pH Influenced by the elemental composition of nutrient solutions

Nutrient solutions can be considered as aqueous solutions of inorganic ions. The pH of a nutrient solution is a property that is inherent to its composition. If another pH is aimed at, this can only be reached by changing the elemental composition. The pH of an aqueous solution is determined by the initial concentration of acids and bases. In the case of nutrient solutions, this is dihydrogen phosphate (H₂PO₄ ^‐), bicarbonate (HCO₃ ^‐) and/or ammonium (NH₄ ⁺). In this study, formulas are derived to calculate the pH of a nutrient solution as a function of the concentration of H₂PO₄ ^‐, NH₄ ⁺, and/or HCO₃ ^‐. The pH of a nutrient solution affects the dissociation, complexation, and precipitation reactions occurring in nutrient solutions. These chemical reactions significantly impact elemental speciation and bioavailability, and therefore, have to be taken into account in hydroponic plant nutritional research. The term “speciation”; indicates the distribution of elements among their various chemical and physical forms like: free ions, soluble complexes, chelates, ion pairs, solid and gaseous phases, and different oxidation states, all of which influences their reactivity, mobility and bioavailability. A good knowledge of the chemical reactions occurring in nutrient solutions is the first prerequisite in hydroponic plant nutritional research. The pH of a nutrient solution is determined by its initial concentration of H₂PO₄ ^‐, NH₄ ⁺, and HCO₃ ^‐.     

Evaluating Bearberry Nitrogen Nutrition Using Hydroponic Cultures: Establishing Preliminary DRIS Norms

Abstract

This study was designed to explore nitrogen (N) nutrition in bearberry plants (Arctostaphylos uva‐ursi L.) using a hydroponic culture system. Two experiments were performed in which the total N concentration (34, 52, and 73 mg L^?1) and N‐NO₃ ^?:N‐NH₄ ⁺ ratio (50/50, 60/40, and 70/30 in %) in the nutrient solution were varied and effects on nutrient uptake [N, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg)] and foliar composition determined. Highest‐quality plants were yielded using a N level of 73 mg L^?1 and a N‐NO₃ ^?:N‐NH₄ ⁺ ratio of 50/50. Standard nutrient values for foliar tissue were obtained for bearberry plants growing in these hydroponic cultures for their use as preliminary norms in the diagnosis and recommendation integrated system (DRIS). In a subsequent complementary experiment, these norms were used in the DRIS procedure and applied to plants growing in solutions of varying K concentrations. It was found that the DRIS norms established in the hydroponic experiments were able to account for changes in nutrient limiting factors produced in response to the varying K concentrations in the nutrient solution. The results obtained will be useful for the nutritional diagnosis of bearberry plants.     

Ionic balance,biomass production,and organic nitrogen as affected by salinity and nitrogen source in annual ryegrass

Studies on the effects of salinity and nitrogen (N) fertilization on ionic balance, biomass, and organic N production of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) were conducted. Plants grown in sand were irrigated with nutrient solution with an electrical conductivity of 2 or 11.2 dS#lbm^‐1, and N in the form of sodium nitrate (NaNO₃), ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃), or ammonium sulfate [(NH₄)₂SO₄] ranging from 0.5 to 9.0 mM. Salinity increased the concentration of total inorganic cations (C) in plants and specifically sodium (Na) by more than 3‐fold higher in plants grown at high salinity as compared with plants at low salinity. Sodium (Na) concentration in roots was higher than in shoots irrespective of the salinity level, suggesting a restriction of Na transport from roots to shoots. The concentration of total inorganic anions (A) increased with salinity and when plants were supplied with nitrate (NO₃), salinity increased the concentrations of NO₃ and chloride (Cl) in plants. Increasing salinity and N concentration in the growth medium increased organic anions concentration in plants, estimated as the difference between C and A. The effect of different N sources on C‐A followed the order: NH₄NO₃ > NO₃ > ammonium (NH₄). The base of organic anions and inorganic ions with salinity contributed significantly to the osmotic potential of plants shoots and roots. Changes in C affected N and organic acids metabolism in plants, since C were highly correlated (p=0.0001) with C‐A and organic N (N_org) concentrations regardless of the salinity level or N source in the nutrient solutions. A high and positive linear dependency was found between N_org and C‐A in plants grown at high and low salinity levels and different N sources, pointing out the close relationship between N_org and organic anions on metabolism under these conditions. The amount of biomass produced was correlated positively with organic anion concentration in plants exposed to different salinity levels. Plant biomass increased with N concentration in the nutrient solution regardless of the salinity level applied. Biomass accumulation decreased while N_org concentration increased with salinity. Organic N content remained unaffected in plants exposed to salinity when grown in N less than 9.0 mM.     

