Multiple applications of FeDTPA or DTPA on micro‐nutrient extraction and potential availability from peat‐based medium

Abstract

The chelate, DTPA, has heen shown to be an effective extraction agent for the micronutrients from peat‐based soilless media. Multiple applications of 2 mM DTPA extracted 95 ppm iron (Fe) after one week and then declined to 16 ppm Fe while 0.2 mM DTPA extracted Fe which increased to 16 ppm after three weeks. Leachate Fe concentrations from 0.02 mM DTPA and 0.02 mM FeDTPA were similar, increasing from 1 to 2 ppm. Leachate Fe concentrations from 0.2 mM FeDTPA increased from 7 to 14 ppm, however, 0.2 mM DTPA decreased from 9 to 3 ppm. The 0 DTPA treatment had a constant 0.1 ppm Fe in the leachates. Manganese (Mn) was rapidly extracted from the medium. Leachate concentration of both copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) increased slightly above applied concentrations. There were no differences in dry weight or total micronutrient content among geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum ’Aurora') grown with either DTPA or FeDTPA treatments 0.2 mM and below.     

Influence of air drying and soil gas‐phase carbon dioxide on DTPA‐extractable iron in calcareous soils

Abstract

The extraction of a field‐moist soil with DTPA will result in a level of extractable iron (Fe) lower than that of the air‐dried soil. Soil gas‐phase carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels may be considerably higher than ambient atmospheric levels, especially in wet soils in the field. This study was undertaken to determine whether gas‐phase CO₂ level influences the quantity of Fe extracted by DTPA. Three moist calcareous soils were incubated for 21 days, each at three different partial pressures of CO₂, after which the moist soils were extracted with DTPA. A sample of each soil was also air dried, and was subsequently extracted with DTPA. In each case, DTPA‐extractable Fe from the moist sample was lower than that from the air‐dried sample; however, DTPA‐extractable Fe increased with increasing CO₂ partial pressure of in the moist soils. DTPA‐extractable Fe concentration for a given soil following air drying was not significantly influenced by the CO₂ partial pressure during incubation of the originally field‐moist soil. DTPA‐extract pH of the moist soils followed the same trend as soil‐solution pH (i.e., as CO₂ concentration of the soil gas‐phase increased, soil solution pH and DTPA extract pH both decreased); however, the slope of the pH versus log P_CO2 curve was less pronounced in the DTPA extract due to the buffering capacity of the triethanolamine. From this study, it is concluded that elevated soil gas‐phase CO₂ partial pressure does not contribute to the lower level of DTPA‐extractable Fe observed when the extraction is performed on a field‐moist versus an air‐dried soil; increased CO₂ partial pressure actually resulted in a slight increase in concentration of DTPA‐extractable Fe obtained from a field‐moist soil.     

The profile distribution of total and extractable copper in selected Nigerian soils

Abstract

The profile distribution of total, DTPA‐ and 0.1N HCl‐extractable Cu was determined in 11 Nigerian soil profiles formed from various parent materials including the coastal plain sands, shales, basalt, granite and banded gneiss.

Total Cu ranged from 7 to 72 ppm with a mean of 35 ppm₀ The soils formed from basalt had the highest values while those on coastal plains had the least content. Generally, there was a higher content in the subsoils than in the surface horizons. The total Cu significantly correlated with percent clay and the free oxide contents of Fe and Mn.

DTPA ‐ and 0.1N HCl‐extractable Cu ranged from 0.08 to 2.81 ppm and 0.10 to 7.78 ppm, respectively. Soils on metamorphic rocks gave the highest values of DTPA‐extractable Cu. The DTPA‐extractable Cu ‐was only related to pH but the acid extractable Cu was associated with total Cu, clay, free Fe₂O₃ and MnO₂ contents.     

