Distribution and redistribution of mineral nutrients and dry matter in grain sorghum as affected by soil salinity

A study was made of the effects of soil salinity on dry matter production, grain yield, and the uptake, distribution and redistribution of mineral nutrients in irrigated grain sorghum. Soil salinity (EC, 3.6 mS/cm) reduced seedling establishment by 77%, and dry matter and grain yields per plant by 32%; grain yield/ha was reduced by 84%. Salinity reduced grain number per head, but not individual grain size. The accumulation of dry matter and most nutrients was reduced by salinity, but the distribution and redistribution of nutrients within the plant were largely unaffected. Redistributed dry matter provided 52 and 31% of the grain dry matter for control and salt‐affected plants, respectively. Salt‐affected plants had a greater proportion of their sulfur (S), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), and chloride (Cl) in stems and leaves than control plants at maturity. Grain had 50–90% of the nitrogen <N), phosphorus (P), S, and Mg, 20–50% of the potassium (K), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu), but < 20% of the calcium (Ca), Na, Cl, and iron (Fe) contents of the whole plant. Over 65% of the N and P, and from 20 to 30% of the K, S, Mg, Cu, and Zn was redistributed from the stem and leaves to grain. There was no redistribution of Ca, Na, Cl, Fe, and Mn. Leaves were more important than the stem as a source of redistributed N, but the leaves and stem were equally important as sources of redistributed P, K, S, Mg, and Cu. Redistribution from the stem and leaves provided 80% of the K and 20–50% of the N, P, S, Mg, Zn, and Cu accumulated by grain. Concentrations of Na, and especially Cl, were high in vegetative organs of salt‐affected plants, but not in grain. It was concluded that although moderate salinity was detrimental to the establishment and yield of grain sorghum, it had little effect on patterns of distribution and extents of redistribution of mineral nutrients.     

Growth and nutrient composition of tomato and cucumber seedlings as affected by sodium chloride salinity and supplemental calcium

The effect of three levels of salinity (2.0,4.0, and 8.0 mS/cm) on growth and ion composition of tomato and cucumber seedlings was examined with and without addition of 7.4 meq/L calcium chloriode (CaCl₂). The corresponding sodium/calcium (Na/Ca) ratio of the irrigation solution were 4.0 and 1.8 at salinity level 4.0 mS/cm, and 12 and 4.8 at salinity level 8.0 mS/cm. Seedlings growth of tomato and cucumber was generally reduced with increasing salinity level. Cucumber was more salt‐sensitive than tomato. Shoot and root dry weight of cucumber was increased by decreasing Na/Ca ratio at 4.0 mS/cm salinity. Sodium and chloride (Cl) accumulation was increased and Ca was decreased in salinized plants. Reducing Na/Ca ratio under saline condition reduce the accumulation of Na in tomato roots. The effect of salinity on the uptake of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), Na, Ca, chloride (Cl), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu) in the root and shoot was also determined.     

Suitable management options to improve the productivity of rice cultivars under salinity stress

Growing rice in saline soils by minimizing damage on growth and yield remains a challenge. We conducted field experiments in the Africa Rice research field located in the Senegal River delta (16° 11? N, 16° 15? W) to study the effects of three management options of fertilization e.g. (i) nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilization: NPK; (ii) NPK combined with zinc: NPK-Zn, and (iii) NPK combined with gypsum: NPK-gypsum on the soil salinity level, the nutrient uptake and the productivity of different rice cultivars. The whole objective of this study is to determine how zinc or gypsum associated to NPK fertilizer can improve the growth and productivity of rice crop in saline soil. Results showed that the initial soil salinity level was reduced rapidly in plots treated with gypsum. The leaf-K/Na ratio, agronomic nitrogen use efficiency (ANUE), and grain yield of rice cultivars under the salinity stress were improved by the NPK-gypsum and NPK-Zn options relatively to the NPK option, suggesting that NPK-gypsum and NPK-Zn are suitable management options in reducing adverse effect of low K/Na, low ANUE as well as to improve rice yield under salinity stress.     