Influence of phosphate and hydroxyl ions on aluminum toxicity in soybeans and wheat

Aluminum (Al) toxicity to plants in complete nutrient solutions is difficult to relate to Al activity in solution because of precipitation and complexation. Aluminum toxicity was studied for two seedling crops, sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em Thell), at low levels (≤10 μM) in two incomplete nutrient solutions to study plant response to Al alone, Al+PO₄ ^3‐, Al+OH^‐, and Al+PO₄ ³‐+OH^‐. Relative root length was the bioassay for Al toxicity. ‘Monomeric’ Al was measured using Aluminon and both root length and measured Al were compared to the theoretical Al in solution predicted by the MINTEQA2 equilibrium model.

Low levels of Al were toxic to plant roots with sorghum showing a decrease in relative root length from 1 to 10 μM Al, and wheat showing a decrease from 4 to 10 μM. A mono‐salt background solution (400 μM CaCl₂) and a more complex base solution (CaCl₂, KNO₃, and MgCl₂) gave similar root lengths and measured Al values. Phosphate and hydroxyl ameliorated Al toxicity and lowered measured Al in solution, but not to the extent predicted by the model. Adding phosphate (PO₄ ^3‐) or hydroxyl (OH^‐) raised the pH, but again not as high as the model predicted. The difference in toxicity and measured Al were most likely the result of polymers (Al⁺³) which are toxic, but not measured by the procedure used, or included in the model which showed the Al as being removed from solution by precipitation.     

Study of conifer nitrogen nutrition using hydroponic cultures: Application to fertigation systems

Nitrogen (N) optimization of a nutrient solution for ornamental conifers was obtained with two different experiments in hydroponic cultures: First, by using three different NO₃ ^‐/NH₄ ⁺ ratios (60/40, 55/45, and 40/60 in percentages of the total N supplied); and, secondly by testing three total N levels (3.7; 4.7 and 5.5 mmol L^‐1). Best growth was obtained with a NO₃ ^‐/NH₄ ⁺ ratio of 55/ 45 and a total N level of 3.7 mmol L^‐1. With these experiments, reference levels of foliar concentrations of the macronutrients N, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and the biochemical indices, such as chlorophyll and starch levels, were obtained with the treatments corresponding to the plants with the higher growth. In the course of a growth cycle, a substrate assay with two different pot mixes (moss peat plus perlite and black peat plus sepiolite 60/40 ‐% v/v‐) was carried out by using the best N ratios and doses in nutrient solutions as obtained in hydroponics. The results indicated that the same N fertilization in fertigation systems changes depending on the different physicochemical properties of the substrates used; in this case, depending on the different physical properties of the two substrates. By applying DRIS to perform nutritional diagnosis, it is possible to find nutritional limitations to plant growth, but not additional factors, such as water‐air relationships in the growth media.     

Assessment of the availability of ions to plant roots from the determination of their chemical activity in nutrient solutions

In soilless culture, the chemical composition of the nutrient solutions is usually expressed in terms of ion concentrations which do not reflect their actual availability to plant roots : even in aqueous media, the ions supplied as salts can give rise to complexes ; furthermore, other kinds of ion interactions can be involved.

