Soil Aluminum Effects on Growth and Nutrition of Cacao

In acid soils, Al toxicity and nutrient deficiencies are main constraints for low yield of cacao ( Theobroma cacao L.). A controlled growth chamber experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of three Al saturations (0.2, 19, and 26%) adjusted by addition of dolomitic lime on growth and nutrient uptake parameters of cacao. Overall, increasing soil Al saturation decreased shoot and root dry weight, stem height, root length, relative growth rate, and net assimilation rate. However, increasing soil Al saturation increased leaf area, specific leaf area (total leaf area/total leaf dry wt), and leaf area ratio (total leaf area/shoot+root wt). Increasing soil Al saturation decreased uptake of elements. Nutrient influx (IN) and transport (TR) decreased significantly for K, Ca and Mg, and showed an increasing trend for S and P as soil Al saturation increased. However, increasing soil Al saturation significantly increased nutrient use efficiency ratio (ER, mg of shoot weight produced per mg of element in shoot) of Ca, Mg and K and decreased ER for other elements. Reduction of soil acidity constraints with addition of lime and fertilizers appear to be key factors in improving cacao yields in infertile, acidic, tropical soils.     

Soil Aluminum Effects on Growth and Nutrition of Cacao

In acid soils, Al toxicity and nutrient deficiencies are main constraints for low yield of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.). A controlled growth chamber experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of three Al saturations (0.2, 19, and 26%) adjusted by addition of dolomitic lime on growth and nutrient uptake parameters of cacao. Overall, increasing soil Al saturation decreased shoot and root dry weight, stem height, root length, relative growth rate, and net assimilation rate. However, increasing soil Al saturation increased leaf area, specific leaf area (total leaf area/total leaf dry wt), and leaf area ratio (total leaf area/shoot+root wt). Increasing soil Al saturation decreased uptake of elements. Nutrient influx (IN) and transport (TR) decreased significantly for K, Ca and Mg, and showed an increasing trend for S and P as soil Al saturation increased. However, increasing soil Al saturation significantly increased nutrient use efficiency ratio (ER, mg of shoot weight produced per mg of element in shoot) of Ca, Mg and K and decreased ER for other elements. Reduction of soil acidity constraints with addition of lime and fertilizers appear to be key factors in improving cacao yields in infertile, acidic, tropical soils.     

Calcium‐induced modification of aluminum toxicity in sorghum genotypes

Effects of calcium (1, 2 and 5 mM) and aluminum (0, 15 and 45 μM) on growth and internal nutrient concentrations were examined with 12 sorghum genotypes (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) in a nutrient solution experiment with a factorial design. At 1 (or 2) mM Ca the severity of root damage induced by Al well reflected the genotypical variation in growth response to Al toxicity. Severity of Al‐induced root damage slightly decreased with increasing Ca level. Moreover, Ca at 5 mM amplified the Mg deficiency induced by Al, as seen from both heavier deficiency symptoms and lower internal Mg concentrations. Under conditions of Al stress at a high Ca supply, induced Mg deficiency apparently predominated the genotypical differentiation in growth response to Al toxicity. An antagonism between Al‐ and Ca ions for uptake was hardly found with the sorghum genotypes. However, the genotypes differed in Ca efficiency, a characteristic which may be relevant in assessing their sensitivity to Mg deficiency.     

Testing the Aluminium Toxicity Hypothesis: A Field Manipulation Experiment in Mature Spruce Forest in Norway

Aluminium (Al) has been considered to be a central element for risk evaluation of forest damage due to acidification. It has been hypothesized that Al reduces root growth, nutrient uptake and forest vitality. However, forest monitoring studies fail to show correlations between soil acidification and forest health. In general, no direct relation between Al concentration and forest health has been established. Here, Al concentrations in soil solution were manipulated by weekly additions of dilute AlCl₃ to levels that are believed to be unfavorable for plant growth. Four treatments (in triplicate), including a reference and three Al addition levels, were established. Effects of enhanced Al concentrations on fine root growth, nutrient uptake and crown condition in a mature Norway spruce forest in Norway were tested (1996–1999). After three years of manipulation, crown condition, tree growth and fine root growth were not affected by potentially toxic Al concentrations. However, the Mg content in current year's needles decreased at the highest Al addition treatment. The Mg/Al ratio of fine roots of the same treatment had declined too, which suggests that Al blocked Mg uptake at the root surface. The manipulation will be continued for two more years.     

