The Absorption of Nutrients by Two Varieties of Wheat Grown on the Black and Gray Soils of Alberta

Abstract

Chemical analyses carried out at five stages of development of Reward and Red Bobs wheat grown on the black and the gray soils of Alberta showed that differences in soil and variety significantly influenced the composition of the plants.The weights of dry matter and all nutrients studied were higher for the black-soil plants.On the basis of percentage dry matter all nutrients, except phosphorus, were higher in the black-soil plants. Reward was higher than Red Bobs in nitrogen when grown on the black soil; and in ash, phosphorus and potassium when grown on the gray soil.The grain of gray-soil plants was higher in all ash constituents but lower in nitrogen. Varietal differences were more marked in the grain and straw of the mature plants, Reward grain grown on both soils being higher in nitrogen, ash, phosphorus and magnesium.The total weights, percentages, rates of absorption and ion ratios all indicated that nitrogen and sulphur were limiting the growth of wheat on the gray soil. It is suggested that the proportionately higher absorption of phosphorus from the soil was in compensation for the low availability of nitrogen and sulphur.The differences in original quality of the wheats grown on the two soils can be largely accounted for by the differences in protein content, and therefore nitrogen supply. Phosphorus absorption, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur balance, and the relation of ash to protein, are possibly important in determining the keeping properties of the flour.

A Study of Mineral Nutrition of Wheat as Influenced by Fertilizer Combinations

“…in the plants from plot 1. The rapid assimilation of potassium and the attainment of a maximum early in the growth of the wheat plant was observed by the German workers, the English workers, and WOODFORD and MCCALLA (16). BERRY (3) found the same thing in his study of the progressive development of the oat plant.…”

“…This may possibly be due to the fact'that'nitrate was added to plot 2 and hence was available during the dry-period when the production of nitrates by soil bacteria had probably almost' ceased. (16) show a loss of calcium during the last fifteen days in the plants from two of their' four plots. A small loss was noted in the present investigation in the case of the plants from plots 4, 5, and 6.…”

“…While the present investigation was in progress WOODFORD and MCCALTA (16) published the results of their investigation of the nutrition of spring wheat grown on the gray and black soils of Alberta. Their method of procedure was essentially the same as that of the English workers, although their results are expressed as the weights of nutrients present in plants taken from a unit length of row.…”

Effects of a Limiting Element on the Absorption of Individual Elements and on the Anion: Cation Balance in Wheat

“…Analyses were made on eight individual replicates of each of two varieties of wheat grown on the two soils. Details are given by WOODFORD and McCALLA (17). The values given in this paper are means for the two varieties.…”

“…For all the material grown in water culture, the complete solution used was Hoagland (10,11,17), and for the purpose of the present discussion are unnecessary.…”