Organic acids alleviate iron chlorosis in chickpea grown on two p-fertilized soils

• A.R Sánchez-Rodríguez ^[1] ; M. C del Campillo ^[1] ; J Torrent ^[1] ; D.L Jones ^[2]
  1. [1] Universidad de Córdoba

     Universidad de Córdoba

     Cordoba, España

     
  2. [2] Bangor University

     Bangor University

     Bangor, Reino Unido

     
• Localización: Journal of soil science and plant nutrition, ISSN-e 0718-9516, ISSN 0718-9508, Vol. 14, Nº. 2, 2014, págs. 292-303
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • The objectives of this paper are to investigate the response of chickpea growing on two iron (Fe) chlorosis-inducing calcareous soils, with different Fe availability, generously supplied with phosphate (P), and to evaluate the effectiveness of a mixture of organic acids (citric, oxalic and malic) to alleviate Fe chlorosis symptoms. Application of P (+P treatment) aggravated Fe deficiency irrespective of the soil. Phosphorus-induced Fe chlorosis was alleviated when organic acids were also applied to the soil (+P+OA treatment), which was reflected in increased leaf chlorophyll concentration and decreased root ferric reductase activity in the plants growing on both soils; the effect was stronger for plants grown on the soil with the lowest Fe-available content. However, Fe chlorosis was still more severe than in the control (-P treatment) plants. The need of -P treatment plants to explore soil in order to take up nutrients is reflected in their root architecture, reduced root diameter and increased length, surface and volume relative to +P and +P+OA roots. Organic acids alleviate Fe chlorosis in function of non crystalline Fe oxides content but inhibit the root response mechanisms as a consequence of increasing Fe concentration in the soil solution.