K和Al对水稻生长和养分吸收的影响

The effects of K and Al in K-deficient and complete nutrient solutions on the growth and nutrient uptake of rice were studied in the work.The effect of Al on the growth of roots and above-ground part of rice was associated with the concentration of Al in solution .A low level(0.1 mmol L^-1) of Al promtoed but a high level(1 mmol L^-1)of Al inhibited the growth of both the root and the aerial part of rice,and the magnitude of K concentration in the nutrient solution also had an appreciable impact on this,Thus ,in the low-Al solution,the plant treated with K2(80 mg K L^-1)produced much longer roots,showing the presence of interaction between Al and K; in the high-Al solution the K-reated plant had more and longe roots and a considerably greater dry weigh of the above-ground part compared with the plant deficient in K, showing the alleviating effect of K^ on Al toxicity.The mechanism of the Al-K interaction affecting the rice aerial part growth is not yet known,but part of the reason might be that the excessive amount of Al inhibited the uptake of some nutrients such as Ca and Mg and reduced their transfer to the plant aerial organs,whereas K showed its compensating effect on this;therefore,K could relieve Al toxicity at a high level of Al and promoted rice growth at a low level of Al.     

Aluminium sensitivity of two upland rice cultivars at various levels of nutrient supply

Two upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars with high (IR45) and low (BG35) aluminium (Al) sensitivity were selected to investigate the influence of Al on growth and uptake and distribution of macronutrients [potassium (K), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg)] when the plants were grown at various levels of nutrient supply. The plants were grown for 21 days with or without 140 μM Al at pH 4.1. Nutrients were supplied with 2.5, 5.0, 10, or 15% relative increase/day relative nutrient addition rate (RNR), according to a nutrient supply program. In this range of nutrient supply rates, the degree of Al sensitivity in the two rice cultivars was not markedly affected, except for root growth in BG35 that was more inhibited at low RNRs than at high RNRs. Regardless of nutrient supply rate, Al was mainly confined to the roots in both cultivars. However, the concentrations of Al in the shoots was consistently lower in BG35 than in IR45. Different Al sensitivity in BG35 and IR45 was associated with different influence on uptake and distribution of P and Ca. Uptake of Mg was drastically inhibited by Al at all nutrient supply levels in both cultivars. Uptake and distribution of K were not negatively affected by Al.     

Aluminium Induced Magnesium Deficiency in Oats

It was the objective to study the effect of Al on Mg uptake by plants, precluding as far as possible the effect of Al on root growth. Oat plants were grown in a complete standard nutrient solution without any differential treatment, in order to obtain a set of plants which did not differ in the size, the morphology and the physiology of the root system. After the first harvest at the beginning of the stem elongation stage 4 different treatments were introduced: pH 5.5-6.0, pH 5.5-6.0 without Mg, pH 3.8-4.1, pH 3.8-4.1 + 0.3 mmole Al/l. Apart from these variations the composition of the nutrient solution remained unaltered. After another 10 days 2 vessels of each treatment were harvested. The final harvest was 14 days after the beginning of the differential treatments. The growth (in terms of dry matter yield) of neither the shoots nor the roots was adversely affected by the differential treatments, although the plants in the Al and Mg₀ treatments showed distinct symptoms of nutritional disorder. The plants in the low and the high pH treatments differed neither in Mg uptakte nor in Mg concentration in the plants. However, the addition of Al to the nutrient solution reduced Mg uptake in the shoots to about 30% of that in the Al₀ treatments, while there was a net loss of Mg in the roots in spite of the fact that dry matter increased. This means that net uptake of Mg was less than was translocated to the shoot during the period of differential treatments. With no Al in the nutrient solution the Mg concentration in the shoots declined by 3–8% between the first and the final harvest, whereas it increased by 22–35% in the roots. If, however, Al was added to the nutrient solution the Mg concentration dropped by 46% in the shoots and 70% in the roots. With the exception of Ca in the roots, the differential treatments had no effect on the uptake and concentration of Ca, K and P in the plants. In terms of dry matter the differential treatments did not influence root growth and it was concluded that Al had a direct effect on Mg uptake by either inactivating or competing for uptake sites or carriers.     

