Aluminium content in leaf and root of oat (<i>Avena sativa</i> L.) grown on pseudogley soil

Abstract

Acid soils are not suitable for cultivation of agricultural crops as increased concentrations of hydrogen ions hinder the uptake of most nutrients. The adverse effects of increased soil acidity also include release of aluminium (Al) ions from the adsorption complex and hence, an increase in their concentration in the soil solution and plants. Aluminium ions block phosphorus and potassium uptake by the crop, thus leading to disturbance of plant growth and development, as well as to a substantial decline in crop yield and quality. This suggests that the use of such soils is not justified in terms of successful plant production. The objective of this study was to use liming to neutralise excess acidity of pseudogley soil under oat crop and evaluate the effect of soil pH improvement measures on the aluminium content of both the leaf and root of oat (Avena sativa L.) cv. Mediteran. Three liming treatments were employed [1.0, 3.0 and 4.0 t ha^-1 calcium carbonate (CaCO₃)]. The treatments with 3.0 and 4.0 t ha^-1 CaCO₃ induced no Al presence in oat plants, suggesting that liming in these treatments was successful in terms of aluminium content.

Key words: Aluminium, leaf, oat, pseudogley, root.