Strontium dynamics in soil and assimilation by plants during dissolution of conversion chalk

Abstract

In an experiment carried out on Soddy-podzolic soil, limed with conversion chalk in a wide range of doses, the rate of dissolution of strontium-containing chalk and its effect on soil and plant were studied. Here we show that the complete decomposition of chalk applied to soil is achieved in the 3–4 years after its application. Increase in the concentration of plant available strontium in soil lasts until the chalk is completely dissolved. The dose of applied chalk determined the assimilation of strontium by rapeseed plants. We have found differences in accumulation of strontium by rapeseed in the year of application of chalk and in the third and fourth year of its aftereffect. We conclude that chalkmeliorated soil will generate strontium streams into plants for a longer period. We further propose empirical models that adequately describe: a) the processes of chalk dissolution in the soil; b) the dynamics of the content of strontium compounds accessible to plants in the process of interaction between chalk and soil; c) strontium accumulation in vegetative mass of rapeseed at different stages of chalk dissolution.