. Metals may be incorporated as part of the calcium carbonate phase, trapped in interstitial spaces within the crystal, or associated with the protein matrix. Metal binding to the protein phase may be inferred from its structural and biochemical properties but has not been observed previously. Inherent difficulties with the extraction of metal-binding proteins in their native state from the calcium carbonate phase make them extraordinarily difficult to measure. We have developed a method that facilitates the extraction of otolith proteins without total disruption of transition metal binding. Chelating agents such as EDTA, used in the decalcification of otoliths, can demetallate the proteins if allowed to reach equilibrium; however, if the reaction is halted prior to equilibration, intact metal-protein complexes can be obtained. Using such an approach, we have confirmed the presence of copper and zinc in the soluble portion of the protein matrix of cod otoliths, and we have established that between 70% and 100% of copper and 40% to 60% of zinc found in whole otoliths are associated with the soluble part of the protein matrix. Manganese was not observed to be associated with the protein, indicating that it is either weakly bound or that no binding is present. Our results, combined with an understanding of the biological control of these metals, suggest that otoliths are not likely to be reliable indicators of copper and zinc exposure, but they may provide useful insight into fish growth and physiological development.     

Parameters of availability of zinc in orchard soils in relation to zinc nutrition of apple

Summary Labile pool, selective distribution coefficient and adsorption maxima of zinc were measured. Labile pool decreased while selective distribution coefficient increased with increasing depth in all soil profiles. The values of adsorption maxima of zinc corresponded to selective distribution coefficient. The relative efficiency of four extractantsviz 0.05M CA(NO₃)₂ 0.1M Mg(NO₃)₂; 0.01M EDTA–NH₄OAc and 0.005M DTPA-triethanolamine mixture in predicting the availability of native soil zinc to apple was tested. The correlation study indicated that all extractants are good index of zinc availability to apple trees. DTPA-extractable zinc is as efficient as its labile pool(E-value) in predicting the availability of native soil zinc to apple trees. This study also suggested that soil profile should be sampled upto a depth of 30–60 cm for providing a better prediction of availability of native soil zinc to apple trees.     

Seasonal and spatial patterns of foliar nutrients in cork oak (Quercus suber L.) growing on siliceous soils in Provence (France)

Cork oak forests in Mediterranean, southeastern France represent animportant ecosystem in terms of both ecological and economical values, but aredeclining due to conservation problems. While management protocols are now inplace for the long-term conservation of this ecotype, we require a betterunderstanding of cork oak nutrition to assist with management. Here we usefoliar nutrient analyses for two objectives: firstly, to assess to what extentvariations in nutrient content are explained by seasonal and spatialvariability, and second, to document the nutrient dynamics of cork oak trees innatural conditions during one biological cycle (16 months) in the Maures massif(western part of the siliceous Provence). Main results showed that time was theprimary factor influencing cork oak nutrition and was mainly expressed by leafageing process. Spatial variability was a 'secondary determinant' of nutrient variations, but was more important at the very early stages of leafgrowth according to leafing and nutrient flushing, and reduced with leaf age.Nutritional responses of cork oak trees fitted general trends observed in theliterature, with some regional differences. The properties of siliceous soilalso influenced the uptake of some nutrients.     

Relationships of bio-climatic zones and lithology with various characteristics of forest soils in Greece

Summary Soils derived from a number of different parent materials (lithologies) and developed along a climatic gradient, manifested by the altitudinal succession of natural vegetation zones (Mediterranean, sub-Mediterranean, Mountainous and Pseudoalpine), were sampled throughout mainland Greece.In soils derived from siliceous parent materials low in clay, acidity increase and percent base saturation decreases from the Mediterranean to the Pseudoalpine vegetation zones. Clay illuviation is found mainly in soils developed in the Mediterranean and the sub-Mediterranean zones. No such changes are apparent in clayey soils rich in bases.Organic matter content of the mineral portion of the soil profile increases by a factor of 2 with a decrease in mean annual air temperature of about 10°C. The pattern of change in clay and soil organic matter content with climate is in relatively good agreement with soil development trends in the area, when soil profiles are named according to the FAO-Unesco soil map of the world.Concentrations of Ca and Mg decrease and those of total N, total and extractable P, K, Fe, Mn and Zn increase from the Mediterranean to the Mountainous zone. Within the same zone, however, concentrations of N, Ca, K, Fe, Mn and Zn decrease, but those of Mg, total and extractable P increase with soil depth. The concentrations of most macro- and micronutrients in the humic horizon are several times higher than those in the mineral portion of the soil profile due to biological enrichment.     