The VEGACT model, developed from thermodynamic concepts used in geochemistry, affords a more reliable assessment of the energy level of the ions. Using a particular example, at equal concentrations, the roots are shown to take up potassium or nitrate ions more readily than calcium or phosphate ions. This model also affords the prediction of the possible occurrence of phosphate precipitation within nutrient solutions of a given composition.     

Freezing Tolerance Affected by Mineral Application during Cold‐Acclimated Conditions in Some Cool Crop Seedlings

Abstract

The effect of mineral nutrient application on freezing tolerance in red cabbage, carrot, and spinach under cold‐acclimated and unacclimated conditions were evaluated in this study. Effects of nutrient‐solution application and cold acclimation on temperature at which 50% of leaves are injured (LT₅₀), values, and ice nucleation activity in all of the plants were found to be statistically significant. Nutrient‐solution applications decreased LT₅₀ values in all of the species under unacclimated and cold‐acclimated conditions. Freezing injuries in cold‐acclimated plants were significantly lower than in unacclimated plants in all of the nutrient application doses. In addition to this, 600–900 mg l^?1 nutrient solutions also gave low plant injury in all conditions. Nutrient‐solution applications increased ice nucleation temperatures of apoplastic proteins, proline, and total chlorophyll contents in all of the plant species under unacclimated and cold‐acclimated conditions. Among the plant species, carrot was the most resistant plant to freezing injury under all nutrient application doses in the tested conditions.     

Influence of the Modification of Nutritional Parameters in Aglaonema commutatum: K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Na+

Abstract

This trial was carried out to establish an appropriate nutrient solution for Aglaonema commutatum and to investigate the nutritional effects generated by modifications in the solution. Six treatments were tested: control (T₀; pH 6.5, E.C. 1.5 dS m^?1, 6 mmol L^?1 NO₃ ^?‐N, and 6 mmol L^?1 K⁺); high nitrogen (N) level (T₁; 9 mmol L^?1 6:3 NO₃ ^?–NH₄ ⁺); N form (T₂; 6 mmol L^?1 N‐NH₄ ⁺); high K⁺ level (T₃; 12 mmol L^?1 K⁺); high electrical conductivity (T₄; E.C. 4 dS m^?1, 25 mmol L^?1 NaCl), and basic pH (T₅; pH 8). At the end of the cultivation, leaf, shoot, and root dry weights and elemental concentrations were determined. Nutrient contents and total plant uptake were calculated from the dry weights and nutrient concentrations. Plant K⁺ uptake increased with application of K⁺ or basic nutrient solution. The uptake and transport of calcium (Ca) were enhanced by the use of NO₃ ^?‐N and inhibited by the presence of other cations in the medium (NH₄ ⁺, K⁺, Na⁺) and by basic pH. Magnesium (Mg) uptake increased with NO₃ ^?‐N application and with pH. Sodium (Na) uptake was the highest in the saline treatment (T₄), followed by the basic pH treatment. Sodium accumulation was detected in the roots (natrophobic plant), where the plant generated a physiological barrier to avoid damage. Dry weight did not differ significantly (p<0.05) among treatments except in the NaCl treatment. These results may help in the formulation of nutrient solutions that take into account the ionic composition of irrigation water and the physiological requirements of plants.     