Effect of incubation and microbial inhibition at field moisture capacity on changes in DTPA‐extractable Fe,Zn, and Cu in soils of varying pH

Abstract

To determine the effect of incubation on DTPA‐extractable Fe, Zn, and Cu in soils with a wide pH range (4.2 ‐ 9.4) and to determine the nature of this effect, soils were incubated at field moisture capacity for 1 week with and without a sterilant (toluene). After incubation these soils as well as their air‐dry counterparts were analyzed for DTPA‐extractable Fe, Zn, and Cu.

Incubated soils were significantly lower in DTPA‐extractable Fe, Zn, and Cu than air‐dry soils over all soil pH values tested but there was no significant difference in mean values for incubated soils due to the addition of toluene. The results suggest that, upon incubation at field moisture capacity, the decrease in DTPA‐extractable Fe, Zn, and Cu observed was noa‐microbial in nature.     

Soybean Growth on Calcareous Soil as Affected by Three Iron Sources

Abstract

Iron (Fe) chlorosis is a common symptom in many soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) producing areas throughout the United States. On the Blackland soils found in northeast Texas, Fe chlorosis occasionally appears during vegetative growth, but often abates by the time plants flower. However, it is not clear whether preplant additions of Fe will enhance soybean growth or yield on this soil or whether different sources of Fe give different responses. In a greenhouse study, soil from a pH 8.4 Houston Black clay (fine, smectitic, thermic Udic Haplusterts), with a DTPA‐extractable concentration of 11.7 mg Fe kg^?1, was treated with FeSO₄ (0, 3, 10, 30, and 100 ppm Fe), sodium ferric diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (FeDTPA) (0, 0.3, 1.0, 3, and 10 ppm Fe) or sodium ferric ethylenediamine‐di (o‐hydroxyphenylacetate) (FeEDDHA) (0, 0.3, 1.0, 3, and 10 ppm Fe). Pot size was 19 L and soil dry mass was 10 kg. Soybean (cv. Hutcheson) seed were planted in November 2000 and seedlings were thinned to three per pot at the first true leaf stage. The third uppermost fully expanded leaf of each plant was harvested at growth stage R3 for nutrient analysis. Between 20 and 100 days after planting, six nondestructive leaf chlorophyll readings were obtained from the third uppermost fully expanded leaf. Entire plants were harvested at R6 (mid podfill) for nutrient and biomass yield determination. Leaf blade Fe concentration ranged from 79 to 87 mg kg^?1 in the untreated check plants to a high of 109 mg kg^?1 for the 10 ppm FeDTPA‐Fe treatment, all of which were greater than the acknowledged critical level of 60 mg kg^?1. No visible Fe‐deficiency symptoms appeared during the study. Chlorophyll (SPAD 502) values during the R3 to R5 growth stages were greater for all of the FeSO₄ treatments than for the 0 ppm treatment. The 10 ppm FeDTPA‐Fe treatment and the 3 ppm FeEDDHA‐Fe treatment exhibited higher leaf chlorophyll readings than the untreated checks during the R3 to R5 growth stage. The average seed yield from the 12 Fe fertilized treatments at growth stage R6 was only 12% greater (not significant) than the untreated check. Total biomass (root plus shoot) was not affected by the treatments. There was no evidence that the higher rates of Fe caused reduced growth. Overall, our results do not suggest that soil‐applied Fe will consistently stimulate soybean growth or yield on this soil, at least when DTPA‐extractable soil Fe is at 12 mg kg^?1 or higher. However, because of the trends for increased seed yield in some of the Fe treatments, field studies using soil‐ and/or foliar‐applied Fe are warranted.     