Effects of aluminium and micro-nutrients on the sorption of phosphorus byTrifolium repens L. cv. ‘Grasslands Huia’ from nutrient solutions during plant induced pH changes

Summary The sorption of phosphorus from nutrient solution and the pH change in the nutrient solution were monitored over a 24 hour period forTrifolium repens L. cv. ‘Grasslands Huia’ plants. Two different concentration levels of micro-nutrients (B, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) and Al formed the factors of a fractional replicate of a 2⁶ factorial design. Measurements were made at four time intervals (30 minutes after the plants were placed on the pots, 3 hours, 6 hours and 24 hours later). In addition to phosphorus, fourteen other nutrients (including nitrate and ammonium) were monitored throughout the experiment. The sorption of phosphorus was significantly influenced by both aluminium and iron. The effect of aluminium and iron on phosphorus sorption is attributed to physico-chemical sorption processes involving the root surface. However the effect on the removal of phosphorus by boron, copper, manganese and zinc was observed only as first order interaction effects —B−Zn, Cu−Zn, Mn−Zn. Thus these three elements (B, Cu and Mn) only affect phosphorus removal in conjunction with zinc. Aluminium and iron together had a separate but very significant effect on the removal of phosphorus at most periods throughout the experiment. In contrast, pH was affected only by aluminium, iron (the pH drop was enhanced) and manganese (the pH drop was decreased) as main effects independent of the other treatment elements.     

Accumulation of nutrients by eucalyptus seedlings from acidic and calcareous soils of the cerrado region of Central Brazil

Summary The accumulation of nutrients by seedlings ofEucalyptus grandis andE. saligna from a latosol and two other fertile soils was compared. Both species performed well in a calcareous soil and an acidic but fertile gallery forest soil but not in the dystrophic latosol.E. grandis accumulated more nutrients from the calcareous soil thanE. saligna. In the other two soils these two species showed similar growth and nutrient accumulation. In spite of the high acidity, manganese toxicity did not seem to be a limiting factor in the latosol or the gallerty forest soil. Correlations among the shoot concentrations were not always the same as those among the total contents of the nutrients in the aerial biomass.     

Root-induced increases in soil pH and nutrient availability to field-grown cereals and legumes on acid sandy soils of Sudano-Sahelian West Africa

A field experiment with millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.), sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) and groundnut (Arachnis hypogeae L.) was conducted on severely P-deficient acid sandy soils of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso to measure changes in pH and nutrient availability as affected by distance from the root surface and by mineral fertiliser application. Treatments included three rates of phosphorus (P) and four levels of nitrogen (N) application. Bulk, rhizosphere and rhizoplane soils were sampled at 35, 45 and 75 DAS in 1997 and at 55 and 65 DAS in 1998. Regardless of the cropping system and level of mineral fertiliser applied, soil pH consistently increased between 0.7 and two units from the bulk soil to the rhizoplane of millet. Similar pH gradients were observed in cowpea, but pH changes were much smaller in sorghum with a difference of only 0.3 units. Shifts in pH led to large increases in nutrient availability close to the roots. Compared with the bulk soil, available P in the rhizoplane was between 190 and 270% higher for P-Bray and between 360 and 600% higher for P-water. Exchangeable calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) levels were also higher in the millet rhizoplane than in the bulk soil, whereas exchangeable aluminium (Al) levels decreased with increasing pH close to the root surface. The results suggest an important role of root-induced pH increases for crops to cope with acidity-induced nutrient deficiency and Al stress of soils in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of West Africa. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Performance of Bromus tectorum L. in relation to soil properties, water additions, and chemical amendments in calcareous soils of southeastern Utah, USA