Aluminum tolerance in maize: Minimizing pH changes in screening solutions 1

Preliminary screening of maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes for aluminum (Al) tolerance in nutrient solutions over a 12‐day growth period showed greater plant‐induced pH changes in solutions without Al than in solutions containing Al. Such pH changes may alter the specific effect of Al on relative root length (length in Al‐containing solution/length in 0 Al solution) commonly used as an index to rank genotypes with respect to Al tolerance. The objective of this study was to examine several screening methods for identifying Al‐tolerant maize genotypes, and to identify those procedures which resulted in minimal pH fluctuations during the course of screening. The following methods of controlling pH in nutrient solutions were compared: (i) 12‐day exposure to 0 or 5 mg Al/L in nutrient solutions (a) with or (b) without daily pH adjustment or (c) with different NO₃ ^‐/NH₄ ⁺ ratios, and (ii) 2‐day exposure to 0, 5, 10, 25 or 40 mg Al/L treatment solutions followed by a 3‐day recovery period in solutions with an initial pH at (a) 4.6 or (b) 4.0. In the 12‐day experiments, daily pH adjustment to 4.6 did not eliminate large pH fluctuations in the control (0 Al) solutions, and it substantially decreased the soluble Al concentration in the Al‐treatment solution. Varying the ratio of NO₃ ^‐ to NH₄ ⁺ did not eliminate large pH fluctuations. Exposing the seedlings for 2 days to Al solutions at pH 4.6 resulted in large pH differences between 0 Al and Al‐containing solutions and in precipitation of large amounts of Al. In contrast, the 2‐day procedure using solutions with an initial pH at 4.0 was more satisfactory in that the pH was maintained between 4.0 and 3.7 in all solutions, and Al precipitation was minimized. When the 2‐day method at pH 4.0 was used to screen the genotypes, PDMR3 had consistently higher relative root lengths in Al‐containing solutions than did Kalimpos, IPB Varl, UPCA Varl and Trinidad Grp1&2.     

Differential tolerance of canola to arsenic when grown hydroponically or in soil 1

Separate studies found canola tolerant to arsenic (As) when grown in hydroponic solutions and generally sensitive to As when grown in soil. Fourteen‐day‐old canola was transferred to pots containing either soil or nutrient solution and then grown for an additional 14 days in a growth chamber at different times for the two different media. Plants were grown in 0.25‐strength Hoagland's solution containing either 0, 0.27, 6.67, or 13.3μM As or in three soils with As added at rates of 0,5, and 10 mg.kg^‐1. Soil‐solution As concentrations were determined via column displacement and were the same or less (0.147 to 4.27μM) than the hydroponic As concentrations. Soil‐solution phosphorus (P) concentrations were determined in the same manner and averaged 9.28μM P compared to 500μM P from the hydroponic solutions. Chlorosis, wilting, and stunted growth—symptoms of As toxicity—occurred in canola at the highest As rate in two of the three soils used. Dry‐matter yields from the third soil were low from all treatments and a lack of response to As additions was probably due to injury from other soil‐related factors. Shoot As concentrations were generally similar from both experiments. Canola did not suffer a yield loss or exhibit As toxicity symptoms when grown in the hydroponic solutions. Leaf P was 8,000 mg.kg^‐1 in the hydroponically‐grown canola and 100 mg.kg^‐1 for the soil‐grown canola. These values are greater than (hydroponic) and lower than (soil media) sufficiency levels for plants similar to canola. High solution P concentrations in the hydroponic solution may have detoxified As by competing with As for uptake in the solution and during metabolism. Phosphate should be added to hydroponic solutions in As studies at levels close to normal soil P levels and added daily to replenish plant uptake.     

Effects of Various Salt–Alkaline Mixed Stresses on the State of Mineral Elements in Nutrient Solutions and the Growth of Alkali Resistant Halophyte Chloris Virgata

Chloris virgata, a naturally alkali-resistant halophyte, was studied. Various salt–alkali conditions with different salinities and pHs were established by mixing sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃), sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄), and sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃), in various proportions. The effects of these salt–alkali conditions on the state of mineral elements in nutrient solutions were analyzed using the GEOCHEM-PC program. The relative growth rate (RGR) and tillering rate of stressed C. virgata were determined. The activities of metal ions in nutrient solutions, apart from potassium (K⁺), decreased with both increased salinity and pH, and high pH resulted in precipitation of metal ions and phosphate. Consequently, the high pH of salt–alkaline mixed stress could cause severe nutrient stress in plants. However, when pH was 6.40–8.74, the effects of pH on RGR and tillering rate were not significant, and the high pH surrounding roots might be resisted by the root cells and prevented from invading the intracellular environment. Only when pH > 8.74 did the harmful action of high pH emerge, and the increased pH induced the severe decreases of RGR and tillering rate at the same salinity. The results indicated that pH adjustment outside the roots might be a key physiological mechanism for C. virgata resisting alkali stress.     

