Gradients of mineral elements in corn leaf blades from base to top from plants grown in soil with excess trace metals

Abstract

Corn plants (Zea mays L. cv. Golden Cross N. C.) were grown for two months in 2000 g quantities of Yolo loam soil in which had been blended in μg/g soil, 50 Co, 150 Ni, 13 Li, 200 Zn and 200 Cu. The K, P and Fe concentrations were lowest at the base and increased part way up 8 blades except that P increased continuously with each blade going from base to top. The trace metals Zn, Cu, Mn, Co, Ni, Li and Sr were highest in the basal blade (oldest blades) and decreased going upward generally to the fourth or fifth blade. The gradient was essentially the same as was that for Ca.

Key words:

• Trace metal stress
• leaf analysis
• zinc
• copper
• cobalt
• nickel
• lithium