Micronutrient concentration of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) grown on different soils in a pot experiment

Raimo Erviö,Jouko Sippola

doi:10.23986/afsci.72643

Abstract

The uptake of micronutrients, B, Co, Cu, Mn, Mo and Zn, was studied in a pot experiment. The micronutrient concentrations of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) ranged as follows: B 4.9-11.1, Co 0.01-2.30, Cu 2-15, Mn 29-225, Mo 0.01-1.79 and Zn 23-75 mg kg-1 DM. The micronutrient concentration of plant was compared with the AAAc+EDTA-extractable concentration in soil by soil type. The copper and zinc concentrations of ryegrass correlated stongly with the respective concentrations of all four soil type groups. The respective correlations of boron and manganese were good except in the silt soil group. Cobalt correlated best in coarse mineral and clay soils and molybdenum in clay and organic soils. Boron, cobalt, manganese and zinc concentrations of ryegrass were the higher the lower the soil pH was. In the whole material the following correlations were found between the micronutrient concentrations of ryegrass and soil: boron 0.58***, cobalt 0.68***, copper 0.70***, manganese 0.19**, molybdenum 0.69*** and zinc 0.90***. The results indicate that interpretation of micronutrient soil test data may be more accurate when soil type is considered.

Highlights

Cultivated soils in Finland differ greatly of each other with regard to their genesis, texture and organic matter content
At present, all soils are classified according to the same critical values
Italian ryegrass is a suitable crop for pot experiments and a frequently used test crop

Summary

Introduction

Cultivated soils in Finland differ greatly of each other with regard to their genesis, texture and organic matter content. One fifth of Finnish cultivated soils are organic, and the coarsest mineral soils like sands and glacial tills remarkably differ from clay soils in nutrient cocentration and nutrient fixation. At present, all soils are classified according to the same critical values. It is possible, that classification of soils might give a more accurate interpretation. Low like that of all grasses compared to dicotyledons. This may make ryegrass a less suitable crop in testing soils for micronutrient deficiencies in pot experiments. Status, to quantify the uptake of micronutrients and to study the effect of soil types and some factors such as pH, organic carbon and extractable calcium concentration on the uptake

Material and methods

Results and discussion

Organic soil