The influence of the growth media and mineral nutrition on corn root hydrogen / bicarbonate releases and rhizosphere pH

A study was made of the influence of substrate on the root releases of hydrogen ions (H+) and bicarbonate ions (HCO₃ ^‐) by corn (Zea mays, cv.Dea) grown between the 5/6 leaf and the 9/10 leaf stage in two different growth media, siliceous or calcareous sand. Different nutrient solutions were supplied in separate experiments, but in all cases, nitrogen was in the form of nitrate (NOg"), and iron chelates were present in solution.

In siliceous sand the pH generally increased, but acidification appeared with low NO₃ ^‐ nutrition. Roots released H⁺ and HCO₃ ^‐ simultaneously, and these ions partially reacted to form H₂CO₃. The pH variations depended on the balance of the released ions and on the low buffer capacity in this slightly acidic pH range. The algebraic sum of the ion effluxes was approximately equal to the sum of the ion uptakes; no stoichiometric coupling between the total H⁺ effluxes and the NO₃ ^‐ or potassium (K⁺) uptakes was recorded.

In calcareous sand HCO₃ ^‐ was released by the roots, but the H⁺ seedling effluxes always acidified the solutions with regard to the reference solutions in calcareous sand without plants. Even though HCO₃ ^‐ was released in great quantities by plants, the pH of the solutions did not become alkaline because of the high buffer capacity of the solution in contact with the calcareous medium. In this environment the plants reacted to the high levels of HCO₃ ^‐ and showed symptoms of lime‐induced chlorosis. To overcome the poor physicochemical conditions, H⁺ was released from the corn roots, and this H⁺ efflux was correlated to the total alkalinity of the solution.     

QUARTZ PORPHYRY TREATMENT ALTERS IRRIGATION WATER CHEMISTRY,AFFECTING HYDROPONIC VEGETABLE PRODUCTION

This study focused on using quartz porphyry (QP) as a water treatment to improve hydroponic production of komatsuna (Brassica rapa L. nothovar; Japanese mustard spinach). We compared the chemistries of the control and QP-treated nutrient solutions and found that magnesium (Mg²⁺) and calcium (Ca²⁺) concentrations increased linearly up to day 21 following sowing in both conditions, then declined slightly. The QP treatment reduced sodium (Na⁺) and chloride (Cl^?) concentrations for the whole cultivation period. In both the control and QP-treated solutions, nitrate (NO^? ₃) and sulfate (SO^2? ₄) showed the same trend to a daily increase. In spite of these similarities, however, komatsuna production was better with the QP-treated nutrient solution compared to control. Treatment with QP during cultivation in August–September reduced the harmful effects of Na⁺, chloride (Cl^?), nitrite (NO^? ₂), and SO^2? ₄ by reducing concentrations of these ions, possibly leading to decreased salinity and toxicity effects in the plants. Mineral concentrations during October–November differed from those of August/September, resulting in variation among the different growth parameters for komatsuna.     

Alleviation of ionic and osmotic stress of salinity in seedling emergence of Lolium perenne L. with halopriming treatments growing in an hydroponic system

In this paper, we presented a simple and inexpensive model of hydroponic system in laboratory. The six halopriming treatments were used in research. One-third strength nutrient solutions used in hydroponic systems. The ionic and osmotic stresses were induced by adding sodium chloride (NaCl) or polyethylenglycol-6000 to the nutrient solution. Each treatment was conducted three replications in a completely randomized design. The results showed that haloprimig significantly decreased the management (MGT) of Lolium perenne as compared with control. Haloprimed with NaCl for 72, 48 h and magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) for 24 and 72 h showed significant difference as compared with non-treated seed in same stress level. Indeed, it shows that exposure to sodium chloride and magnesium chloride had a priming effect and seedling emergence was significantly increased in comparison to control. The beneficial effects of NaCl on seed germination is due to the uptake of Na⁺ and Cl^? ions by the seed, thus maintaining a water potential gradient allowing water uptake during seed germination.     