In drylands of southeastern Utah, USA, the invasive exotic grass Bromus tectorum L. occurs in distinct spatial patterns suggesting soil control of ecosystem susceptibility to invasion. To improve our understanding of these patterns, we examined performance of B. tectorum in relation to additions of water, KCl, MgO, and CaO at seventeen 1600 m² sites distributed across a calcareous soil gradient in Canyonlands National Park. Water additions resulted in a 57% increase in B. tectorum establishment. Fall establishment was significantly correlated with silt and clay content in wet plots but not in dry plots, suggesting that texture effects on B. tectorum establishment patterns may be greater in wet years than in dry years. Applications of MgO resulted in a 49% decrease in B. tectorum establishment, although MgO had no effect on whole-plot biomass at the end of the growing season. B. tectorum–soil relations were strongest during winter (December–March) when relative growth rates were negatively related to soil acid-neutralizing potential, sand and CaCO₃ content, and a measure of bioavailable Mg; and positively related to silt and clay content, total N, measures of bioavailable Mn, P, and K, and a measure of magnetite indicating distributional patterns of eolian dust. As soils were persistently moist during this period, we attribute strong B. tectorum–soil patterns in winter to effects of low temperature on diffusion, microbial activity, and/or production of root exudates important for nutrient mobilization and uptake. In spring, there was a reversal in B. tectorum–soil relations such that loamy soils with higher B. tectorum densities were unfavorable for growth relative to sandy soils with higher warm-season water potentials. We conclude that resource limitations for B. tectorum in this study area shift seasonally, from water limitation of fall establishment, to nutrient limitation of winter growth, and back to water limitation of spring growth. Because study sites generally were arrayed along a hillslope gradient with downslope trends in soil vtexture and nutrient content, close B. tectorum–soil relations documented in this study indicate that a geomorphic framework is useful for understanding and predicting B. tectorum invasion patterns in dryland ecosystems of this region.Electronic supplementary material Electronic supplementary material is available for this article at and accessible for authorised users. Section Editor: T. KalaposThe U.S. Government’s right to retain a non-exclusive, royalty free licence in and to any copyright is acknowledged     

Effects of ionic and complexed metal concentrations on plant uptake of cadmium and micronutrient metals from solution

Summary Uptake of Cd and micronutrient metals by intact tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum, cv. Wisconsin-55) from solution cultures was investigated by establishing four levels of Cd-ion activity in the presence or absence of a metal-complexing agent (±EDTA). Activity ratios of Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Zn were controlled with chelating resin while activity ratios of K, Ca, and Mg were controlled with a strong-acid cation-exchange resin. Hydrogen ion activity was controlled with a weak-acid cation-exchange resin and P activity by a cation-exchange resin containing adsorbed polynuclear hydroxy-Al. The concentrations of all nutrients and Cd were maintained at concentrations similar to those occuring in solutions of sludge-amended soils. The EDTA treatments increased the concentrations of Cu and Ni in hydroponic solution by approximately four orders of magnitude, Zn by two orders of magnitude, Cd by a factor of 50, Mn by a factor of 2.4, and Fe by a factor of 1.6 Neither the Cd nor the EDTA treatments affected plant yield, and Cd treatments did not significantly affect uptake of other elements. EDTA treatments inhibited Fe uptake, enhanced Cu uptake, and had little effect on the uptake of Cd, Zn, and Mn. Accumulation of Cd, Zn, Mn, and Cu in plant shoots appears to be related to their respective ionic activities rather than their concentrations in hydroponic solution. Research supported by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison and by the United States Environmental Protection Agency through Grant CR807270010.     

Effects of a soil fulvic acid on the growth and nutrient content of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) plants

Summary Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) plants were grown in Hoagland solution to which 20 to 2000 ppm of a soil fulvic acid (FA) were added. The addition of 100 to 300 ppm of FA produced highly significant increases in the growth and development of above and below ground plant parts, in the uptake of nutrient elements (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe and Zn), and in the formation of numbers of flowers per plant. Effects of adding 500 and more ppm of FA were less beneficial.     

Nutrient inflows into apple roots

Summary The rates of uptake of nutrients from solution by apple roots were measured (a) in a root laboratory, using intact roots of mature trees growing under field conditions and (b) in controlled environment using young trees. Maximum nitrate inflows into Discovery/M.9 roots under field conditions were only slightly lower than those into roots of the same genotype in controlled environment, but up to 80 times lower than those into roots of Worcester Pearmain seedlings. At any given external P concentration, P inflows into roots of field-grown trees were about 2.5-times lower than those into the roots of young trees in controlled environment.Nitrate inflows were constant above a solution concentration of 20 mmol m^–3 in both field-grown and small trees. In both cases, phosphate inflows increased linearly with solution concentration up to 10 mmol m^–3.Among the various plant and environmental factors influencing nutrient uptake characteristics of apple roots were: the scion genotype, tissue nutrient levels, root origin, the form in which N is supplied, level of irradiance of the shoot, root temperature and the season of the year. The effects of these factors are illustrated with examples.