Adsorption and exchange of Ca, Mg and K-ions on the root cell walls of clover and rye-grass

Abstract

The ion exchange properties of clover and rye-grass root cell walls were studied quantitatively. Three sets of experiments were performed: adsorption of Ca, Mg and K ions versus pH, adsorption versus cation concentration and exchange isotherms Ca−Mg and Mg−K. A model has been developed. It allows the satisfactory prediction of results (except for pH curves) with the adjustment of a minimum of parameters. The total charge (RT), on its own, accounts for the difference between the ion exchange properties of the clover and rye grass cell walls. The selectivities observed on root material are very different from those observed on soil exchange complexes. The decreasing affinities of cell walls for cations follow the sequence: Ca>Mg≫K for cell walls. These differences of selectivity are much larger than those usually observed for soil exchange complexes.