Differential Tolerances of Amaranthus Strains to High Levels of Aluminum and Manganese in Acid Soils

Abstract

Species of Amaranthus are grown extensively as leafy green vegetables in tropical Africa and Asia and as high yielding grain crops in Western South America, Central America, Northern India, Western Nepal, and Pakistan. The crop is often grown on acid, marginal soils, under subsistence conditions, where liming even the soil plow layer may not be economically feasible. Hence, the identification or development of strains with high tolerance to acid soils would be beneficial. Aluminum and Mn toxicities are the most important growth‐limiting factors in many acid soils. The objective of our research was to determine the tolerances of selected Amaranthus strains to high levels of these elements in acid soils.

Fifteen strains, representing five species, were grown in greenhouse pots of an acid, Al‐toxic Tatum soil limed to pH 4.8 and 5.8. Strains differed significantly in tolerance to the acid soil. Relative yields (pH 4.8/pH 5.8%) ranged from 50.1 to 6.3% for tops and from 54.5 to 5.7% for roots. Four strains of A. tricolor L. (vegetable type) were significantly more tolerant than six strains of A. cruentus L. (seed and vegetable type). Strains of A. hypochondriacus L. and A. caudatus L. studied were intermediate in tolerance.

Twelve strains, representing four species, were grown on an acid, Mn‐toxic Zanesville soil at pH 4.6 and 6.3. Strains also differed significantly in tolerance to this acid soil; however, overall growth was better and strain differences were smaller than on Al‐toxic Tatum soil at pH 4.8. On Zanesville soil the relative top yields (pH 4.6/pH 6.3%) ranged from 74.1 to 18.6%. The most tolerant group included three strains of A. tricolor and one strain of A. hypochondriacus, but four strains of A. cruentus were also fairly tolerant. The sensitive end of the scale included one strain of A. cruentus and two strains of A. hypochondriacus.

In general, strains that were most tolerant to the Al‐toxic Tatum soil were also among the most tolerant to the Mn‐toxic Zanesville soil. Likewise, those most sensitive to the high Al soil were most sensitive to the high Mn soil. But some strains that were sensitive to excess Al in Tatum soil were fairly tolerant to high Mn in Zanesville soil.

Results suggest that superior strains of Amaranthus can be selected or developed for use on acid soils.

Key words:

• Al toxicity
• Mn toxicity
• marginal soils
• subsistence agriculture
• plant breeding