the effect on plant growth of substituting strontium for calcium in acid soils

The Effect on Plant Growth of Substituting Strontium for Calcium in Acid SoilsAuthor(s): Thomas WalshSource: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. Section B: Biological, Geological, andChemical Science, Vol. 50 (1944/1945), pp. 287-294Published by: Royal Irish AcademyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20490840 .

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[ 287 ]

XVTI.

THE EFFECT ON PLANT GROWTH OF SUBSTITUTING STRONTIUM FOR CALCIUM IN ACID SOILS.

By THOMAS WALSH,

Soil Science Department, University College, Dublin.,.

(PLATE XIX.)

[Read 12 rEBRUARY. Published 1O JTULy, 1945.]

IT has been known for many years that appreciable quantities of strontium

may be present in plants. Its presence in ,soil has likewise being amply demonstrated. Mitchell (5) in recent years has shown that -calcium and strontium are displaced from and reab'sorbed by the. base exchange

complex at similar rates in accordance with their exchange constants,

although there is on the average 400 times as much- calcium as strontium

present. Despite this knowledge, however, very few studies have b;eel undertaken with a view to defining the function of this element, either directly as a nutrient or indirectly in its relationship to other nutrient

elements in the soil. As might be expected, considerIng its close affinity to calcium, attention has chiefly been pa,id to studying the; extelnt to whiech

these elements are interchangeable in plant nutrition. The question of its toxicity to plants has also received some notice. The literature

on this work reveals considerable disagreement on these two points. Haselhoff (2), for instance, using both soils and culture solutions, concluded that strontium does not injuriously affect the growth of plants,

and appears to take the plac.e of lime as a plant food whexn the latter

is deficient.- MeHargue (3) reported that strointium carbonate could not be substituted for calcium carbonate, but that it was less toxie than

barium in the absence of calcium carbonate. Scharrer and Schropp (6)

found that strontium could partially substitute ealcium, sometimes with

stimulating results, while sensitivity to strontium poisoning varied withi

plant species. Voeleker has reported (8) that toxicity depends on the

type of salt used, the ichloride being toxic when added to a light soil in

amount equivalent to 0 10 per cent. of strontium while the sulphate,

hydfate and carbonate applied at a similar rate were not injuriouss.

Summarising recent work in this field, MeMurtrey and Robinson (4)

noted that strontium can only partially replace calcium in plant growth,

and that its salts are toxic in all but relatively small concentrations.

PROC. R.LA., VOL. L, SECT. B.- [211



288 Proceedings of the Royal frisk Academy.

In view of the position of the knowledge available on this subject and the fact that this has been developed mainly through the use of culture

solutions, it was thought desirable; to investigate some aspects of the problem as applied to soils. This' study, initiated in 1941, was continuael in the two succeeding years and the findings are discussed here.

1941: First EKperiment. -The object of this experiment was to see

the effect of a relatively high dressing of equivalent quantities of calciur

and strontium on the growth of oat plants maintained at different levels

of nutrition where nitrogen, phosphates and potash were: concerned.

Mitscherlich's pot-testing technique (7) was utilsed for this purpose, the only modification introduced being a variation in the amount of lime added

Table 1). The soil used was a-medium loam, derived mainly from granitic

detritus and located in the Ticknock district of Co. Dublin. This soil

had a pH of 4*9 and an exchangeable calcium content of 0-24 per cent.

7 kilograms of the sand-soil mixture (2 kilograms of soil) were required to fill each pot. At each different level of manuring one set of pots reeeived no lime, another set lime at the rate of 150 gm. of CaCO3 per pot, and the other no lime, but 1 01 gm. of SrCO3 per pot-i.e. an

amount of strontium e.quivalent to the calcium applied in the previous set.

No very striking differences between the effects of calcium andl

strontium treatments were evident. When ripe, the plants were harvested',

dried at 1050 C. and weighed. Treatment and yield data (average w,

gn. per pot) are recorded in Table 1.

TABLE 1. Treatments. Yields.

Straw. Grain. P + 1. ... 24-9 16 8 P + K + CaCO, ... 245 18 3 P + K + SrGo, ... 252 18.5 N + P ... ... 264 26 6 N + P + CaCO, ... 27.9 30-7 N + P + srO, ... 30.3 30-6 N + K ... ... 24.9 20 5 N + K + OaCO, .. 21-5 19-4 N + K + SrCO ... 27- 3 23-0 N + P?+K ... ... 34-3 350 N + P + K + CaCOO ... 36-2 36-2 N + P +K + SrCO, ... 34-8 35.8

Remarks.-From these results it can be seen that far from having

any -toxic effect strontium appears to have b'ee-n slightly stimulating,

increasing the weight of straw appreciably at the "minus K" level and

the grain at the "minus P"' level and&also producing a similar effect to

caleium carbonate on the "minus N". set. This result is in agreement with that of Scharrer and Schropp (6).



