Effects of ISPOLIN Fertilizer on Uptake of Macro- and Trace Elements by Wheat Grown in Two Different Soils

ABSTRACT

Variations in concentrations of 24 elements in soils with loam and sandy loam texture and in Triticum aestivum wheat seedlings grown in the soils under greenhouse conditions were studied. Initial soils differed significantly in concentrations of 20 elements. Elemental composition of wheat seedlings depended on the soil where the plants were grown. An application of ISPOLIN (fertilizer enriched with potassium) resulted in variations in soil pH, plant biomass, and concentrations of several elements both in soils and in plants. An excess of bioavailable potassium (K) in soil led to significant increase of K and deficiency of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) in all parts of T. aestivum. Concentrations of many other elements in the plants also changed. The effects of soil fertilization on plant biomass, leaf chlorophyll, and plant element concentrations were soil-dependent. Depending on the ratio of K/Mg in the soils, there was either an increase of plant yield and chlorophyll content or no effect at all.

Keywords:

• ISPOLIN fertilizer
• loam and sandy loam soils
• soil-plant interactions
• trace and macro-element uptake
• wheat Triticum aestivum

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study was supported by grant from Nordic Council 4385/2002–2003. Authors would also like to thank Prof. G. Gobran for his comments in the initial stage of preparation of this manuscript.

Notes

*differences between initial soils taken from the two experimental sites were significant (P < 0.05).

^a differences between initial and cultivated control soils were significant (P < 0.05).

^b differences between control cultivated soil and soil amended with ISPOLIN and cultivated with wheat were significant (P < 0.05).

*differences between element concentrations in control plants grown in the soils taken from the two sites were significant (P < 0.05).

^a differences between concentrations of elements in plants grown in fertilised and non-fertilised soils were significant at P < 0.05.

*—differences between control and ISPOLIN-fertilised soils were significant at P < 0.05.