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Elemental uptake in relation to root characteristics of tall fescue

Asimilación Elemental en Relación a las Características de Raíz del Pasto Alto

Shewmaker, Glenn E. and Johnson, Douglas A. and Mayland, Henry F. and Martin, Scott A. and Hansen, Susie B. (2004) Elemental uptake in relation to root characteristics of tall fescue. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis. 35(9&10):1339-1355.

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Abstract

HiMag, an accession of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), was
selected for high magnesium (Mg) concentration in leaves to reduce
grass tetany risk to ruminants. However, the mechanism for enhanced
Mg uptake in HiMag leaves has not been determined. The objective
was to investigate if increased Mg uptake in HiMag could be explained
by differences in elemental distribution among plant parts, root
characteristics, or organic acid concentrations compared to its
parental cultivars, "Kentucky 31" (KY31) and "Missouri 96"
(M096). The study was conducted on a surface-irrigated calcareous
Portneuf silt loam (coarse-silty, mixed, mesic, Durinodic Xeric
Haplocalcid). Vegetation and soil cores of 7.6-cm diameter were
sampled to a 45-cm soil depth in 15-cm increments. Mass and ash were
determined for leaves, crowns, and roots. Leaf area, root length, root
area, root length density, elemental concentration, and uptake
[potassium (K), calcium (Ca), Mg, sodium (Na), and phosphorus
(P)], and malate and citrate concentrations also were determined. Leaf
Mg concentration was higher in HiMag than parental cultivars.
HiMag generally did not differ in crown and root elemental
concentrations from its parents. Risk of causing grass tetany,
indicated by leaf Ki(Ca + Mg), was lower in HiMag than KY31 and
M096 in both 1994 (P = 0.03) and 1995 (P= 0.01). Root length, area,
and mass were not related to cation concentrations in the three tall
fescue accessions, suggesting that HiMag may have an active uptake
or transport mechanism for Mg.

Item Type: Article
NWISRL Publication Number: 1126
Subjects: Irrigated crops > Grass forage
Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User: Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited: 20 Nov 2010 21:50
Last Modified: 07 Nov 2016 16:42
Item ID: 180
URI: https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/180