EFFECT OF LANTHANUM ON RICE PRODUCTION,NUTRIENT UPTAKE,AND DISTRIBUTION

ABSTRACT

Split root solution culture experiments were conducted to study the effects of the rare earth element lanthanum (La) on rice (Oryza sativa) growth, nutrient uptake and distribution. Results showed that low concentrations of La could promote rice growth including yield (0.05 mg L^?1 to 1.5 mg L^?1), dry root weight (0.05 mg L^?1 to 0.75 mg L^?1) and grain numbers (0.05 mg L^?1 to 6 mg L^?1). High concentrations depressed grain formation (9 mg L^?1 to 30 mg L^?1) and root elongation (1.5 mg L^?1 to 30 mg L^?1). No significant influence on straw dry weight was found over the whole concentration range except for the 0.05 mg L^?1 treatment. In the pot and field experiments, the addition of La had no significant influence on rice growth.Lanthanum had variable influence on nutrient uptake in different parts of rice. Low concentrations (0.05 mg L^?1 to 0.75 mg L^?1) increased the root copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and magnesium (Mg), and grain Cu, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), manganese (Mn), and Mg uptake. High concentrations (9 to 30 mg L^?1) decreased the grain Ca, zinc (Zn), P, Mn, Fe and Mg, and straw Ca, Mn, and Mg uptake. With increasing La concentration, root Zn, P, Mn, Cu, and Ca concentrations increased, and grain Ca and Fe, and straw Mn, Mg, and Ca concentrations decreased. Possible reasons are discussed for the differences between the effects of La in nutrient solutions and in pot and field experiments.     

Aluminium-Toleranz von Ackerbohne (Vicia faba), Lupine (Lupinus luteus), Gerste (Hordeum vulgare) und Roggen (Secale cereale). II. Mineralstoffgehalte in Sproß und Wurzeln in Abhängigkeit vom Aluminium-Angebot

Al tolerance of horse bean, yellow lupin, barley and rye. II. Mineral element concentrations in shoots and roots as affected by Al supply Inhibition of seminal root elongation by Al in solution culture gave the following ranking for Al tolerance: yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus ?Schwako”?) ? rye (Secale cereale ?Kustro)”? « horse bean (Vicia faba ?Herz Freya”?) > barley (Hordeum vulgare ?Roland”?). Exclusion from uptake by inactivation of Al outside the root was not responsible for the higher Al tolerance of lupin and rye, because comparable inhibition of root elongation occured at much higher Al concentration of the root and the root tips (5 mm) compared to barley and horse bean. The plant species differed considerable in nutrient concentrations of the roots: higher Ca concentrations in horse bean and rye, higher Mg concentrations in rye and lupin and higher P concentration in lupin. Al supply reduced Ca and Mg concentrations (Ca > Mg) in shoots and roots of all species. P concentrations were hardly affected. The nutrient concentrations in the root tips did not indicate that induction of nutrient deficiency was responsible for the effect of Al on root elongation and Al sensitivity of barley and horse bean. The considerable differences in Ca, Mg and P concentrations of the roots between the Al-tolerant plant species rye and lupin do not suggest a common physiological mechanism responsible for Al tolerance.     

Effects of buckwheat growth on variation of aluminum and major metals in root‐zone soil solutions

The variation in and relationships between aluminum and other major metals including Ca, Mg, Mn, and K in root‐zone soil solutions were studied by growing buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench. cv. Jiangxi), an Al accumulator, in pots filled with an acid soil amended with CaCO₃ and unamended controls with a preinstalled nondestructive soil‐solution sampler. Soil solutions were collected every 7 d with a syringe connected to the sampler. The results showed that pH of the soil solution was not the only factor controlling the concentration of Al. Significant positive linear correlations were found between Al and Ca as well as between Al and Mg in soil solutions from the controls. The ratio of base cations (BC, Ca+Mg) to Al might partly explain the high Al resistance of buckwheat. Oxalate secretion from roots significantly activated Al in acid soils, which may be important for changes of Al in soil solutions, but it also caused decreased concentrations of Ca, Mg, and Mn. It is concluded that the variation of metal concentrations including Al, Ca, Mg, and Mn is a holistic effect involving competition for exchange sites among Ca, Mg, H, and Al, the chelation by oxalate secreted from roots, and metal uptake by buckwheat.     

