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Exchangeable Ca, Mg, and K of rock fragments and fine earth from sandstone and siltstone derived soils and their availability to grass
Author(s) -
Ugolini Fiorenzo C.,
Corti Giuseppe,
Dufey Joseph E.,
Agnelli Alberto,
Certini Giacomo
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of plant nutrition and soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1522-2624
pISSN - 1436-8730
DOI - 10.1002/1522-2624(200106)164:3<309::aid-jpln309>3.0.co;2-8
Subject(s) - chemistry , soil water , siltstone , mineralogy , agrostis , geology , botany , geomorphology , soil science , facies , poaceae , structural basin , biology
Rock fragments (particles > 2 mm) are usually considered chemically inert for plant growth. In this paper, the potential fertility in terms of exchangeable Ca, Mg, and K of rock fragments from sandstone and siltstone derived soils from northern Apennines (Italy) is reported and contrasted with that of the fine earth (particles < 2 mm). The results show that rock fragments are a source of Ca, Mg, and K. When expressed on a volume basis, the abundance of these exchangeable nutrients sometimes may equal or surpass that of the fine earth. The plant uptake of Mg and K has been demonstrated in growth experiments with Agrostis under controlled conditions.