Nickel phytotoxicity in relationship to soil ph manipulation and chelating agents

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to ascertain effects of some edaphic factors on the uptake and influence of Ni on plant growth sinee Ni is a common trace element contaminant as well as an important component of serpentine soils. Corn (Zea mays L. inbred Ys₁/Ys₁) was rown in Yolo loam soil amended to give soil pH values of 4.2, 5.6, 7.5, and 8.2. A level of 100 μg Ni/g soil was not toxic to the corn. Shoot concentrations of Ni increased as soil pH decreased for both application rates of Ni. A level of 250 μg Ni/g soil decreased yields more at soil pH below 7 than above 7. Iron, Zn, and Mn levels in shoots did not appear to be directly related to the Ni applications although Fe levels tended to increase as a result of smaller plant size. PI54619–5–1 soybeans (Glycine max L. ) were grown in soil at two different pH values (with and without CaCO₃) and with and without a level of 1000 μg Ni/g added as the sulfate and thoroughly mixed with the soil and equilibrated for 1 month prior to transplanting the soybeans with and without application of a chelating agent, DTPA (diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid), commonly used to correct Fe deficiency in plants. Plants were killed in the soil of pH 6.2 when the 1000 μg Ni/g soil was added. The pH 7.2 soil decreased the toxicity of Ni. The DTPA had little effect on yields, but increased the amount of Ni in plants. Nickel decreased the Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn concentrations of the plants. Stems contained less Ni than did leaves. In another experiment, EDTA (ethylenediamine tetraacetate) greatly increased Ni concentrations in bush beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L. C.V. Improved Tendergreen) and in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.C.V. Atlas 57) grown in Yolo loam soil, and simultaneously increased Fe concentrations. Lime (CaCO₃ or MgCO₃) decreased toxicity of Ni in bush beans. DTPA increased Ni transport in bush beans and increased the ratio of Ni in leaves to that in stems at soil pH 7.5 and 8.2, but not at pH 4.0 and 5.8.     

Effect of wetting and drying on DTPA‐extractable Fe,Zn, Mn,and Cu in soils

Abstract

The study reported herein was intended to determine the effect of (i) wet‐incubation and subsequent air‐drying, and (ii) oven‐drying on DTPA‐Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu.

Analysis of wet‐incubated soils showed significant decreases in DTPA‐Fe, Mn, and Cu at the 1% and Zn at the 10% level of probability. Air‐drying of these moist‐incubated soils increased the levels of Fe, Zn, and Cu to values close to their original levels. Levels of Mn sharply deviated from their original values after air‐drying of incubated soils. Correlation coefficients (r) between the amounts of extractable nutrients in original air‐dry soils and wet‐incubated soils were 0.54, 0.87, 0.91, and 0.13 for Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn, respectively. Oven‐drying increased the levels of DTPA‐extractable micronutrients from 2 to 6 fold.     

Use of NH4 HCO3‐DTPA soil test to assess availability and toxicity of selenium to alfalfa plants

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine if ammonium bicarbonate‐DTPA soil test (AB‐DTPA) of Soltanpour and Schwab for simultaneous extraction of P, K, Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn can be used to determine the availability index for Se. Five Mollisols from North Dakota were treated with sodium selenate and were subjected to several wetting and drying cycles. These soils were extracted with hot water and with ammonium bicarbonate‐DTPA (AB‐DTPA) solution for Se analysis. Alfalfa plants were grown in these soils in a growth chamber to determine plant uptake of Se. In addition to the above experiment, coal mine soil and overburden materials from Western Colorado were extracted and analyzed as mentioned above.

It was found that hot water and AB‐DTPA extracted approximately equal amounts of Se from Mollisols. A high degree of correlation (r =0.96) was found between Se uptake by plants and AB‐DTPA extractable Se. Extractable level of Se in treated soils was decreased with time due to change of selenate to less soluble Se forms and plant uptake of Se. An AB‐DTPA extractable Se level of over 100 ppb produced alfalfa plants containing 5 ppm or higher levels of Se that can be considered toxic to animals. Soils with about 2000 ppb of extractable Se were highly toxic to alfalfa plants and resulted in plant concentrations of over 1000 ppm of Se. The high rate of selenate (4ppm Se) was less toxic to alfalfa plants in soils of high organic matter content. This lower toxicity was accompanied with lower extractable levels of Se.