Effects of vermicomposts obtained from rose oil processing wastes,dairy manure,municipal open market wastes and straw on plant growth,mineral nutrition,and nutrient uptake of corn

Study aims to investigate the effects of vermicomposts containing oil processing wastes, dairy manure, municipal open market wastes and straw on the growth, nutrient concentrations and nutrient uptakes of corn plant. For this, there different mixtures were prepared. Vermicomposts were applied with the rates of 0, 5000, 10000, and 20000 kg ha^?1 to 2 kg soil containing pots. Study was conducted in growth chamber for 2 months. Vermicompost applications increased plant growth, some plant nutrient concentrations and uptake. Also, vermicomposts showed the variation on parameters depending on their mixtures. Results showed that nutrients taken by the plant increased with the vermicompost until 10000 kg ha^?1 dose. Most of the nutrient concentrations such as phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and manganese (P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, and Mn) were not increased in plant tissues, whereas uptake of them by the plant showed a significant increase. In addition, residual soil nutrients increased with the increase in vermicompost levels.     

ALUMINIUM TOXICITY AND TOLERANCE IN THREE HEATHLAND SPECIES

Arnica montana and Cirsium dissectum are characteristic species of species-rich heathlands and adjacent grasslands, which declined during the last decades in the Netherlands. It has been shown in a recent field survey that the decline of A. montana and C. dissectum might be caused by soil acidification. Calluna vulgaris is not susceptible to soil acidification. It was hypothesized that increased aluminium concentrations in the soil as a result of acidifying atmospheric inputs caused the decline of A. montana and C. dissectum whereas C. vulgaris would not be sensitive to enhanced aluminium concentrations. We studied the effects of different Al:Ca-ratios and of Al concentrations on the development of A. montana, C. dissectum and C. vulgaris in nutrient solution experiments. All three species showed aluminium accumulation in the shoots related with increased aluminium concentrations in the nutrient solutions. This accumulation was correlated with a reduction in growth when plants were cultured at high Al concentrations (200–500 µmol l^-1), in both A. montana and C. dissectum. In addition, indications of Al toxicity were observed in these plant species, e.g. poor root development, yellowish leaves and reduced contents of Mg and P in the plants. C. vulgaris did not show reduced growth or poor plant development due to high Al concentrations. The negative effects of aluminium in A. montana and C. dissectum were partly counterbalanced when plants were grown on the same Al concentrations but with increased Ca concentrations, resulting in lower Al:Ca-ratios. No effects of enhanced calcium concentrations on C. vulgaris have been observed.     

Growth and magnesium uptake of tall fescue lines at high and low potassium levels 1

Five tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) clonal lines with diverse root and xylem diameters were grown in nutrient solutions with magnesium (Mg) concentrations of 42, 125 and 250 μM and potassium K concentrations of 133 and 333 μM. Leaf Mg concentrations increased with increasing Mg rates at both low and high K concentrations. The tall fescue line with the largest root and xylem diameters had low leaf Mg concentrations, indicating a possible increased Mg tetany potential when consumed by cattle. The response of the K/(Mg+Ca) ratio in the plant, an indicator of tetany potential, to varying solution Mg at low and high K was determined for each of the five lines. No Mg effects or interactions were significant. Line, K, and line x K effects were all significant for the K/(Mg+Ca) ratios. The line with the largest root and xylem diameters had the highest tetany potential (highest cation ratio). Higher solution K gave higher K/(Mg+Ca) ratios.     

Effects of excess aluminum on mineral uptake in mycorrhizal sorghum

Soil acidity is often associated with toxic aluminum (Al), and mineral uptake usually decreases in plants grown with excess Al. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Al (0, 35, 70, and 105 μM) on Al, phsophorus (P), sulfur (S), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn,) and copper (Cu) uptake in shoots and roots of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, cv. SC283] colonized with the vesicular‐arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi isolates Glomus intraradices UT143–2 (UT143) and Glomus etunicatum UT316A‐2 (UT316) and grown in sand (pH 4.8). Mycorrhizal (+VAM) plants had higher shoot and root dry matter (DM) than nonmycorrhizal (‐VAM) plants. The VAM treatment had significant effects on shoot concentrations of P, K, Ca, Fe, Mn, and Zn; shoot contents of P, S, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu; root concentrations of P, S, K, Ca, Mn, Zn, and Cu; and root contents of Al, P, S, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu. The VAM effects on nutrient concentrations and contents and DM generally followed the sequence of UT316 > UT143 > ‐VAM. The VAM isolate UT143 particularly enhanced Zn uptake, and both VAM isolates enhanced uptake of P and Cu in shoots and roots, and various other nutrients in shoots or roots.     