WALsH-Substituting Strontium for+ Calcium in Acid Soils. 289

Second Experiment.-As the first experiment was carr-ied out using a

soil which without further addition of lime was a suitable medium for

the growth of oat plants, it was sought to investigate the, effect of

strontium as compared with calcium carbonate, in a soil where calcium

was deficient as measured !by eCrop growth. The soil chosen for this

purpose was a very acid sample from Derrybrien, Co. Galway. The pH

ef this soil was 45 and exchangeable calcium content 0-04 per cent, a

liming at .'a rate equivalent to two tons of CaCOG per acre haMn:

previously been recorded (1) as necessary for the growth of a reasonable mustard crop. General manuring of this soil was again carried out as in the previous esperiment. In this case the MIitscherlich procedure was not entirely followed, no- admixture with sand being made, and opaque glass pots of half the capacity of' the Mitscherlich pot were used. In

addition to calcium and strontium the effect of sodium wasY- tested the

three elements being applied in the form of carbonates and at a similar rate based on neutralising capacity. Mustard was used as an indicatIor

plant and the treatments were duplicated. Throughout the growing period no difference was evident between the

calcium and strontium plants. Duplicates showed good agreement.

Whire sodium was used growth was extremely poor. As this experimelt

showed a well defined replacing effect for str6ntium carbonate it was

thought desirable to verify the, result in 1942. Consequently a similarly

designed experiment, using a fresh sample, of the same soil, was carried

out. In this experiment, however, sodium phosphate was used as a source

of phosphate, it being considered that the phosphate solution as prepared

by Mitscherlich from superphosphate might introduce a complication

due to its calcium content. In addition, a set of plants was i-neluded,

using barium earb6nate. After harvesting the first crop of mustard a

second crop was grown to test difference in residual effect. : Again there

was very little difference between the effect of calcium and strontium as

reflected in crop respo4mse, the latter being somewhat less effective

however. Where BaCO3 was used very little growth resulted. The

yields from both experiments in terms of the average weight in gm.

of oven-dry material per pot are recorded in Table 2, together with the

treatments used.

TABLE 2. Treatments. Yield.

1st Crop. 2nd Crop 1941. 1942.

Control ... ... ... ... Failure - -

CaCO3 2240 pp.m. of soil ... ... 160 14.1 1.6

SrCO, 3360 ,, ... ... 150 101 12

Na2C00 2374 ,, ... ... Failure - _

BaCO3 6300 ,, ... ... - 1.2 *



90 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy.

1943 Experim-ent.-As the results from the 1941-'42 experiments had shown that, even when applied in a relatively large amount, strontium carbonate was not toxic, and that as far as the vegetative growth oi

mustard was concerned strontium appeared to be substantially able to replace calcium, it was decided to extend the investigation to see to what extent these findings held when applied to cereals. For this purpose wheat, barley and oats were grown in glass pots containing a medium composed of equal parts by volume of washed silica sand and- a very acid

fibrous granulated peat. This latter material had a total calciumn content of 0 12 per cent., of which but a very small proportion was

present in an available form as determined by chemical test. Each pot contained two kilograms of this medium, to which nutrients were added as per Mitscherlich's directions (7) with the exception that phosphate was

added as the sodium salt. Thirty seeds were planted in each pot these

being thinned out to seventeen subsequent to germination. The varieties

of wheat, barley, and oats used were Atle, Spratt Archer and Glasnevin

Success respectively. Duplicate pots were sown in each case, no difference

of any account occurring between these. -Strontium and calcium were

added in varying amounts, as indicated in Tables 3-5, where data on tlhe

yield in gm. of oven-dry material (average per treatment) of straw and lhead, and the amount of calcium and strontium present in the straw is also included. This latter determination was carried out according to the

method outlined by Young (9). The failure of grain to develop in the "head" in some instances prevented a like determination for the grain.

OATS.

Growth Observations.-The plants maintained at a medium and highi level of calcium nutrition were best throughout the season, the straw of the former being particularly vigorous. Even at the very low level (if calcium, considerable growth was made, oats differing appreciably fromn

wheat and barley, partieularly the latter, in this respect. In the early growth stages it was obvious that high strontium was having a retarding effect, this persisting throughout the season, dark green stunted plants showing very free tillering being the result. The medium strontium plants were comparable in reaction, as far as vegetative growth, was concerned, to the medium calcium plants. A photograph of the plants taken towards the end of the growing season is shown in Plate XIX. At

harvest time the high strontium oat plants were still quite green, while the medium strontium ones were approximately a fortnight later in ripening than the medium ealcium. When the ears of the differently nourished plants were examined for grain development the fact was revealed that the ears of the medium and high strontium plants, though otherwise normally developed, contained no grain. This was also true of the low calcium, low strontium and control plants.



