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The Relationship of Chloride and Sulfate Ions to Form of Nitrogen in the Nutrition of Irish Potatoes
Author(s) -
Harward M. E.,
Jackson W. A.,
Piland J. R.,
Mason D. D.
Publication year - 1956
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1956.03615995002000020023x
Subject(s) - sulfate , chloride , chemistry , nitrogen , dry matter , zoology , organic chemistry , biology
A greenhouse experiment using sand cultures was conducted to study the role of chloride and sulfate anions in the nutrition of Irish potatoes when different forms of nitrogen were used. The experiment consisted of two series, the first in which all N was supplied as NO 3 ‐ and the second in which both NH 4 + and NO 3 ‐ were present. Treatments within each series consisted of plants receiving different amounts of sulfate and chloride. The initial solution concentrations of all ionic species except NH 4 + , NO 3 ‐ , Cl ‐ , and SO 4 = were the same for each treatment. Two distinct foliar symptoms associated with treatments were observed. The first, a tip burn associated with high SO 4 = treatments, was more severe when NH 4 + was present than when NO 3 ‐ was the only source of N. The second, characterized by rolling of the leaves, was obtained only with Cl ‐ treatments in the presence of NH 4 + . This was not observed when NH 4 + was used in the absence of Cl ‐ or when NO 3 ‐ was added in the presence of either Cl ‐ or SO 4 = . Increasing Cl ‐ and decreasing SO 4 = concentrations in the presence of NH 4 + resulted in marked reduction in the yield of fibrous roots. Additions of Cl ‐ generally resulted in decreases in the percentage of dry matter in the tops and this effect was more pronounced in the presence of NH 4 + . In the NH 4 NO 3 series, reductions in chlorophyll content resulted from increased supply of Cl ‐ and simultaneous decrease of equivalent amounts of SO 4 = . No change in these pigments was obtained in the NO 3 ‐ series. The mineral content of the potato leaves was affected both by form of N and by Cl ‐ and SO 4 = concentrations. The Cl ‐ content of the leaves was markedly increased in the presence of NH 4 + .