INFLUENCE OF ALUMINUM ON MINERAL NUTRIENT UPTAKE AND ACCUMULATION IN URTICA PILULIFERA L.

Pollutants can have detrimental effects on living organisms. They can cause toxicity, damaging cells, tissues and organs because of their high concentrations or activities. Plants provide a useful system for screening and monitoring environmental pollutants. Among pollutants, aluminum is considered as a primary growth limiting factor for plants resulting in decreased plant growth and development. Although considered to be a non-essential and highly toxic metal ion for growth and development, aluminum (Al) is easily absorbed by plants. Urticaceae family members have high nutrient requirements demonstrated by leaves containing high levels of calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), and nitrogen (N). Urtica pilulifera is one of the important traditional medicinal plants in Turkey. In this study, U. pilulifera was used as a bioindicator to investigate the possible differences in the absorption and accumulation of mineral nutrients at different levels of the Al exposure and examine the mineral nutrition composition of U. pilulifera under Al stress. Also, some growth parameters (leaf-stem fresh and dry weights, root dry weights, stem lengths and leaf surface area) were investigated. U. pilulifera seedlings were grown for two months in growth-room conditions and watered with spiked Hoagland solution, which contained 0, 100, and 200 μM aluminium chloride (AlCl₃). It was observed that macro- and micro-nutritional status of roots and leaves was altered by Al exposure. The concentrations of some macro- and micronutrients were reduced while concentrations of others were increased by excess of Al. Some macro- and micronutrients were increased at low level of Al whereas reductions were observed at high level of Al, and vice versa. The patterns were dependent on the macro- or micronutrient and the plant part.     

Effect of varying solution calcium or magnesium concentrations in the presence or absence of aluminum on yield and plant calcium or magnesium concentrations in wheat

The effect of varying solution calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) concentrations in the absence or presence of 10 μM aluminum (Al) was investigated in several experiments using a low ionic strength (2.7 × 10^‐3 M) solution culture technique. Aluminium‐tolerant and Al‐sensitive lines of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were grown. In the absence of Al, top yields decreased when solution Ca concentrations were <50 μM or plant Ca concentrations were <2.0 mg/g. Top and root yields decreased when solution Mg concentrations were <50 μM or plant Mg concentrations were <1.5 mg/g. There were no differences between the lines in solution or plant concentrations at which yield declined. Increasing solution Ca concentrations decreased plant Mg concentrations in the tops (competitive ion effect) but increased plant Mg concentrations in the roots of wheat. This suggests that Ca is competing with Mg when Mg is transported from the roots. Increasing solution Mg concentrations decreased plant Ca concentrations in the tops and the roots (competitive ion effect). In the roots, increasing solution Mg concentrations decreased plant Ca concentrations at a lower solution Ca concentration in the Al‐sensitive line than the Al‐tolerant line. In the presence of Al, increasing solution Ca and Mg concentrations increased yield (Ca and Mg ameliorating Al toxicity). Yield increased until the sum of the solution concentrations of the divalent cations (Ca+Mg) was 2,000 μM for the Al‐tolerant line or 4,000 μM for the Al‐sensitive line. The exception was that yield decreased when solution Mg concentrations were > 1,500 μM and the solution Ca concentration was 100 μM (Mg exacerbating Al toxicity). The ameliorative effects of solution Ca or Mg on Al tolerance were not related to plant Ca or Mg concentrations per se.     

Effects of acid deposition on tree roots in Swedish forest stands

In nitrogen-loaded areas, many forest stands show a positive growth response to the increased nitrogen input. However, with extensive soil acidification and cation leakage, damage in forest stands is frequently observed, in particular in mature forest stands. The most important soil-mediated factors which cause a reduction in fine-root growth and mycorrhizal development are: (i) high nitrogen/cation ratios and (ii) aluminium (Al) toxicity, viz. elevated Al/cation ratios, leading to an increased sensitivity of the root systems to environmental stress. Extensive data on fine-root growth in response to experimental manipulation of plant nutrients in the forest soil are available from many large-scale field experiments in Sweden. It is concluded from the data that Al toxicity should be considered as a predisposing factor for forest decline on SW Swedish sites, reducing root function and inhibiting nutrient uptake. A chronically high nitrogen deposition is furthermore likely to produce longer-lasting damage symptoms on fine roots and their function. Aluminium-induced deficiencies of important cations in the forest trees may contribute to forest decline. In SW Swedish forest stands, potassium deficiency is likely to be another important predisposing factor.     

