Calcium, magnesium, and potassium uptake by crested wheatgrass grown on calcareous soils

Abstract

Forage intake with potassium/(calcium + magnesium) [K/(Mg + Ca)] values in excess of 2.2 are associated with grass tetany and Mg deficiencies in ruminants. This study was conducted to determine the degree to which forage K and Mg concentrations and K/(Ca + Mg) ratios could be predicted from soil bicarbonate (HCO3) extractable phosphate-phosphorus (PO4-P), and saturation extract Ca, Mg, K, sodium (Na), and nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) concentrations.Crested wheatgrass (Agropyron spp) strains and cultivars representing four ploidy levels were grown in the greenhouse on eight calcareous soils with different saturation extract Ca, Mg, K and K/Mg ratios. The plants were harvested three times. Soil solution 1C/(Ca + Mg) and K/Mg ratios were the only measured soil parameters that showed a consistent correlation with plant K/(Ca + Mg) ratios. Bicarbonate extractable soil P was positively related to plant P and K uptake in the first harvest, but was not related in the second and third harvests nor was soil P related to plant Ca or Mg content. There was a tendency for the higher ploidy level entries to have higher plant K/(Ca + Mg) ratios. It was concluded that soil K/(Ca + Mg) ratios can be used to predict relative forage K/(Ca + Mg) ratios for grasses grown under similar conditions.

Salts affect the interaction of ZnO or CuO nanoparticles with wheat

“…The present study explores the effects of mixtures of NPs with Na, K, and Ca chlorides at levels found in salt-associated soils [27,28]. Although certain salts supply the elements essential for plant growth, elevated concentrations of such salts are phytotoxic and are impactful on groundwater quality [27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35].…”

“…The present study explores the effects of mixtures of NPs with Na, K, and Ca chlorides at levels found in salt-associated soils [27,28]. Although certain salts supply the elements essential for plant growth, elevated concentrations of such salts are phytotoxic and are impactful on groundwater quality [27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35]. Accordingly, the plant evaluated in the present study, wheat (Triticum aestivum L), is negatively affected by Na, chloride, and Zn and Cu ions at certain high concentrations [29,30,36,37].…”

Ionic Equilibrium in Maize Grain Depending on the Fertilisation and Soil Type

“…Minerals (K, Ca, Mg, Na and P) play an essential role in maize nutrition (Sawicka, 1997). Potassium demonstrates a synergic interaction with nitrates and the antagonistic effect with calcium, magnesium and sodium cations (Brodowska, et al, 2002, Kraus, 2000, Mehta, et al, 1983, Robins, 1993. Its excessive amounts in soil, however, and thus in the plant, disturb the ionic equilibrium as a result of a decrease in the content of sodium, calcium and magnesium; hence a deteriorated plant quality.…”

Utilization of industrial waste aqueous ammonia for irrigated forage sorghum production

“…The resultant change in K content depends on the supply and availability of K, which under the conditions of our experimental site was at a higher level. Robbins and Mayland (1993) reported that a shortage of exchangeable K in soil is reflected in reduced K uptake and affected the K:(Ca+Mg) levels to influence forage yields. It is suggested that N fertilization affected the K:(Ca+Mg) mainly through its influence on K uptake by plants.…”