Importance of Mineral Nutrition for Mitigating Aluminum Toxicity in Plants on Acidic Soils: Current Status and Opportunities

Abstract

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is one of the major limitations that inhibit plant growth and development in acidic soils. In acidic soils (pH < 5.0), phototoxic-aluminum (Al3+) rapidly inhibits root growth, and subsequently affects water and nutrient uptake in plants. This review updates the existing knowledge concerning the role of mineral nutrition for alleviating Al toxicity in plants to acid soils. Here, we explored phosphorus (P) is more beneficial in plants under P-deficient, and Al toxic conditions. Exogenous P addition increased root respiration, plant growth, chlorophyll content, and dry matter yield. Calcium (Ca) amendment (liming) is effective for correcting soil acidity, and for alleviating Al toxicity. Magnesium (Mg) is able to prevent Al migration through the cytosolic plasma membrane in root tips. Sulfur (S) is recognized as a versatile element that alleviates several metals toxicity including Al. Moreover, silicon (Si), and other components such as industrial byproducts, hormones, organic acids, polyamines, biofertilizers, and biochars played promising roles for mitigating Al toxicity in plants. Furthermore, this review provides a comprehensive understanding of several new methods and low-cost effective strategies relevant to the exogenous application of mineral nutrition on Al toxicity mitigation. This information would be effective for further improvement of crop plants in acid soils.

Photosynthesis, Ecological Stoichiometry, and Non-Structural Carbohydrate Response to Simulated Nitrogen Deposition and Phosphorus Addition in Chinese Fir Forests

“…Furthermore, there is a significant positive correlation between chlorophyll content and SPAD values [52]. In this study, the SPAD values in Chinese fir were increased under separate P addition in April, while the chlorophyll content was also increased, which was similar to other studies [53,54]. However, the SPAD value was decreased under separate P or N addition in autumn, showing a seasonal variation.…”

Polyamines and legumes: Joint stories of stress, nitrogen fixation and environment

“…Soil acidification is a natural process which occurs mostly in tropical and subtropical regions like the rainforest of Brazil (Rahman et al, 2018), leading to Al solubilization (Hoekenga et al, 2003), resulting toxic for plants and limiting crop production (Kochian et al, 2004). Few works have addressed the role of PAs metabolism during legume plant response to Al toxicity.…”

Evaluation of agro-biological traits of Medicago sativa and M. varia in a Cambisol and Retisol

“…Planting Al-tolerant cultivars in combination with liming is the most promising approach to improvement of alfalfa production on acid soils (Rahman et al, 2018). Avci et al (2010) recorded significant differences among alfalfa lines and cultivars in dry matter yield and quality traits.…”