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The Nutritive Relation of Copper on Different Soil Types in Florida 1
Author(s) -
Hill Maoma F.,
Bryan O. C.
Publication year - 1937
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1937.00021962002900100002x
Subject(s) - citation , relation (database) , library science , soil water , mathematics , computer science , environmental science , soil science , database
I recent years a number of papers dealing with the influence of copper salts on life processes have been published. Space will not permit a resum4 of the literature here, but in general the results indicate that copper contributes to the life processes in a number of ways, namely, (a) oxidizing catalyst, (b) nutritive, (c) neutralizer of toxins, (d) fungicidal, and others. The exact function of copper the life process is still obscure, yet the economical value of this element in agriculture, either as a fungicide or direct treatment of the soil, is well recognized in certain areas. Its use as a soil amendment has been increasing in importance within recent years. The fact that copper is stored in the liver and other vital organs of newly born animals and in seeds of plants suggests its universal need in the metabolic processes of life; but because of the lack of refined chemical methods, it is difficult to demonstrate the exact function of copper in the life process. This is also true of other less abundant elements in plants, as well as some of the more abundant ones, such as potash which is indispensable, yet not known to exist as an integral part of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Certain publications (~, 3, 4, I5, ~7, and ~9)~ indicate that copper is indispensable in the forage plants on certain soil types; moreover, that the copper content of some soils may be too low for normal plant growth. Other publications (3, 8, ~3, ~4) indicate that copper necessary for animal metabolism. Assuming that copper is nutritive, then it would be logical to expect a greater deficiency of this element in poor soils than in productive soils. The nature of Florida soils, being comparatively low in metals (5), offers an opportunity to study the possible nutritive relations of copper on plant growth. The object of this paper is to determine the behavior of plants with varying amounts of copper on a variety of soil types.