Transfer characteristics and uptake of nickel by red clover grown on nickel amended alluvial soils of an arid zone

• Published in: Agriculture, ecosystems & environment ecosystems & environment, 1997-10, Vol.65 (1), p.49-57
• Main Authors: Elmosly, W.A., Abdel-Sabour, M.F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accumulation parameter; Alluvial soil; alluvial soils; ammonium nitrate; ammonium sulfate; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Arid zone; arid zones; Biological and medical sciences; calcium nitrate; chemical constituents of plants; cobalt; Coefficient of transfer; concentration; Concentration index; copper; dry matter accumulation; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on plants and fungi; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; heavy metals; interactions; metal tolerance; Nickel; nitrogen content; nitrogen fertilizers; Nitrogen source; Non agrochemicals pollutants; nutrient sources; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; phytotoxicity; Pollution effects and side effects of agrochemicals on crop plants and forest trees. Other anthropogenic factors; Pollution effects. Side effects of agrochemicals; Red clover; sandy loam soils; sandy soils; silt loam soils; soil texture; soil toxicity; Synergistic effect; Tolerance index; Trifolium pratense; uptake; urea; zinc
• ISSN: 0167-8809; 1873-2305
• DOI: 10.1016/S0167-8809(97)00053-4

Nickel concentrations, dry matter yields, transfer parameters and tolerance indices in red clover ( Trifolium pratense L.) grown on three alluvial soils (sandy, sandy loam and silt loam) of an arid zone were determined. The concentration of Ni in clover tops increased linearly as Ni applied to soils increased from 0 to 100 mg kg −1. The tolerance index ( T i) responses to increasing Ni levels varied with soil texture. A significant decrease in dry matter yield of red clover was observed at Ni levels > 50 mg kg −1 in sandy loam and silt loam soils, and > 10 mg kg −1 in sandy soil. The coefficient of transfer ( C t) from soil to plants declined in the order: sandy loam > sand > silt loam soils. In a second experiment, Ni uptake, dry matter yields and transfer characteristics were determined in clover grown on sandy loam soil as influenced by Ni rate of application and the form of N fertilizer. Ni uptake, transfer coefficient ( C t) and accumulation parameter ( A) in clover varied with the Ni application rate and form of nitrogen. T i to increasing rate of application of Ni up to 50 mg kg −1 was not influenced by the N source. Dry yields of treated plants significantly increased over control plants and were in the order ammonium nitrate > urea = calcium nitrate > ammonium sulphate (AN > UR = CN > AS). This indicated a possible synergistic effect of added Ni on N and possibly Cu and Zn, as supported by positive correlation coefficients ( r). In contrast, an antagonistic effect of Ni on Co uptake by clover was observed. Further investigations to explore the mechanism of Ni interactions with plant nutrients and heavy metals are needed.