The AB‐DTPA solution extracted on the average about 31% more Se than hot water from the mine and overburden samples and was highly correlated with the latter (r =0.92). The results indicated the presence of bicarbonate‐exchangeable Se in these materials.     

Critical Soil Zinc Deficiency Concentration and Tissue Iron: Zinc Ratio as a Diagnostic Tool for Prediction of Zinc Deficiency in Corn

ABSTRACT

Zinc (Zn) fertilizer application is most economic if based on soil test and plant analysis information. The aim of this study was to determine the soil test [diethylenetrinitrilopentaacetate (DTPA) and ethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (EDTA) extractable] Zn-critical levels and tissue Fe/Zn ratio for corn (Zea mays L.). A greenhouse experiment with 12 soil series and two Zn fertilizer treatments (0 and 15 mg Zn kg^?1 as zinc sulfate) was conducted. Critical Zn deficiency levels were determined using the Cate-Nelson procedure. Relative corn yield varied from 0.59 to 1.64. Critical deficiency levels based on the Cate-Nelson method were 1.50 and 1.17 mg kg^?1 for DTPA and EDTA-extracted soil Zn, respectively. No accurate critical deficiency level could be established using the shoot Zn concentrations. The critical iron (Fe)/Zn ratio in the corn shoot was 3.9. Values greater than 3.9 indicate hidden Zn deficiency and probable response to applied Zn.     

Effect of grinding variables on the NH4HCO3 –dtpa soil test values for Fe,Zn, Mn,Cu, P,and K

Abstract

The effect of grinding force, time, and weight of soil on the NH₄HCO₃ ‐DTPA extractable levels of Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, P and K from 10 Colorado soils were studied. It was found that the amount of extractable iron and zinc increased, with an increase in force or time of grinding. The significant interaction between time and force of grinding indicates that the combined effect of the larger force and the longer time in increasing the extractable levels of Fe and Zn was greater than the additive effects of these factors. The weight of soil being ground had a small effect on extractable Fe (significant at 10% level) and no effect on other elements. Extractable levels of Mn, Cu, P, and K were not affected by the grinding treatments. Iron was increased 112% and zinc was increased 44% due to the combined effects of the larger force and the longer time of grinding in soils averaging 12.8 and 1.1 ppm in Fe and Zn, respectively. It is concluded that grinding variables should be standardized, otherwise interlaboratory comparisons and standardized interpretations of results are not possible.     

Evaluation of efficient soil test methods for Zn and their critical vales in salt‐affects soils for rice

Abstract

Soil pot culture experiment was conducted on 22 soils of Balewal‐Phaguwala‐Narike (BPN) and 24 soils of Isri‐Langrian‐Narike (ILN) associations using rice (PR 106) as test crop at 0 and 7.5 ppm Zn levels. Chelating extractants 0.005M DTPA, 0.01M EDTA‐(NH₄)₂CO₃ and 0.05M EDTA, extracted more soil Zn than double‐acid and were significantly correlated with each other as well as with soil pH and clay in BPN and only with clay in ILN soil association. Soil CaCO₃ governed the double‐acid extractable Zn in these soils. Dry matter yield and Zn uptake by rice significantly increased with 7.5 ppm Zn application. The response was higher in ILN than BPN soil association, The DTPA method gave the highest correlation with Bray's yield and Zn uptake (r =0.72 and 0.55) followed by 0.05M EDTA (r ‐ 0.75 and 0.61) or EDTA‐(NH₄)₂CO₃ (r =0.70 and 0.61). The predictability of rice yield improved from 18–27 to 27–35, 32–43, 34–44 and 51–55 percent as a result of stepwise inclusion of pH, CaCO₃, organic carbon (OC) and clay respectively in the regression equation alongwith Zn extracted by chelating agents.

