Movement of metal cations through the soil to the plant root membrane. Technical progress report, September 1, 1976--November 30, 1977

Technical Report · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7282323· OSTI ID:7282323

Barber, S A; Baligar, V C

This project investigates the mechanisms governing metal cation flux to plant roots growing in soil. The K/Rb ratio of uptake by plants was used to evaluate sources supplying cations to the root. In solution culture, corn and onions absorbed K and Rb interchangeably. Equilibrium studies on four mineral soils and four organic soils indicated Rb was adsorbed preferentially on exchange sites so that the K/Rb in solution was larger than the K/Rb ratio on the exchange sites. On mineral soils the preference for Rb increased from 1.9 to 4.4 as exchangeable K decreased. Corn grown on the mineral soils had a K/Rb ratio of uptake similar to that on the exchange sites. Onions grown on the same soils had a K/Rb ratio of uptake similar to that in the soil solution. These differences are being used to determine mechanisms governing the cation flux. Root temperature affected K uptake parameters of corn roots and soil temperature affected K diffusion rates and K levels in soil solution. The effect on K uptake of temperature induced changes in individual parameters were evaluated in the simulation model. Uptake of K was simulated for all plant growth experiments and compared with observed K uptake to aid in development of the mathematical model.

• Research Organization: Purdue Univ., Lafayette, Ind. (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: AEC
• OSTI ID: 7282323
• Report Number(s): COO-1495-29
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550500* -- Metabolism
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALKALI METALS
BIOMASS
CATIONS
CEREALS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMISTRY
DIFFUSION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOOD
GRAMINEAE
GRASS
IONS
MAIZE
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METABOLISM
METALS
ONIONS
PLANTS
POTASSIUM
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
ROOTS
RUBIDIUM
SIMULATION
SOIL CHEMISTRY
SOILS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
UPTAKE
VEGETABLES