Effect of pH on Na induced Ca deficiency

• Published in: Plant and soil 2005-02, Vol.269 (1/2), p.119-129
• Main Authors: Kopittke, Peter M., Menzies, Neal W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acid soils; Agricultural soils; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Beans; Biological and medical sciences; Calcium; Chloris gayana; Deficiencies. Phytotoxicity of elements. Salinity; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Grasses; Nutrient solutions; Plant growth; Plant species; Plants; Soil salinity; Soil solution; Soil water; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Soils; Vigna radiata
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/s11104-004-0395-0

Although it is well known that high Na concentrations induce Ca deficiency in acidic conditions, the effect of high pH on this competitive mechanism is not so well understood. The effect of Ca activity ratio (CAR) and pH on the Ca uptake of mungbeans (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek cv. Emerald) and Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana cv. Pioneer) in Na dominated solution cultures and in soil was investigated. Changes in pH in the alkaline range were shown not to affect the critical CAR of 0.024 (corresponding to 90% relative root length) for mungbeans grown in solution culture. Results from soil grown mungbeans confirmed those from solution culture, with a critical CAR of 0.025. A critical CAR of 0.034 was also established for soil grown Rhodes grass. The similarity of critical values established for mungbeans and Rhodes grass in solution culture and soil justifies the use of both solution culture and soil solution measurement as techniques for studying plant growth and limitations across plant species.