Comparison of hydroponic solutions for poinsettia nutritional studies 1

Poinsettia cultivars Supjibi and Freedom were grown in eight hydroponic solutions to develop a baseline solution for further nutritional studies. Four solutions contained nitrogen (N) from Ca(NO₃)₂‐4H₂O and KNO₃ (denoted as ‐NH₄) and four contained Ca(NO₃)₂‐4H₂O, KNO₃, nitric acid, and NH₄NO₃ as the N sources (denoted as +NH₄). The four ‐NH₄ and +NH₄ solutions were further divided by an IX or 2X rate of micronutrients [boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), and zinc (Zn)] (denoted as IX or 2X). A factorial of these four solutions at 2 concentrations (100 mg L¹ of N and potassium (K) and 15 mg L¹ phosphorus (P), or 300 mg L¹ of N and K and 46 mg L^‐1 P) was studied. Greater leaf and stem dry weight for both ‘Supjibi’ and ‘Freedom’ was observed in plants grown with the +NH₄ solutions, with a larger increase occurring with’ Supjibi’. Leaf NH₄‐N content for both cultivars was higher for both the 100 and 300 mg L^‐1 N and K fertilization rates when NH₄‐N was included. The leaf K content was highest for the plants grown with the +NH/2X solution for ‘Supjibi’, for both fertilization rates, and leaf K content increased as the K application rate increased. Results indicate that for nutritional studies with poinsettias, hydroponic solutions should include between 12.5% to 33% of the N in the NH₄ form, a calcium magnesium (Ca:Mg) ratio of 2:1, and a micronutrient concentration of (mg I/¹) 0.5, 0.02, 6.6, 0.5, 0.1, and 0.05, respectively, for B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, and Zn, for adequate plant growth.     

Nitrogen and phosphorus nutritional interactions in a CO2 enriched environment

Nonnodulated soybean plants (Glycine max. [L.] Merr. ‘Lee') were supplied with nutrient solutions containing growth limiting concentrations of N or P to examine effects on N‐ and P‐uptake efficiencies (mg nutrient accumulated/gdw root) and utilization efficiencies in dry matter production (gdw²/mg nutrient). Nutritional treatments were imposed in aerial environments containing either 350 or 700 μL/L atmospheric CO₂ to determine whether the nutrient interactions were modified when growth rates were altered.

Nutrient‐stress treatments decreased growth and N‐ and P‐uptake and utilization efficiencies at 27 days after transplanting (DAT) and seed yield at maturity (98 DAT). Atmospheric CO₂ enrichment increased growth and N‐ and P‐utilization efficiencies at 27 DAT and seed yield in all nutritional treatments and did not affect N‐ and P‐uptake efficiencies at 27 DAT. Parameter responses to nutrient stress at 27 DAT were not altered by atmospheric CO₂ enrichment and vice versa. Nutrient‐stress treatments lowered the relative seed yield response to atmospheric CO₂ enrichment.

Decreased total‐N uptake by P‐stressed plants was associated with both decreased root growth and N‐uptake efficiency of the roots. Nitrogen‐utilization efficiency was also decreased by P‐stress. This response was associated with decreased plant growth as total‐N uptake and plant growth were decreased to the same extent by P stress resulting in unaltered tissue N concentrations. In contrast, decreased total P‐uptake by N‐stressed plants was associated with a restriction in root growth as P‐uptake efficiency of the roots was unaltered. This response was coupled with an increased root‐to‐shoot dry weight ratio; thus shoot and whole‐plant growth were decreased to a much greater extent than total‐P uptake which resulted in elevated P concentrations in the tissue. Therefore, P‐utilization efficiency was markedly reduced by N stress.     