脱硫石膏与灌溉耦合对滨海盐碱土化学性质的影响

脱硫石膏(CaSO4.2H2O)是火力发电厂石膏湿法烟气脱硫的副产物。对盐碱地施用脱硫石膏可以通过Ca2+置换盐土中的Na+,达到脱盐目的。通过盆栽试验研究天津滨海盐土施用脱硫石膏并配合灌溉淋洗改良盐碱土的效果。结果表明:对于表层土壤(0-10cm),施用脱硫石膏对Ca2+、Mg2+、K+、Na+、Cl-、SO24-离子含量有显著降低作用。10cm以下土壤,脱硫石膏的脱盐能力与施用量呈正相关。脱硫石膏与灌溉耦合时,脱硫石膏施用量为3 000kg/hm2以上时改良效果较好。随着脱硫石膏施用量的增加不但降低了土壤Na+含量与土壤pH值,对灌溉量的需求也有所降低。灌溉量为田间持水量的80%时脱硫石膏对土壤Ca2+、Mg2+与K+的降低作用与CK相比差异最显著。脱硫石膏施用量的增加提高了土壤全盐量,但随灌溉量增加这种影响逐渐降低。     

苏北滩涂水稻微咸水灌溉模式及土壤盐分动态变化

为研究微咸水灌溉对水稻水分利用效率和土壤盐分动态的影响,利用田间试验资料对SWAP(Soil-Water-Atmosphere-Plant)模型进行了率定和验证。用验证认可的模型模拟并分析了水稻生育期水盐运移规律和水稻水分利用效率,并预测了长期微咸水灌溉对土壤盐分的影响。结果表明:1.5 mg/cm3矿化度微咸水足量灌溉可以获得较高的产量和水分利用效率;各微咸水处理在60~90 cm土层均出现不同程度的盐分累积现象,具体累积深度和土壤盐分浓度与灌水量和灌水矿化度有关;采用1.5 mg/cm3矿化度微咸水进行微咸水长期灌溉研究,10 a的模拟结果显示此灌溉制度不会引起0~100 cm土层土壤次生盐渍化。该研究为滨海地区微咸水合理利用提供了理论依据。     

Interactive effects of salinity and macronutrient level on wheat. II. Composition

Results of several studies show interactive effects of salinity and macronutrients on the growth of wheat plants. These effects may be associated with the nutrient status in plant tissues. The objective of this study was to investigate interactive effects of salinity and macronutrients on mineral element concentrations in leaves, stems, and grain of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Lona), grown in hydroponics, and the relation of these effects to yield components. Eight salinity levels were established from 0 to 150 mM NaCl, and 1, 0.2, and 0.04 strength Hoagland macronutrient solution (x HS) were used as the macronutrient levels. Sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), chlorine (Cl), and phosphorus (P) in leaves, stems, and grain, NO₃ in leaves and stems, and total nitrogen (N) in grain were determined. Supplemental Ca, Mg, K, and NO₃ added to 0.2 x HS increased mineral concentrations in leaves and stems, but did not improve growth or yield in salinized wheat plants except moderately at 100–150 mM NaCl. In contrast, growth or yield was improved significantly when the concentration of macronutrients was increased from 0.04 to 0.2 × HS. In contrast to leaves and stems, mineral concentrations in grain increased (Na, Cl) or decreased (Ca, Mg, K) only slightly or were not affected (K) by salinity except at high salinity and low macronutrient level. Nitrogen and P concentrations in grain were not affected by salinity. Sodium and Cl concentrations in leaves and stems increased significantly, whereas K and NO₃ decreased significantly, with an increase in salinity regardless of the macronutrient level. The latter was also observed for Ca and Mg in leaves. Extreme Na/Ca ratios in plant tissues negatively affected grain yield production at high salinity with medium or high macronutrient levels and at low macronutrient level together with medium salinity. Even though strong and significant correlations between mineral concentration at grain maturity in leaves, stems, and grain and various yield parameters were observed, our results are inconclusive as to whether toxicity, nutrient imbalance, nutrient deficiency, or all of these factors had a strong influence on grain yield.     