The critical levels of DTPA, EDTA‐(NH₄)₂CO₃ and EDTA extractable Zn significantly differed in the two associations and were 0.69, 0.82 and 1.24 ppm in BPN and O.BC, 1.09 and 1.42 ppm in ILN soil association. Soil properties further affected the critical levels. This for DTPA available Zn was 0.80 and 1.03 ppm in soil containing less and greater than 2% CaCO₃, 1.03 and 0.80 ppm in soils containing less and greater than 0.25% OC. These values for EDTA‐(NH₄)₂CO₃ available Zn were 1.09 and 0.91 ppm Zn in soils containing less and greater than 15% clay suggesting that critical levels of Zn for each category of soil properties should be considered while making recommendations of Zn fertilization of crops.,     

Micronutrient cation survey of lowland rice in sierra leone

Abstract

Lowland rice plants were sampled at two growth stages and analyzed for Zn, Cu, Mn, and Fe. Most of the sites were deficient in Cu and one‐third of the sites were rated deficient in Zn. All sites were in the adequate range with respect to Mn. Many Fe values were in the excess to toxic range. Average content of micronutrient cations in rice plants was uniformly greater 30 days after the rice was transplanted than 60 days after transplanting.

Correlations between extractable Mn in lowland soils and Mn in associated rice plants were highly significant with the DTPA extractant and significant with the HCl method, both 30 and 60 days after the rice was transplanted. With HCl, extractable Fe in lowland soils was highly correlated with Fe in associated rice plants, but this relationship was not as close with the DTPA extractant.

In lowland soils, extractable Zn increased significantly and consistently with increases in Cu and Mn extracted with DTPA and HCl. Extractable Zn also increased significantly with increases in Fe when the HCl extractant was used, but not with DTPA.     

Responses of earlirose rice to iron,zinc, and BPDS when grown on calcareous soil

Abstract

The Earlirose cultivar of rice (Oryza sativa L.) grown in calcareous Hacienda loam soil was extremely Fe deficient. The Fe deficiency was corrected by premixing 40 ppm Fe (as FeSO₄) into the soil before transplanting plants. The Fe deficiency appeared to be induced by high plant levels of Cu and Mn. Addition of Zn (40 ppm as ZnSO₄) intensified the Fe deficiency. The Fe addition did not overcome the effect of the Zn. BPDS (bathophenanthroline disulfonate), a chelator of Fe⁺⁺, had little effect on the results.     

Evaluation of soil extractants to estimate available micronutrients under wheat‐field conditions

Abstract

Three extracting reagents were evaluated by correlation analyses to provide the best index of Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe availability to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants growing under open field conditions. Twenty one soils were selected to obtain the widest range in properties of soils of the land wheat cultivated. The magnitude of the extractive power varied in the following order: 6NHCl ? EDTA + NH₄OA_C, pH4.65 > DTPA‐TEA, pH 7.3. The mild extractants, EDTA and DTPA, gave the same order of removal of micronutrients being Zn < Cu < Fe < Mn. The acid extractant was on the contrast more effective on Cu and Fe with respect to Zn and Mn, respectively. Wheat concentrations of Zn, Mn and Fe were significantly correlated to soil micronutrients. Highly significant relationships were found for Zn extracted by DTPA solution (r = 0.737***) and for Mn and Fe extracted by EDTA solution (r = 0.710*** and r = 0.564**). Plant Zn and Mn were also well predicted by the acid extraction. The absence of correlation for plant Cu vs. soil Cu occurred probably because of wheat concentrations almost constant, ranging from 5.0 to 8.0 mg/kg.     

