THE RESPONSE OF SHOOT ACCUMULATION OF TRACE ELEMENTS IN CHINESE CABBAGE TO MICROCLIMATE MODIFICATION

Abstract

In three consecutive years of field experiments (1994–96), three different environmental conditions for the growth of Chinese cabbage (Brassica pekinensis (Lour) Rupr. cv. Nagaoka 50) were established by using two cover treatments (T ₁ and T ₂) and a control uncovered cultivation (T ₀). The T ₁ [50 μm polyethylene cover; 20°C air temperature; 61.9% relative moisture; 207 W m⁻² irradiance] and T ₂ [a 17 gm⁻² non-woven fleece; 18°C; 63.4%; 205 Wm⁻²] gave rise to differences in environmental conditions with respect to T ₀ [14°C; 57.5%; 237 Wm⁻²]. We analysed chloride (Cl), barium (Ba), rubidium (Rb) and tin (Sn) in the whole tops of experimental plants. Chloride removal was high for Brassica pekinensis but considerably lower for Rb, giving intermediate values for Ba and Sn. The influence of environmental factors under T ₁ increased trace-element removal and enhanced the usefulness for phytoremedation.

Keywords:

• Barium
• Brassica pekinensis
• Chloride
• Rubidium
• Tin

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors express their gratitude to the “Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria” (INIA) and the “Dirección General de Investigación Agraria de la Consejería de Agricultura y Pesca de la Junta de Andalucía” for the financial support for this work within the framework of Research Projects “INIA 8505” and “INIA SC93-084” and to the Centro de Investigación y Formación Agraria for its support in the experiments, and plant and soil sampling. The authors would like to thank David Nesbitt for the translation into English, reviewing and constructive comments.