Some Greenhouse Studies of Cation Interactions in Ladino Clover Using Split Root Techniques

The object of this study was to supply cations to Ladino clover without adding them to the soil in which the plant was growing so that the interactions of the ions in the plant could be separated from their chemical reactions in the soil. Two techniques are described; the basic principle common to each technique was the isolation of part of the root system of the plant in a sand culture to which the desired nutrient ions could be added. Using the “Three Compartment” technique, the potassium content of Ladino clover was increased by adding potassium salts to the isolated roots. The increase in potassium content was accompanied by a decrease in the calcium content. Using the “Horizontally Divided Root Environment” technique with Ladino clover, reciprocal relationships in the cation content of the leaves and petioles occurred between sodium and potassium, potassium and calcium, and calcium and potassium. Calcium potassium, and sodium treatments were equally effective in decreasing the magnesium and manganese contents.