The effects of some agrotechnical measures on the uptake of nickel by maize plants

• Published in: Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society Vol. 74; no. 8-9; pp. 1009 - 1017
• Main Authors: Zarkovic, Branka, Blagojevic, Srdjan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Serbian Chemical Society 2009
• Subjects: agrotechnical measures; concentration; maize; uptake
• ISSN: 0352-5139; 1820-7421
• DOI: 10.2298/JSC0909009Z

Nickel is a non-essential element in the nutrition of the majority of plant species and can be toxic to plants when its concentration in soils is high. Several soil properties have an effect on the uptake of this heavy metal by plants. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of fertilization, soil acidification and liming on the uptake of Ni by maize plants grown on some alluvial soils. A pot experiment with maize plants grown on soils having various properties and elevated content of Ni was set up. The experiment lasted six weeks. The roots and shoots were analyzed for the concentration of Ni. From the results of the experiment, it can be concluded that the roots had higher concentrations of Ni than the shoots. The addition of mineral fertilizers (without application of other measures) mainly decreased the concentration and uptake of Ni by the roots and the transport of Ni to the shoots. Soil acidification (to pH 4.5) caused an increase in the Ni concentration in the plants and in its removal from the soil. Liming of acid soils had a positive effect on the uptake of Ni by young maize plants. The obtained results are important from the standpoint of reducing the pollution of plants by potentially toxic heavy metals. Nikl nije neophodan element za ishranu vecine biljnih vrsta i on moze biti toksican za biljke kada je njegova koncentracija u zemljistu visoka. Nekoliko osobina zemljista ima uticaja na usvajanje ovog metala biljkama. Cilj ovog istrazivanja je bio da se utvrdi uticaj djubrenja, zakiseljavanja zemljista i kalcizacije na usvajanje Ni biljkama kukuruza gajenim na nekim aluvijalnim zemljistima. Postavljen je ogled u sudovima sa biljkama kukuruza koje su gajene na pomenutim zemljistima. Ogled je trajao 6 nedelja. Korenovi i nadzemni delovi su analizirani na sadrzaj Ni. Moze se zakljuciti iz rezultata ogleda da korenovi imaju vece koncentracije Ni u odnosu na nadzemne delove. Dodavanje mineralnih djubriva (bez primene drugih mera) uglavnom je smanjilo koncentraciju i usvajanje Ni korenovima kao i njegov transport do nadzemnih delova. Zakiseljavanje zemljista (do pH 4,5) povecalo je usvajanje Ni korenovima i njegov transport do nadzemnih delova biljaka. Kalcizacija kiselih zemljista je imala pozitivan uticaj na usvajanje Ni mladim biljkama kukuruza. Dobijeni rezultati su znacajni za smanjenje zagadjivanja biljaka potencijalno toksicnim teskim metalima.