Soil aluminum toxicity and plant growth

Abstract

Soluble aluminum (Al) exists in a variety of forms in the soil system and is responsible for limiting plant growth in many areas of the world. Some phytotoxic forms of soluble Al have been identified in solution culture experiments, but current soil test methods do not effectively discriminate between toxic and nontoxic forms of Al. Large differences in Al tolerance exist within and among plant species. Efforts to select or breed plants for Al toxic soils have been somewhat successful, but accelerated progress will occur when plant Al tolerance mechanisms are more fully understood.