Nutrient Fertilization, Copper Toxicity and Growth in Three Grassland Species in the Netherlands

• Published in: The Journal of applied ecology 1987-12, Vol.24 (3), p.1001-1010
• Main Authors: Th. A. Dueck, Tensen, D., Duijff, B. J., Pasman, F. J. M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acid soils; Agrostis capillaris; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Copper; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Grasses; Grassland soils; Lolium perenne; Nutrient uptake; Plant nutrition; Plants; Soil nutrients; Soil plant interactions; Swine; Terrestrial environment, soil, air; Trifolium repens
• ISSN: 0021-8901; 1365-2664
• DOI: 10.2307/2403996

(1) The response to copper of three populations of Lolium perenne, Trifolium repens and Agrostis capillaris, originating from two areas where copper-enriched pig slurry has been applied on a large scale and one area where it has not, was examined in relation to the nutritional level of the soil. (2) No indication of copper tolerance to any degree was found in either population. (3) The uptake of copper per unit weight root by Lolium perenne and Agrostis capillaris increased with the nutrient level. Copper toxicity also increased until the concentration of macronutrients in the rooting medium itself became toxic, exceeding the copper effect. It is concluded that excessive application of piggery wastes to grasslands will be likely to increase copper toxicity to a problem level for plants and sheep but not for cattle.