Summary
(1) A method is described for the production of acute deficiencies of copper, zinc or molybdenum in large scale sand cultures in which an adequate and satisfactory supply of water was obtained by treating rain water with ion-exchange resins. Results compared favourably with the use of glass distilled water.
(2) Visual symptoms of copper, zinc and molybdenum deficiencies in large seeded leguminous crops, and in other species are summarised.
(3) Seed reserves played an important part in the incidence of copper and molybdenum deficiencies and to a lesser extent of zinc deficiency in pea, runner bean, dwarf bean and broad bean.
(4) The “deficient” seed was obtained by harvesting seed from plants grown in the respective deficiency sand cultures, and was compared with seed obtained similarly from complete nutrient sand cultures or commercially from field-grown plants.
(5) Seed reserves of molybdenum were usually sufficient for a complete generation but reserves of copper and zinc were not adequate for the whole copper or zinc requirements of the plants.
(6) Analytical data showed a marked decrease in the copper or molybdenum content of “deficient” seed, and a less striking decrease in zinc.
(7) Foliage of deficient plants showed decreased content of copper and molybdenum and often of zinc compared with plants given the complete nutrient treatment, but use of “deficient” seed only decreased yields without further appreciably decreasing the mineral content of the foliage.
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Hewitt, E.J., Bolle-Jones, E.W. & Miles, P. The production of copper, zinc and molybdenum deficiencies in crop plants grown in sand culture with special reference to some effects of water supply and seed reserves. Plant Soil 5, 205–222 (1954). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01395896
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01395896