Abstract
Nutritional imbalances accompanied with growth retardation of crops at early growth stage were found since the last 40 years on certain arable lands in eastern Croatia. In this regard, phosphorus (P) deficiencies in maize and wheat were found mainly on acid soils of the western part of the region, potassium (K) deficiencies in maize, soybean on the hydromorphic neutral to alkaline calcaric drained gleysols of Sava valley lowland, while zinc (Zn) deficiencies were observed mainly in seed-maize and soybean on neutral calcaric eutric cambisols of the eastern part of the region. Cold and moist spring is factor promoting P deficiency symptoms. As oasis of normal crops existed on same arable land, comparison of plant and soil composition was possible from typical sites. P nutrition disorders were in connection with the lower P and the higher aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) concentrations in the top of plants and the lower soil pH values. K-deficiency as result of strong K fixation and imbalances with high levels of magnesium (Mg) were the main responsible factors of low maize and soybean yields on some drained gleysols. Chlorosis incidences typical for Zn deficiency in maize and soybean were in close connection with the higher soil pH, the lower quantities of mobile Zn, here and there the higher mobile P in soil, the lower concentrations of Zn and the higher levels of Al and Fe in plants. Overcoming the above mentioned disorders and normalization of yields were achieved using ameliorative fertilization either by K or P fertilizers and in case of Zn by foliar spraying of crops with 0.75% ZnSO4 solution. Also, alleviations are possible by selection of more tolerant genotypes of field crops to specific types of nutritional disorders. From this aspect, some practical solutions were recommended for maize with reference to K nutritional problems.
Highlights
Sixteen nutrient elements are essential for the growth and reproduction of plants
Nutritional imbalances or mineral stress estimated as limiting factors of soil fertility in about 23% world’s soils (Blair, 1983) and their existing and intensity depends on soil and climate
Soil conditions in eastern Croatia are favorable for intensive field crops growing; in it’s the eastern part because eutric cambisols are dominant soil type
Summary
Sixteen nutrient elements are essential for the growth and reproduction of plants. About 94 percent or more of dry plant tissue is made up of C, H and O. Represent less than 6 percent of dry matter: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulfur (S), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), boron (B), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo) and chlorine (Cl). Nutritional imbalances or mineral stress estimated as limiting factors of soil fertility in about 23% world’s soils (Blair, 1983) and their existing and intensity depends on soil and climate. Some nutritional problems could be caused by deficit or excess one or more nutrients in soil, antagonism in their uptake by plants and other environmental factors (Bergmann, 1992; Mengel and Kirkby, 2001)
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