| Abstract: | Reported laboratory observations mention inhibiting effects of Al on uptake of cations. However, the diverse conditions of these experiments do not allow conclusions to be drawn about the extent of this inhibiting effect. An uptake model for Ca and Mg was therefore developed to study the interactions of Al and these cations. The model is based on surface complexation of the root surface with both specific adsorption reactions and exchange reactions included. Application of this model to experiments using a nutrient flux growth technique showed that the observed effects are well simulated. The behaviour of the model agreed with reported inhibiting effects of Al. The model showed that Al effects might be reversed by increased nutrient solution concentrations of cations. However, there exists a strong competitive interaction between Ca and Mg. Therefore, high Ca concentrations have a negative effect on the uptake of Mg. Plants with a high growth rate and a high shoot to root ratio appear to be more sensitive to Al effects than more slowly growing plants. |