Effects of copper toxicity on growth and the uptake and translocation of metals in rice plants

Copper (Cu) contamination in the lower reaches of the Sado River in the Alcacer do Sal region of Portugal (a major rice producing area) has became a major pollution problem. In an attempt to study the changes in rice growth (Oryza sativa L.), the effect of excess Cu on the plasma membrane activity (as measured throughout proton extrusion) and membrane permeability as well as on the zinc (Zn), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), boron (B), molybdenum (Mo), and aluminum (Al) net uptake and translocation was studied. Long‐term studies (30 days) were conducted with rice subjected to increasing Cu concentrations (ranging from 0.002 to 6.25 mg/L) showed a concentration increase of Cu in root and shoot tissues. Root proton extrusion increased 7.4‐fold between the 0.01 and the 1.25 mg/L Cu treatments, whereas its membrane permeability (as measured throughout the electrolytic conductance) revealed a marked increase after the 1.25 mg/L Cu treatment. Zinc concentrations decreased with increasing Cu levels in the nutrient solution (excepting the 6.25 mg/L Cu treatment in shoots), while N, P, K, Na, Ca, Mg, B, Mo, and Al concentrations, although showing different patterns, did not reveal any correlation with increasing Cu level. The absolute content of all these metals as well as their net uptake exhibited (excepting Al) its highest values in the 0.25 mg/L Cu treatment. It is suggested that these variations, triggered by excess Cu on root growth, might be explained based on the interaction among Cu‐uptake mechanism(s), plasma membrane‐H⁺ ATPase and root membrane permeability. It is also suggested that Cu affects the N, P, K, Na, Ca, Mg, B, Mo, and Zn concentrations in rice shoots mainly by changing their net uptake rate.     

Growth and cation absorption of some fruit‐vegetable crops grown on rockwool as affected by different cation ratios in the nutrient solution

In a series of experiments, cucumber, eggplant and sweet pepper were grown in rockwool with nutrient solutions of different ratios of potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg). The ratios between the anions in the nutrient solutions compared were the same. In addition to yield, the concentrations of cations in the root environment and in different plant tissues were determined.

The results show that the yield for eggplant fruits were strongly reduced by a low Mg level, while the yield of cucumbers seemed to be somewhat reduced by a low Ca supply. Sweet pepper yields were not affected among the cation ratios compared.

Relationships between cation contents in the root environment and cation contents in plant tissues were established. The correlation coefficients for these relationships were very high. The equations calculated for the various cations show remarkable differences. Regression coefficients and intercepts strongly depend on crop and plant part sampled. For Mg, it could be established that Ca strongly affected the uptake of Mg.     

Effects of aluminium on growth and nutrition in birch seedlings under magnesium- or calcium-limiting growth conditions

Growth and nutrition of birch seedlings (Betula pendula Roth) with and without 0.5 mM Al³⁺ were studied. The seedlings were cultivated at growth-limiting Mg- or Ca-conditions by adding one of these elements at relative addition rates (R_Mg, R_Ca) of 0.15 day^?1. The concentration of Ca²⁺ in the Mg-limited treatments was 0.01.0.1 or 1 mM and Mg²⁺ was given in equal molarities in the Ca-limited treatments. The relative growth rates, R_G, of the plants and plant parts attained values close to R_Mg or R_Ca and were not affected by the concentration of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ or Al³⁺ in the culture solution. Uptake of Ca, at Ca-limitation, increased significantly in the roots after addition of Al, and decreased in all plant parts when the Mg concentration of the culture solution was raised. Less clear effects were found on Mg uptake at Mg-limitation. The inhibitory effect of Al on Mg uptake decreased with time as a result of the growth technique. The root mass fraction was significantly larger in plants limited in Ca (24%) than in plants limited in Mg (20%). The usefulness in using the balance between Ca and Al or ratios between Ca, Mg, K and Al as diagnostic tools for assessing the nutritional status of trees is discussed.