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Crop composition in relation to soil pH and root cation‐exchange capacity
Author(s) -
Crooke W. M.,
Knight A. H.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740220507
Subject(s) - chemistry , cation exchange capacity , agronomy , composition (language) , divalent , soil ph , potassium , soil water , biology , ecology , philosophy , linguistics , organic chemistry
Using a granitic soil limed to give pH values from 4–5 to 7–5, variation in the mineral composition of oats, barley, wheat, swede and potato was examined in relation to soil pH and the possible effect of root cation‐exchange capacity (CEC). An increase in soil pH caused increases in root CEC, total cation (Ca+Mg+K+Na) and N contents of the monocotyledon crops but produced no change in root CEC and no consistent variation in total cations or N of the dicotyledon crops. Distinctly different cation translocation patterns were found between monocotyledons (low CEC) and dicotyledons (high CEC). The former favour translocation of monovalent cations, thus leaving their roots richer in divalent cations, while the opposite process takes place in swedes, but not in potatoes. This feature may be related to differences in the number of exchange sites in the roots and other tissues of these two classes of plant. Little change in P content was noted in tops of swedes or potatoes, but it increased with soil pH in cereal tops. Liming had variable effects on the contents of Fe, Mn and Cu. The Fe content of cereal tops altered little but both swede and potato tops had higher contents at high pH. The rate of reduction in the Mn content of the tops of all crops, except barley, increased above pH 6·0 or 6·5; little change in the Cu content of cereal or potato tops was noted, but levels in swede tops and potato tubers fell sharply on liming.