The use of iron chelates in compound fertilizers containing trace elements

Abstract

The chemical behaviour of iron chelates, incorporated in compound fertilizers with inorganic micronutrient compounds, was studied. Pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of these products in controlling iron deficiency. A commercial compound fertilizer, containing 0.09% Fe as Fe‐DTPA, 0.12% Cu, 0.16% Mn and 0.04% Zn as sulfates, proved to be ineffective in preventing iron chlorosis in Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ’Alumii’, growing on sphagnum peat at two lime levels. The same fertilizer formulation with 0.09%‐ Fe as Fe‐EDDHA did prevent iron chlorosis at both lime levels. Fe‐EDTA, incorporated in the compound fertilizer, gave good results at the lower but not at the higher lime level, due to the low stability of Fe‐EDTA at high pH. Data from laboratory experiments showed that copper replaced the chelated iron in the compound fertilizer containing Fe‐DTPA, causing the iron to precipitate. The strong competition between copper and iron for the organic ligand is due to a specific affinity of copper for DTPA, resulting in a copper chelate with high stability constant and a molar ratio of copper to chelating agent of 2 : 1.

In the case of Fe‐EDDHA and Fe‐EDTA the competition between iron and copper is much weaker. In contrast to Fe‐DTPA, these chelates remain rather stable when incorporated in fertilizers containing micronutrients.     

不同施肥方式对典型壤质潮土中微量元素积累及其有效性的影响

研究了1989-2009年间长期不同施肥方式对华北地区典型壤质潮土微量元素全量及有效性的影响。田间试验施肥处理包括：有机肥（OM）、1/2OM 1/2化肥氮磷钾（NPK）、NPK、NP、PK、NK和不施肥（CK）,每个处理4个重复。结果显示,经过长期不同施肥,铁（Fe）、锰（Mn）、铜（Cu）、锌（Zn）等微量元素在表层土壤（0～20cm）中均有一定积累,与其在不同土层中的迁移有关。形态分级提取结果表明,土壤中有效态铁（DTPA-Fe）、铜（DTPA-Cu）、锌（DTPA-Zn）含量高于其在碱性土壤中的最低标准,而有效态锰（DTPA-Mn）的含量则相对较低;残渣态(Residual-faction)是微量元素在土壤中的主要形态,分别占其全量的>90%（Fe）、>54%（Mn）、>70%（Cu）、>70%（Zn）。有机质在土壤中的积累通过多种机制提高了有效态、弱酸溶解态（Acid-soluble-fraction）及可氧化态（Oxidizable-faction）微量元素的含量,有效缓解了土壤有效态锰含量的不足,抑制了磷与锌的沉淀反应,是影响微量元素形态转化的主要原因。钾肥的施用同样提高了有效态及弱酸溶解态微量元素的含量,但降低了铁、锰在表层土壤中的全量;而磷肥施用则通过沉淀反应降低了有效态及弱酸溶解态微量元素的含量,提高了铜、锌在表层土壤中的全量。     

The influence op soil treatments on elemental composition of corn and on zinc soil tests on two Missouri soils

Abstract

Corn (Zea mays L) was grown at three locations on soil treated with Zn at two levels of soil fertility. Corn leaves were sampled at 2 stages of growth and analyzed for several elements. Yields were measured and soils were analyzed for O.lN HCl and DTPA extractable Zn and by standard testing methods for other components.

Zinc at 10 and 20 lb/A did not affect corn grain yields. The Zn treatments significantly increased leaf Zn concentrations. The influence of leaf sampling time differed between locations. The DTPA and O.lN HCl extractable soil Zn both reflected the Zn soil treatments. The DTPA appeared to extract a more soluble component of soil Zn which became more un‐extractable with time. In general, the extractable soil Zn was poorly correlated with Zn concentrations in the corn leaves. Under the conditions of the experiment the soil Zn levels as measured by the 2 extractants were a poor predictor of plant Zn when soil Zn levels were adequate.     

A survey of Michigan soils as related to possible boron toxicities

Abstract

The saturation extraction method for measuring available B in soil provided variable results and a narrower range thus making this test more difficult to interpret than tests with the boiling water method.

No close relationship between available soil B and either soil texture or soil pH level was found. The available B in soil ranged from 0.16 to 0.95 ppm with the highest level reflecting the recent use of B. The B level in the profiles of three typical sugarbeet‐bean soils ranged from none detectable in the subsoil to 0.54 ppm in the surface soil.