Enhancement of salinity tolerance in tomato: Implications of potassium and calcium in flowering and yield

Abstract

Five tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) cultivars were grown in sand nutrient culture experiment in a greenhouse to investigate the effects of salinity on growth and yield. Nutrient solutions were made saline with 50 mM NaCl (EC = 5.5 mS/cm or supplemented with 2 mM KNO₃ (EC = 6.8), 20 mM Ca(NO₃)₂ (EC = 7.5), and combination of potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) (EC = 8.0). Seedlings were irrigated with saline treatments commencing two weeks after transplanting. Determination of sodium (Na) and K in tomato leaves and fruits were by flame photometry. Accumulation of Na in tomato fruits was higher than in leaves under control or saline conditions for all tomato cultivars. The amount of K in the tomato leaves was higher in control than in saline‐grown plants. Addition of K and Ca to the nutrient solution resulted in a 3 to 7 fold increase in K accumulation in all cultivars tested. Stem and leaf growth were significantly reduced with salinity but growth was enhanced following irrigation when K was added to the nutrient solution. Flowering and fruit set were adversely affected by NaCl stress. Reduction of flower number was 44% relative to the control plants. Fresh fruit yield decreased by 78% when plants received 50 mM NaCl. Growth and development of tomatoes under saline conditions was enhanced in this study following the application of K to the saline nutrient solution. Amelioration in growth was also achieved when Ca was used but to a lesser extent. Our results suggest that ion accumulation and regulation of K and Ca contribute to salt tolerance and growth enhancement.     

Nutrient constraint and yield potential of rice on upland soil in the south of the Dahoumey gap of West Africa

With the objective of improving rice productivity and generating additional knowledge on rice production in Africa, field experiments were conducted for two consecutive seasons of 2005 and 2006 in Southern Benin. Terre de barre soils at the WARDA experimental station and Niaouli, and the plinthic Ferralsols of Cana were investigated. A complete fertilizer (Fc) composed of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Zn was used to assess NERICA.4 (upland rice) root development and grain yield (GY). Similar observations were made in treatments with a specific nutrient excluded from Fc (Fc–N, Fc–P, Fc–K, Fc–Ca, Fc–Mg and Fc–Zn). A grain yield of up to 1.4 t ha^?1 (Fc–N) and higher root densities for Fc and Fc–Mg at 20–60 cm were attained. Maximum reductions in yield and rooting depth were observed for Fc–P (27%, 27%), Fc–K (30%, 14%) and Fc–Zn (32%, 2%). Drought occurrence, a high C/N ratio and soil acidity influence the effects of nutrients on rice. Removal of N from basal fertilizer was recommended to reduce the effect of mid-season drought. It is suggested that the critical level of K in the soils of West Africa be adjusted to 0.40 cmol kg^?1 for upland rice.     

Influence of Nitrogen and Saline Water on the Growth and Partitioning of Mineral Content in Maize

ABSTRACT

Saline irrigation water has a tremendous impact on the yield potential of crops. Distribution of mineral elements in the parts of maize plant in response to saline water and nitrogen (N) nutrition was studied in a pot experiment for six weeks. Plants were irrigated either with tap water or saline water (ECw: 3.2 dSm^?1). Nitrogen was applied at the rate of 0, 50, 100 and 200-kg ha^?1 denoted as N0, N1, N2, and N3, respectively. Plants were separated into leaf, stem and root and analyzed for N, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), and potassium (K) concentrations. Dry matter production of leaf, stem and root was significantly reduced with saline water. The partitioning of elements in plants was the function of nitrogen and saline water. The N concentration of plant parts varied in the order of leaf > stem > root. A significant decrease in the N content was noted in plants under saline water. The root contained the highest Na content, Ca and Mg were higher in the leaf, whereas K was highest in the stem under saline water. Sodium was highest in the root and the remainder elements were greatest in the stem under tap water. Potassium and Cl were significantly reduced by N level whereas the reverse was true for Ca, Mg and Na content. The Na/K, Na/Ca, and Na/Mg ratios were also higher in salt stressed plant parts due to higher accumulation of Na ion. Among N-fertilizer treatments the Na/Ca and Na/Mg ratios were highest in control whereas Na/K increased with the addition of N. This study indicated that interaction of saline water and nitrogen has mixed effects on the partitioning of mineral elements in maize.     