WALSH-Substituting Strontium for Caltcilm in Acid Soils. 291

TABLE 3.

Treatment Wt. of Straw. Wt. of Hea, % CaO in % SrO in Straw. Straw.,

Control ... 20 4 9*3 068 *007 CaCO3 74 pp.m. ... 216 101 *085 *012

746 , ... 27*9 11*4 .151 .009 2240 , ... 22 5 17-9 *234 *012

SrCO3 112 , ... 20.3 9.5 .077 .023 1120 , ... 27-3 10.5 *097 042 3360 , ... 18 5 5.0 .102 *257

Re,marks.-These results would seem to imply that while strontium when applied in moderate quantity is, capable of replacing caleium where

vegetative growth is concerned, it is not able to replace it, even partially, in grain formation. This finding is not opposed to that of the 1941 experiment, where- there was sufficient calcium present in the soil to

ensure grain development. At the high level, strontium while not completely preventing growth, undoubtedly exerted a toxic effect,-this no doubt being

concerned with a' relatively high uptake df sitrohtium by the plant as

revealed by the analysis. The vigorous growth of the medium strontiumr plants is likewise, probably associatea with the relatively low amount of

strontium a,jsorbed.

WHEAT.

Growth Observations.-In general the behaviour of the wheat some what paralleled that of the oat plants. Best growth took place at the

high level of caleium, while the medium calcium and niedium strontiuin

plants also grew vigorously. Again at the high level of strontium a

toxic effect as reflected in stunted growth and inability to ripen was

evident, though -this effect was not so severe as in oats (see Plate XIX).

At the low level of calcium strontium and control, the plants after making reasonable growth in the early stages ripened off prematurely, no grain developing in the ears. This was also the ease with 'the high and

medium strontium plants, which also showed delayed ripening.

TABLE 4.

Yield. Treatment. Straw. Bead. % CaO in % SrO in

Straw. Straw.

Control ... 13.1 2 3 076 008 CaCO3 74 pp.m. .. 16.8 4.3 *099 .004

,, 746 ,, - , 22.1 10.0 .136 .017 2240 , ... 25.0 14 8 *228 *011

SrCO3 112 , . 153 4*1 047 025 ,, 1120 ,, ... 25.2 6 5 067 *047

3360 , ... 21.8 4f6 .087 -*156




Remarks.-The same general conelusions with regard to the inability

of strontium to replace calcium in grain production, and the toxic effect

of strontium at -the, high level hold as in the case of oats. At the high

level of strontium the percentage of this element present in wheat strau. is seen to be considerably less than that present in oat straw from similar>v

nourished plants, and this probably explains the difference in sensitivity to toxicity.

BARLEY.

Growth Observations. Barley appeared to be appreciably more -olerant to high strontium applications than wheat or oats. This

dlifference is shown in Plate XIX. High calcium plants were best, the medium calcium and medium strontium plants also growing well. A

noteworthy feature of the high strontium plants was that in addition to growing relatively vigorously, particularly late in the season, they developed considerably more leaf than the other plants, although there

was a considerable diminution in height (fig. 3, P1. XIX). At harvest time

they were still quite green. While the low- strontium, low calcium and

control plants grew vigorously early in the season, they yellowed and

practically collapsed later on, differing considerably from oats and wheat

in this respect.

Grain development somewhat paralleled that in the other crops, though in this case one or. two grains developed in some spikelets of the mediurk

strontium plants.

TABLE 5.

Yield. Treatment.' Straw. Head. % CaO in % SrO in

Straw. Straw.

Control ... 10.9 7 *102 * 014

CaCO3 74 pp.m. .. 12 8 1 3 *107 009 746 , ... 21-0 153 168 007

2240 ,, ... 24.7 2-1 .378 011

SrCO, 112 ,, ... 156 1.6 *081 - 023 ,, 1120 ,, ... 26 7 11.1 -060 071

3360 ,, ... 356 4 4 092 115

Remarks.-From this experiment it can be seen that barley is not niearly so susceptible to poisoning by strontium as is wheat and oats.

Indeed strontium, in addition to apparently being completely able to replace calcium as far as vegetative growth of barley is concerned- would

appear to have considerably stimulated it as measured by yield returns.

