Effect of manganese and soil pH on the iron content of crops grown on podzol soils

In a greenhouse study on three podzol soils with pH values of 5.4–5.6, liming to pH 7.6 or higher decreased the Fe concentration of pea plant tissues from 47 to 42 ppm. In the case of barley, liming the soil increased the mean tissue Fe concentration from 104 to 119 ppm at pH 7.6 and to 107 ppm at pH 7.7. Field experiments on wheat, oats, alfalfa, and timothy showed that Mn applied to the soil or as foliar spray did not affect the Fe concentration of cereal or forage plant tissues. Liming did not affect the Fe concentration of cereal kernels but on a few locations it increased the Fe concentration of the boot stage tissue. The Fe concentration in oats was higher than that in wheat. Based on the results of a survey, it was found that forage legumes contained more Fe than did timothy. The survey also showed that a few Fe values in timothy and cereals would be considered low, although Fe deficiency has not been experienced in this region. A number of the samples would be in the deficiency range from the animal nutrition standpoint.