Grapevine Irrigation with Saline Water: Effect of Rootstocks on Quality and Yield of Cabernet Sauvignon

The effects of three irrigation salinity levels (1.8, 3.3, and 4.8 dS/m) on ion accumulation and relative turgidity of Cabernet Sauvignon (Vitis vinifea) grapes on ‘Rugerri’ and ‘Salt Creek’ rootstocks were studied in order to introduce more saline water in the Negev Desert of Israel. Leaf samples were taken four times during the summer of 1997 and analyzed for total diffusible ions, which included sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg), and for soluble ions, which included zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn). Quality and quantity of yield were also measured. The lowest relative turgidity, 0.8, was measured at ECi (electrical conductivity of irrigation water) 4.8 dS/m, which decreased with time to 0.75 for all treatments. The Na/K ratio indicated relative sodium accumulation. It increased fast with time from about 0.1 to 1.4 under high salinity and more slowly, from 0.1 to 0.5, under the low-salinity treatment. Average yield of fresh berries under all treatments (except one) ranged between 8.0 and 8.5 kg/vine under the respective saline and fresh-water irrigation. This difference was not significant, but in view of the first-year experiment this result should be regarded as provisional. The juice quality criteria, as determined by the production of total soluble solids (TSS) pH², improved from 321 to 288, indicating low acidity under the saline treatment and higher acidity under the non-saline treatment. The ratio of TSS/acidity, which changed slightly from 34 to 32, also indicated a moderate reduction in acidity under saline conditions, especially under the ‘Ruggeri’ rootstock. Thus, it was concluded that (a) by the use of saline water the quality of the berries may be improved, (b) ‘Ruggeri’ rootstock was less affected than ‘Salt Creek’ by salinity in both quantity and quality of yield, and (c) relative sodium (Na) content in the lamina and the petiole increased with time during the growth period while relative turgidity declined, indicating a possible accumulation of toxic ions over time.     

Effects of Irrigation Water Salinity and Leaching Fraction on Yield and Evapotranspiration in Spring Wheat

To determine the effects of irrigation water salinity and leaching fraction on crop evapotranspiration (ETc), grain yield, straw yield, shoot sodium (Na), and chloride (Cl) concentrations of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar ‘Onfarom 9,’ a pot experiment was conducted using saline soil with electrical conductivity of soil paste extract (ECe) of 13.2 dS m^?1. A factorial experiment with a completely randomized design replicated seven times was used with three levels of saline irrigation water (4, 9, and 12 dS m^?1) and four leaching levels (0, 17, 29, and 37%) included as the factors. The results showed that ETc significantly decreased as a result of an increase in irrigation water salinity (ECi) and decrease in leaching level. Crop evapotranspiration deficit and decreasing irrigation and drainage water effectively resulted in grain and straw yield reduction. Increase in ECi increased accumulation of Cl and Na in crop shoot, but application of leaching decreased this accumulation.     

磁化微咸水及石膏改良对土壤水盐运移的影响

为了探究磁化水和石膏共同作用对水盐运移特征的影响,该研究通过室内一维垂直入渗试验,分析未磁化和磁化微咸水两种类型的灌溉水入渗下,5个石膏施量(0、0.1、0.2、0.4、0.6 kg/m2)对土壤水分和盐分运移特征的影响.结果表明:磁化和未磁化微咸水入渗时,累积入渗量和湿润锋深度均随着石膏施量的增加而减小.不同石膏施量...     

钾肥减施对稻麦轮作区作物产量和品质的影响

[目的]巢湖流域稻麦轮作区农田钾肥施用严重过量的农户比例高达70％,探究钾肥减量施用对水稻和小麦籽粒产量和营养品质的影响,以实现钾肥科学施用.[方法]2017—2019年,在安徽农业大学皖中试验站开展田间试验研究,试验设置不施钾肥(CK)、农户模式(K1,K2O 90 kg/hm2)以及在农户模式基础上减钾10％(K2...     

Effects of wastewater irrigation on soil and cabbage‐plant (brassica olerecea var. capitate cv. yalova‐1) chemical properties

The use of wastewater for irrigation is increasingly being considered as a technical solution to minimize soil degradation and to restore nutrient contents of soils. The aim of this study is to increase fertility and minimize degradation of soils irrigated with wastewater exposed to different purification treatments. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of control and irrigation with wastewater, which had undergone different purification treatments, on macro‐ and micronutrient distribution within the soil profile and nutrient contents of cabbage (Brassica olerecea var. Capitate cv. Yalova‐1) in Erzurum, Turkey. Wastewater irrigation and preliminary treatment–wastewater irrigation significantly affected soil chemical properties especially at 0–30 cm soil depth and plant nutrient contents after one year. Application of wastewater increased soil salinity, organic matter, exchangeable Na, K, Ca, Mg, plant‐available P, and micro‐elements and decreased soil pH. Wastewater increased also yield and N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, and Mo contents of cabbage plants. Undesirable side effects were not observed in plant heavy‐metal contents, due to salinity and toxic concentrations of metals from the application of wastewater to soil.     