A survey of cropped versus uncropped soils showed that, on the average, cropped soil contained two‐thirds as much B as uncropped soil, suggesting that more extensive B deficiencies may occur in the future. Soil test levels for B in a calcareous soil decreased rapidly after B application. In this experiment soil B levels in excess of 1.5 ppm represented a potentially toxic condition for beans while any level above 2.0 ppm represented a definite toxicity. The bean plant B threshold level was in excess of 100 ppm. In the range of potential toxicity, bean yields and B soil tests were more closely related than were bean yields and B plant tests.     

Forms of Iron and Their Association with Soil Properties in Four Soil Taxonomic Orders of Arid and Semi‐arid Soils of Punjab,India

Profiles of arid and semi‐arid zones soils of Punjab, northwestern India, were investigated for different forms of iron (Fe): total Fe, diethylenetriamine penta‐acetic acid (DTPA)–extractable Fe, soil solution plus exchangeable Fe, Fe adsorbed onto inorganic sites and oxide surfaces, and Fe bound by organic sites. Irrespective of the different fractions of Fe present, its content was higher in the fine‐textured Alfisols and Inceptisols than in the coarse‐textured Entisols and Aridisols. Lower content of total Fe was observed in the surface horizon and then increased in the subsurface horizons, whereas no set pattern was observed in Entisols. Also, irrespective of the soil orders, the contents of different forms of Fe were higher in the surface horizon and then decreased by depth. None of the forms of Fe exhibited any consistent pattern of distribution.

Organic matter and the content of clay and silt fractions had a strong bearing on the distribution of forms of Fe. Based on a linear coefficient of correlation, the soil solution plus exchangeable Fe adsorbed onto inorganic sites and DTPA‐extractable Fe increased with increase in soil organic carbon but decreased with increase in soil pH and calcium carbonate content. Total Fe increased with increase in cation exchange capacity (CEC) and clay and silt content. The results also revealed that there was equilibrium in different fractions of this element. Among the different Fe forms, Fe bound by organic sites, water‐soluble plus exchangeable Fe, and Fe adsorbed onto oxides (amorphous surfaces) were positively correlated with the DTPA‐extractable Fe. Though some forms are interrelated, none of the forms had any relationship with the total Fe.     

Effect of chelating agents on phytotoxicity of lead and lead transport

Abstract

The major purpose of these experiments was to determine if Pb uptake by plants was significantly increased by chelating agents used in plant nutrition. The interaction of Pb with some other elements in barley plants (Hordeum vulgare L. C.V. Atlas 57) and bush bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. C.V. Improved Tendergreen) was studied in a glasshouse with different rates of Pb in solution culture and in amended (control, S, CaCO₃, MgCO₃) Yolo loam soil with and without the chelating agent DTPA (diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid). In a solution culture experiment, 10^‐3 M Pb significantly decreased bush bean yields in both control and DTPA treatments. The CaCO₃ added to nutrient solution decreased the concentration of Pb in leaves, stems, and roots and prevented the toxicity of 10^‐3 M Pb⁺⁺. At high Pb levels, interactions between Pb and Mn and Pb and Fe were observed, except with CaCO₃. In the soil experiment, the yields of barley and bush bean were influenced only slightly by Pb. The Pb concentration in barley shoots and bush bean leaves and stems was increased considerably in the presence of DTPA, however. In the absence of DTPA, the effect of added Pb was very small in the control and S amended soil treatments and almost negligible in the CaCO₃ and MgCO₃ amended soil treatments. Application of DTPA facilitated the translocation of Pb, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn to shoots. The effect was dependent upon soil pH. Particularly, the Fe was increased by DTPA at low pH while the effect was negligible at high pH. This was opposite the effect on Pb. The DTPA resulted in considerable Pb transport to leaves and stems at high soil pH. The uptake pattern of Zn and Cu was similar to that of Pb. It can be expected that chelating agents can increase the migration of Pb to plants andincrease its uptake by plants, and hence, entry into food chains.