Differential response of oats, sweet corn, cauliflower and broccoli to low manganese in a sand culture system

Abstract

Abstract Oats and sweet corn but not cauliflower and broccoli growth was reduced by a complete‐minus‐Mn nutrient feed compared to a complete nutrient feed in a sand culture system in a greenhouse. Growth of oats and sweet corn were reduced to such an extent within 43 days of seeding that treatments on these two crops were terminated. Growth of cauliflower and broccoli were continued to 90 days and no effects were noted by withholding Mn in the nutrient feed. Chemical analyses of the dried plant material showed that cauliflower and broccoli Mn concentrations were considerably lower in the minus‐Mn compared to the complete nutrient treatment. Cauliflower and broccoli were apparently able to extract Mn from the sand culture system. Oats and corn apparently did not extract adequate Mn for proper growth from the minus‐Mn system. The lack of Mn in the nutrient treatment influenced the P, K, Mg, B and Cu concentrations in and/or uptake by cauliflower and broccoli but Ca, Fe and Zn were not affected.