As with wheat and oats, however, it could not replace calcium in grain production. In seeking to explain the differenee in behaviour under a



WALSH-STbstituting Strontium for Calcium in Acid Soils. 293

high level of strontium nutrition, of barley as compared with wheat and oats, it is apparent that this may either be due directly to the lower amount of strontium present in the- foliage or indirectly may be associated with the higher calcium demanids of barley as compared with the other crops, this latter being very evident from the difference iil behaviour of the three cereals under low conditions of calcium nutrition.

GENTAL CONCLUSIONS.

From the experiments carried out it appears reasonable to conclude that where the vegetative growth of plants is concerned strontium can

largely replace calcium. Some evidence has also been obtained to showv that in the presence of calcium the addition of strontium can be

stimulating. As this latter element is present in at least small amount

in most soils the possibility of its fulfilling such a stimulating function

under ordinary cropping conditions is by no means remote. In defining the extent to which strontium can replace calcium in plant

nutrition it is obvious that attention must be paid to judging plant response other than by the amount of vegetation produced. While strontium can replace calcium in the normal development of vegetation,

it has been shown that it -cannot do so in the formation of grain in cereals.

Thus, in this sen-se strontium can only partially replace calcium, though

this does not appear to be the interpretation of partial replacement as

made by others from their investigations of this subject (4). The fact that plants vary in their sensitivity to strontium toxicity, as

shown by Scharrer and Schropp (6), is fully verified by the results of this investigation. The exact reasons for this* would require further attention, though the difference in the amount of strontium absorbkd by oats, wheat and barley under similar conditions of nutrition would appear

to indicate that. sensitivity to toxicity is directly related to the amount of this element absorbed. The results presented here are at variance with the conclusion of McMurtrey and Robinson (4) i.e. that strontium except in very low- conce'ntration is toxic.. In this

connection it may be noted, however, that these authors based their conclusions mainly on experiments where culture solutions were used, and where consequently any,absorption effects due to the use of soil were,

obviated. It is probable that in the case of a more soluble salt than the

carbonate-i.e. chloride-toxicity might arise at a considerably lower concentrationi, this no doubt being the main reason for the reactloh noted

by Voeleker (8). The amount of strontium as strontium carbonate aIpplied with good results to mustard, oats, wheat, and barley in these experiments under conditions of calcium deficiency, can by no means bc

considered low. - Sodium and barium carbonates were very toxic to mustard under

conditions where strontium earbonate gave normal growth,




SUMMARY.

The effect on the growth of mustard, oats, barley and wheat of

substituting strontium for calcium in very acid soils has been studied in a number of pot experiments. It has been shown that for the vegetative growth of these plants strontium is capable of substantially replacing calcium, though no such effect obtained where the production of grain in the cereals was concerned. These plants varied appreciably in sensitivity to strontium toxicity, though the use of a relatively higlh

dressing of strontium carbonate was necessary before a toxic effect became

definitely apparent. Where wheat, barley and oats were concerned sensitivity to toxicity appeared to be directly related to strontium absorption, oats with the highest percentage of this element in the straw

being the most sensitive, and barley with the lowest percentage being least

affected.

The author desires to thank P. H. Gallagher, D.SC., PH.D., (Cantab.), M.R.I.A., for his advice.

REFERENCES.

1. Gallagher, P. H., and T. Walsh. 1943 Econ. Proc. R.D.S.,

3, 172-189.

2. Haselhoff, E., quoted by L. G. Willis. 1939 Bib., "The Minor

Elements," 3rd edit., 801.

3. McHahgue, J. S. 1919 J. Agr. Res., 16, 183-194.

4. McMurtrey, J. E., Jr., and W. 0. Robinson. 1939 Yearbook of

Agr., U.S.D.A., 807-829.

5. Mitchell, R. L. 1937 J. Agr. Sc, 27, 557-568.

6. Scharrer, K., and W. Schropp. 1927 Bodenkunde u. Pflangenernahr,

3, 369-385.

7. Stewart, R. Imp. Bur. Soil Sc, Tech. Comm., 25.

8. Voelcker, J. A. 1915 J. R. Agr. Soc, 76, 344r-351.

9. Young, R. S. 1935 Mem. 174. Cornell Univ. Agr. Exp. Sta,

DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XIX.

(Showing effect of different dressings of SrCo3 and CaCO3 on the

growth of Oats, Wheat and Barley.)

Fig. 1 (Oats) Fig. 2 (Wheat) Fig. 3 (Barley)

Treatments. Pot No. Pot No. Pot No.

SrCO3 112 pp.m. ... 137 139 142

1120 ,, ... 144 146 148

3360 ,, ... 130 151 153

CaCO3 74 pp.m. ... 62 64 69

2240 ,, ... 83 85 87

Control ... 92 90 93



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the effect on plant growth of substituting strontium for calcium in acid soils

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