Phosphorus and Mineral Concentrations in Whole Grain and Milled Low Phytic Acid (lpa) 1‐1 Rice

Phytic acid (myo‐inositol‐1,2,3,4,5,6‐hexakisphosphate) is the most abundant form of phosphorus (P) in cereal grains and is important to grain nutritional quality. In mature rice (Oryza sativa L.) grains, the bulk of phytic acid P is found in the germ and aleurone layer, deposited primarily as a mixed K/Mg salt. Phosphorus components and minerals were measured in whole grain produced by either the rice (Oryza sativa L.) cv. Kaybonnet (the nonmutant control) or the low phytic acid 1‐1 (lpa1‐1) mutant, and in these grains when milled to different degrees (10, 12, 17, 20, 22, and 25%, w/w). Phytic acid P is reduced by 42–45% in lpa1‐1 whole grain as compared with Kaybonnet, but these whole grains had similar levels of total P, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, and Zn. In both genotypes, the concentration of phytic acid P, total P, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, and Mn in the milled products was reduced by 60–90%, as compared with whole grain. However, a trend was observed for higher (25–40%) total P, K, and Mg concentrations in lpa1‐1 milled products as compared with Kaybonnet milled products. The reduction in whole grain phytic acid P in rice lpa1‐1 is accompanied by a 5‐ to 10‐fold increase in grain inorganic P, and this increase was observed in both whole grain and milled products. Phytic acid P was also reduced by 45% in bran obtained from lpa1‐1 grain, and this was accompanied by a 10‐fold increase in inorganic P. Milling had no apparent effect on Zn concentration. Therefore, while the block in the accumulation of phytic acid in lpa1‐1 seed has little effect on whole grain total P and mineral concentration, it greatly alters the chemistry of these seed constituents, and to a lesser but detectable extent, alters their distribution between germ, central endosperm, and aleurone. These studies suggest that development of a low phytate rice might improve the nutritional quality of whole grain, milled rice and the bran produced during milling.     

Effects of tillage methods and water regimes on soil properties and yield of lowland rice from a sandy loam soil in Southwest Nigeria

Field experiments were conducted on a sandy loam soil (Aeric Tropaquent) during 1981 adn 1982 to assess the effects of compaction, puddling and no-till systems on soil physical properties and on rice growth and yield with and without supplementary irrigation. Soil compaction decreased macro- and micro-pores more than puddling or no-till treatments. The equilibrium infiltration rates were 0.12, 0.15 and 1.65 μm s⁻¹ in compacted, ploughed and no-till treatments, respectively. The saturated hydraulic conductivity, void ratio and moisture content at −0.01 and −1.5 MPa water potential followed a similar trend. The mean weight diameters were 2.40, 2.36 and 2.09 mm for compacted, puddled and no-till treatments, respectively. The mean grain yields for 4 consecutive crops were 6.4, 5.1 and 4.9 Mg ha⁻¹, the compacted being significantly greater than the puddled and no-till treatments. Compared with both puddling and no-till treatments, soil compaction resulted in significant yield increases of about 20% under the rain-fed regime and from 34 to 40% in the flooded moisture regime. There was about 26% increase in rice grain yield by continuous flooding over the rain-fed treatments, with the rice producing greater dry matter and biological yields due to a higher uptake of P, Ca, Mg, K, Na, Mn, Fe and Zn.     

石膏-微咸水复合灌溉量对土壤水盐分布特征的影响

通过田间试验,研究苏北滩涂区石膏-微咸水复合灌溉量对剖面土壤水盐分布特征的影响,结果表明:灌溉量是石膏-微咸水复合灌溉处理下制约土壤水盐分布特征的决定因素。灌溉量增加,湿润峰垂直运移距离加大,湿润峰内各土层的含水量逐渐增加。高于灌至0～90cm土层田间最大持水量的灌溉量能实现表土脱盐、脱钠,0～20cm土层效果最为显著,脱盐率、脱钠率高达29.0%、26.9%;低于灌至0～60cm土层田间最大持水量的灌溉量,会导致表土积盐、积钠,但随着灌溉量的增加,积累量有所减弱。     

Leaching and reclamation of calcareous saline‐sodic soil by moderately saline and moderate‐SAR water using gypsum and calcium chloride

