Variability in Alfalfa for Growth and Mineral Uptake and Efficiency Ratios under Aluminum Stress

Abstract

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is an important forage legume that is known to be sensitive to soil acidity. A nutrient solution experiment was conducted under controlled growth conditions to evaluate the effects of Al (0, 75, and 150 µmol L−1) on growth, nutrient uptake, and mineral nutrient efficiency ratios (ER = shoot dry weight produced per unit element in shoot) in 15 selected alfalfa cultivars and lines. Growth of shoots and roots differed with Al levels and cultivars/lines. At 75 µmol L−1 the mean reductions of shoot and root dry matter yield were 29 and 6% of the control, respectively. Shoot nutrient contents showed significant positive correlations with shoot and root weights, and negative correlations with Al level and shoot Al concentrations. The ER values were used to classify cultivars and lines into efficient and inefficient utilizers of absorbed nutrients. With the exception of the ER for Ca, negative correlations were observed between Al level and ER. The cultivars and lines used in this study showed intraspecific genetic diversity for dry matter yield and ER values for the elements when plants were grown with or without AL.

Application limestone forms and doses for alfalfa in no-tillage system

“…The elevated values advocated by the Brazilian technical recommendations, such as in Baligar, Elgin and Foy (1989), who recommend a pH value from 6.0 to 7.5 as ideal for cultivating alfalfa, were not adapted for the soil conditions resulting from no-tillage and, thereby, due to their extremely elevated values discourage the adoption of cultivation of this legume. Figure 4A that the greatest observed value for exchangeable Ca + Mg was for the dose of 8 Mg ha -1 at the depth of 0-5 cm (10.97 cmol c dm -3 ).…”

Phosphorus response and mineral composition of ethiopian highland trifolium (clover) species

“…Phosphorus and N use efficiency was evaluated using efficiency ratios (ER) which were calculated as follows (2).…”

Soil—Plant Nutrient Relationships at Low pH Stress

“…Plant species and cultivars within species vary considerably in their ability to grow on Al-toxic soils or media containing Al (Pearson, 1975;Spain et al, 1975;Munns and Fox, 1977;Fageria and Carvalho, 1982;Foy, 1983;Fageria, 1985;Ohki, 1985;Fageria et al, 1987a;Baligar et al, 1987Baligar et al, , 1988Baligar et al, , 1989). An example of the considerable cultivar differences in Al toxicity that exist between rice cultivars is shown in Figure 2 .…”