Micronutrient concentration of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) grown on different soils in a pot experiment

Authors

• Raimo Erviö Agricultural Research Centre of Finland, Institute of Soils and Environment, FIN-31600 Jokioinen, Finland
• Jouko Sippola Agricultural Research Centre of Finland, Institute of Soils and Environment, FIN-31600 Jokioinen, Finland

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.72643

Abstract

The uptake of micronutrients, B, Co, Cu, Mn, Mo and Zn, was studied in a pot experiment. The micronutrient concentrations of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) ranged as follows: B 4.9-11.1, Co 0.01-2.30, Cu 2-15, Mn 29-225, Mo 0.01-1.79 and Zn 23-75 mg kg-1 DM. The micronutrient concentration of plant was compared with the AAAc+EDTA-extractable concentration in soil by soil type. The copper and zinc concentrations of ryegrass correlated stongly with the respective concentrations of all four soil type groups. The respective correlations of boron and manganese were good except in the silt soil group. Cobalt correlated best in coarse mineral and clay soils and molybdenum in clay and organic soils. Boron, cobalt, manganese and zinc concentrations of ryegrass were the higher the lower the soil pH was. In the whole material the following correlations were found between the micronutrient concentrations of ryegrass and soil: boron 0.58***, cobalt 0.68***, copper 0.70***, manganese 0.19**, molybdenum 0.69*** and zinc 0.90***. The results indicate that interpretation of micronutrient soil test data may be more accurate when soil type is considered.