Absorption of various types of chelated copper in a low concentration range by cucumber

Two experiments were conducted to compare absorption of copper (Cu) from cupric chloride (CuCl₂) and various types of chelated Cu in a low concentration range by cucumbers. In the first experiment, two varieties of cucumber were grown on rockwool for 40 days in a glasshouse with standard nutrient solution which contained six different concentrations of CuCl₂ (0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.20, 0.40, and 0.80 μmol/L). Copper deficiency symptoms were examined during the growing period, and the total nitrogen (N), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and copper contents of young fully grown leaves were measured. There were no differences among treatments in the leaf contents of N and Mn. Copper contents increased and Zn decreased with increasing Cu levels. The content of Cu at the three low Cu treatments (including no Cu addition) were in the deficient range (48–65 μmol/kg dry matter). The zero Cu level had paler green leaves than other treatments. No differences were apparent between varieties. The second experiment was carried out under exactly the same conditions as the first, but on the basis of the results of the first experiment, Cu treatments were 0, Cu‐EDDHA at 0.4, Cu‐DTPA at 0.4, Cu‐EDTA at 0.4, Cu‐NTA at 0.4, CuCl₂ at 0.4 μmo/L as Cu²⁺. After the experiment, the total N, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu contents of young, fully grown leaves were measured. There were no differences between treatments in the leaf contents of Cu except zero Cu level. They were in the range of 101–119 μmol/kg dry matter. At no Cu addition treatment, the Cu content was only 31 μmol/kg dry matter which is considered to be the deficiency level. For the other examined elements, there were no differences among the treatments and varieties. From these data it was concluded that the availability of these chelated Cu types were the same as CuCl₂ under the conditions of the experiments conducted.