Lysimeter experiments were conducted with sandy‐clay‐loam soil to study the efficiency of two amendments in reclaiming saline‐sodic soil using moderately saline and SAR (sodium‐adsorption ratio) irrigation water. Gypsum obtained from industrial phosphate by‐products and reagent grade Ca chloride were applied to packed soil columns and irrigated with moderately saline (ECe = 2.16 dS m^–1), moderate‐SAR water (SAR = 4.8). Gypsum was mixed with soil prior to irrigation at application rates of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 32 Mg ha^–1, and Ca chloride was dissolved directly in leaching water at application rates of 4.25, 8.5, 12.75, 17.0, and 21.25 Mg ha^–1, respectively. The highest application rate in both amendments resulted in 96% reduction of total Na in soil. The hydraulic conductivity (HC) of soils receiving gypsum increased in all treatments. The highest HC value of 6.8 mm h^–1 was obtained in the highest application rate (32 Mg ha^–1), whereas the lowest value of 5.2 mm h^–1 was observed with the control treatment. Both amendments were efficient in reducing soil salinity and sodicity (exchangeable‐sodium percentage, ESP); however, Ca chloride was more effective than gypsum as a reclaiming material. Exchangeable Na and soluble salts were reduced with gypsum application by 82% and 96%, and by 86% and 93% with Ca chloride application, respectively. Exchangeable Ca increased with increasing amendment rate. Results of this study revealed that sodium was removed during cation‐exchange reactions mostly when the SAR of effluent water was at maximum with subsequent passage of 3 to 4 pore volumes. Gypsum efficiently reduced soil ESP, soil EC, leaching water, and costs, therefore, an application rate of 20 Mg ha^–1 of gypsum with 3 to 4 pore volumes of leaching water is recommended for reclaiming the studied soil.     

咸水非充分灌溉条件下土壤水盐运动SWAP模型模拟

为了研究咸水非充分灌溉条件下土壤水盐动态变化规律,该文在2013年田间试验的基础上,利用试验观测数据,对SWAP模型进行了率定和验证,并对咸水非充分灌溉条件下土壤剖面水分和盐分通量变化过程进行了模拟和分析。研究结果表明:SWAP模型模拟值较好地反映了实测值的变化趋势,经过率定和验证后的SWAP模型能够较好地模拟土壤水盐的动态变化规律以及制种玉米的产量情况。在制种玉米苗期阶段,3种灌水处理40 cm以上土壤剖面的水分通量主要以向上为主;在灌水和降雨阶段,各处理土壤剖面的水分通量主要向下,且灌水量越大的处理,向下的水分通量越大;在土壤蒸发阶段,各处理60 cm以下土壤剖面的水分通量向下,且向下的水分通量逐渐减小。土壤盐分通量模拟结果与土壤水分通量具有类似的规律,60 cm以下土壤剖面的盐分通量主要向下,表明土壤盐分主要向深层土壤运移。研究结果可为该研究区域咸水非充分灌溉制度的制定提供理论依据。     

Irrigation frequency effects on leaching of cations from gypsum amended coastal plain surface soils

In low Ca soils, gypsum is applied at flowering of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) to insure adequate availability of Ca in the fruiting zone (0 to 8 cm soil depth) during pod development. Effects of 15.2 cm water applied as 1, 2, 4 or 12 split applications over 28-d period following the application of gypsum on the distribution of Ca and other cations in the fruiting zone and immediately below the fruiting zone (8 to 16 cm depth) were investigated on the Lakeland and Tifton soils under controlled conditions in rainout shelter plots. In Lakeland soil, the fruiting zone Ca concentration was greater for the high frequency (15.2 cm in 4 or 12 split applications) irrigation treatments than for the low frequency (15.2 cm in 1 or 2 split applications) treatments at 7 d. Those differences became non-significant after 14 d. In Tifton soil, leaching of Ca below the fruiting zone was significantly greater for the low frequency irrigation treatments than for the high frequency treatments throughout the duration of this e experiment. High frequency irrigation of moderate quantities should result in low Ca losses from the fruiting zone. Irrigation following gypsum application decreased K and Mg concentrations in the fruiting zone for both soils. The gypsum-induced leaching of K or Mg was lower in high frequency irrigation treatments than in low frequency treatments. High frequency irrigation following gypsum application resulted in a decrease in soil pH during the initial 7 d.