Abstract

ROCA, Núria; PAZOS, Mabel Susana  and  BECH, Jaume. Pant availability of copper, iron, manganesum and zinc in the north west of Agentina. Cienc. suelo [online]. 2007, vol.25, n.1, pp.31-42. ISSN 1850-2067.

Copper, iron, manganese and zinc are among the essential elements for plant growth. Despite the small amounts required by plants, agricultural soils are usually deficient in one or more of these micronutrients. Therefore, their concentration in plant tissues falls below the optimum levels. Soil nature plays a fundamental role in the availability of micronutrients and their behavior at a soil-plant level. The aims of this paper were: a) to establish the relationship between soil properties and micronutrient dynamics within the soil profile and b) to determine the plant availability and areas of deficiency in agricultural soils with risk of salinization. The percentage of organic matter was the determining factor in the presence and distribution of the available metals in the soils of the studied area, being the top horizon the one of greatest accumulation. Cu_DTPA, Fe_DPTA and Mn_DPTA were mobile within the profile, whereas Zn_DPTA remained adsorbed without vertical displacement. Zn_DTPA was the only available metal which also showed differences due to the soil salinity and textural classes. However, soil geochemical conditions imply low extractability and a certain difficulty for micronutrient absorption by plants.

Keywords : DTPA; Trace elements; Micronutrients; Deficiencies; Saline soils; Alluvial soils.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )