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Grass Cycling of Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, and Sodium in Solodization
Author(s) -
White E. M.
Publication year - 1971
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/sssaj1971.03615995003500020037x
Subject(s) - bouteloua gracilis , cycling , potassium , agronomy , sodium , chemistry , bromus inermis , magnesium , soil water , calcium , poaceae , environmental science , biology , soil science , grassland , archaeology , organic chemistry , history
Insufficient Na is cycled to the soil surface by the blue grama ( Bouteloua gracilis ), buffalograss ( Buchloe dactyloides ), western wheatgrass ( Agropyron smithii ), and bromegrass ( Bromus inermis ) to retard the solodization of a solonetz soil. Sodium, Ca, and Mg contents in plant tops were about the same as in the roots, while tops contained more K than the roots. The ratio of Ca to Mg in the plants was less than the ratio of exchangeable Ca to exchangeable Mg in the soil. Proportionately more Mg than Ca is cycled to the upper part of the soil by these plants. This cycling may be a factor in the genesis of solodized soils with considerable exchangeable Mg.