Water uptake by black spruce seedlings from rooting media (solution,sand, peat) treated with inorganic and oxalated aluminum

Experiments with solution cultures revealed that 1-yr-old black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.]) seedlings growing in nutrient solutions experienced reductions in water uptake and moist plant weight when treated with water-soluble inorganic Al at the time of rapid shoot elongation. These reductions occurred with solution concentrations for Al at ≥ 16 mg L^?1. Wilting was noticed with Al ≥ 8 mg L^?1. In contrast, oxalated Al treatments had no visible effects on either water uptake or moist plant weight during shoot elongation. Later, near the time of budset, neither inorganic nor oxalated Al had an effect on moist plant weight or water uptake. This suggests that black spruce seedlings may or may not be susceptible to water-soluble inorganic Al depending on the degree of Al complexation afforded by the rooting medium, and by the plant roots at different times of the growing season. Water uptake was affected by the type of rooting medium in which the seedlings grew. For example, water uptake from peat was greater than water uptake from solution. Water uptake from sand was intermediate. Water uptake from solution-only cultures was probably affected by restricted O₂ supply.     

Efficiency of h+‐atpase activity on cadmium uptake by four cultivars of lettuce

Cadmium (Cd) uptake by lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) was studied in a hydroponic solution study at concentrations approaching the total concentration in contaminated soil solutions. Four cultivars of lettuce were tested (Divina, Reine de Mai, Melina, and J.44). Ten 12‐day old seedlings, pretreated in 0.5 μM CdCl₂ solution, were labelled with carrier free ¹⁰⁹CdCl₂ (from 0.05 μM to 5 μM Cd in nutrient solution) in the presence and absence of metabolic inhibitors, DNP and DCCD. Cadmium taken up by the roots was determined after a 30 min desorption in unlabelled CdCl₂ solution. In the absence of metabolic inhibitors and at 5 μM Cd, root absorbed from 2.5 to 8 mg Cd/g root dry weight. Exchangeable Cd measured after desorption represented less than 1% of the total Cd absorbed by the root. Cadmium absorption in presence of DNP showed that approximately 80% of the Cd enters the cell through an active process. This mechanism seems to be directly associated with H⁺‐ATPase as observed with DCCD inhibition. Varietal differences in shoot Cd uptake were only demonstrated at concentrations below 0.1 μM. Screening lettuce cultivars only by the Cd level in the tissue seems not to be possible for these cultivars except at concentrations close to that in the soil solution. But differences in relative contribution of uptake mechanisms in total Cd absorption were observed. High levels of Cd in roots were correlated with high contri‐ butions from H⁺‐ATPase in the active process of Cd uptake.     

Response of potatoes to different nutrient solution management in a closed hydroponic system

Ion control of nutrient solutions to control nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) was developed for Superior (medium-to-early maturing) and Atlantic (mid-late) potato cultivars grown in closed hydroponic systems in which solutions were replenished and recirculated. Results were compared with conventional nutrient solution management strategies. In the “solution replacement” treatment, nutrient solutions were completely replaced each week. In the “electrical conductivity (EC) control” treatment, water use by potato plants was compensated by adding ground water to achieve the original volume (water replenishment) and the diluted EC of the solution was adjusted to the target levels using stock solution. In “ion control” treatment, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (NH₄H₂PO₄) and potassium nitrate (KNO₃) were added to the EC-controlled nutrient solution. The amounts increased with plant age in both cultivars. The concentrations of nitrate (NO₃), P, and K in the ion control nutrient solution could be maintained at target levels. In water replenishment, recycling of nutrient solution resulted in a progressive decrease in EC and an increase in pH. Root activity increased by 93% and 59% in the Superior and Atlantic cultivars, respectively, compared with the nutrient solution replacement. These changes decreased photosynthesis, plant growth, water use, and thus tuber growth in the Superior cultivar. Decreased growth of shoots and tubers occurred without affecting photosynthesis in the Atlantic cultivar. Although there were no significant differences in root activity, photosynthesis, or plant growth between the ion control treatment and the EC control treatment, increased tuber growth was observed in the ion control treatment, possibly as a result of the constant supply of nutrients. High tuber growth and the capability to maintain solution nutrient concentration in the ion control treatment are highly desirable for closed hydroponic systems.