PLANT GROWTH, QUALITY AND MINERAL COMPOSITION1

Transcription

1 JAWORSKI: DOLOMITE-TOMATO STUDIES Gee, A. and V. R. Deitz Determination of phosphate by differential spectrophotometry. Anal. Chem. 25: Harmer, Paul M The occurance and correc tion of unproductive alkaline organic soil. Soil Sci Soc Amer. Proc. (1942) 7: Hortenstine, C. T. and W. T. Forsee, Jr Re search and application of soil testing for organic soils. The Soil and Crop Sci. Soc. Fla. 20: Jackson, M. L Soil Chemical Analysis. Prentiss Hall Inc., Englewood, N.J. 15. Lingle, J. C. and R. L. Corolus, Mineral nu trition of celery varieties with special reference to sodium and boron. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 68: MacDougall, D. and D. A. Biggs Estimation of boron in plant tissue by the quinalizarin method. Anal. Chem. 24: Pope, D. T. and H. M. Munger Heredity and nutrition in relation to magnesium deficiency chlorosis in celery. Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 61: Pope, D. T. and H. M. Munger The inheri tance of susceptability to boron deficiency in celery. Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 61: Purvis, E. R. and R. W. Ruprecht Cracked stem of celery caused by a boron deficiency in the soil. Fla. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui Wolf, E. A Emerald A new early blight resistant pascal celery. Fla. Agr. Exp. Sta. Cir. S Yamaguchi, M., F. D. Howard, P. A. Minges Brown checking in celery, a symptom of boron deficiency: III Effects of potassium, nitrogen and boron in culture solu tions on the physiological disorder and nutrient uptake. Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 71: EFFECT OF DOLOMITIC LIMESTONE ON TOMATO TRANS PLANT GROWTH, QUALITY AND MINERAL COMPOSITION1 C. A. JAWORSKI2 Regulations for the production of Georgia certified tomato trans require that seed lings be free of disease and root-knot nematodes (1, 6). In order to fulfill these regulations, most tomato seedlings are grown on recently-cleared pine land, because it is relatively free of tomato disease organisms and parasitic nematodes (1, 9, 13). These soils are of low fertility and they are highly to very highly acid (5, 9, 10, 13). This excessive acidity, resulting from the removal of Ca and Mg, has been shown to contribute to such growth limiting factors as Mn and Al toxicity (5). Dolomitic limestone is not used at present in tomato transplant production. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the application of dolomitic limestone in relation to total trans plant yield, to uniformity of growth, and to elemental composition of the shoots. Materials and Methods Field Experiments Three experiments were conducted on two soils in 1964, one on Goldsboro loamy sand which lcooperative investigations at Tifton, Georgia, of the University of Georgia College of Agriculture Experiment Stations, Coastal Plain Experiment Station and the Crops Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture. Published with the approval of the Director of the Coastal Plain Experiment Station as Journal Series Paper No Trade names are used in this publication solely for the purpose of providing specific information. Mention of a trade name does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the U. S. Department of Agriculture or an endorsement by the Department over other products not mentioned. 2Soil Scientist, Crops Research Division, U. S. Depart ment of Agriculture, Tifton, Georgia. was in tomato transplant production the pre ceding spring, and two on Tifton loamy sand which had been in spring and fall vegetable transplant production for 4 years. Both soils were highly acid, ph 5.0 for the Goldsboro loamy sand and ph 5.1 for the Tifton loamy sand. The Goldsboro loamy sand was high in P, medium in K, and very low in Ca and Mg (149, 69, 9, and 13 lb/a, respectively). The Tifton loamy sand was very high in P, low in K, low in Ca, and very low in Mg (596, 58, 65, and 13 lb/a, respectively). The treatments consisted of a 2x3x2x2 NPK limestone factorial in a randomized block design with 4 replications. The N levels were 40 and 60 lb/a, P levels were 35, 70, and 105 lb/a, K levels were 25 and 50 lb/a, and limestone levels were 0 and 2,000 lb/a. Dolomitic lime stone was broadcast and disked in immediately prior to seeding. All of the other nutrients, except for 20 lb N/A sidedressed, were pre-mixed and applied in a 2.5- to 3.0-inch wide band, 1 inch below double-seeded rows (11). The dotomitic limestone contained 57 percent CaCO3 and 33 percent MgCO3, with 94 percent passing a U.S. No. 8 sieve and 52 percent passing a U. S. No. 60 sieve. Seed beds were 6 feet wide with double-row bands 14 inches apart with rows 2 inches apart. Seeds of the variety H-1350 (96 percent germi nation) were clay-coated by the Filcoat process and precision seeded with Gramor seeders at 1,047,000 seeds per acre (18.03 seeds per foot row). Plants were harvested 48 days after seeding in 2 of the experiments and 45 days after seed ing in the other. They were classified into 3

2 156 FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1965 Table 1. Tomato transplant classification according to size.* Group Stem diameter Shoot height (cm) (cm) & > Culls < 0.41 ^ 15.2 '* Sum of groups 1 and 2 are marketable trans. groups according to size (Table 1). The first Greenhouse Experiment 2 groups included marketable ; the third. group culls. Data were analyzed statistically An experiment testing 9 dolomiic limestone and Duncan's method was used for comparison <P"f^» U" S" ^-.60 sieve levels from 0 to f,qv 8,000 lb/a on 6 soils in 5 replications (described means {6)..^ Table 4) w&g conducted in the greenhouse. All Table 2. Effect of nitrogen and dolomitic limestone levels on tomato, transplant yield on Goldsboro loamy sand. Nitrogen - limestone level (lb/a) Marketable per acre Per cent marketable Cull per acre Per cent cull ,000a 53a 260,000a 47a ,000b 59b 230,000a 41ab 40-2, ,000bc 63bc 220,000a 37bc 60-2, ,000 69C 170,000a 31C * Any two treatment means having the same letter are not different at the 5 per cent level.

3 JAWORSKI: DOLOMITE-TOMATO STUDIES 157 treatments received a uniform application of NPK; 60, 66, and 50 lb/a, respectively. Four tomato seedlings per pot were grown for 6 weeks. Growth measurements were made at 4, 5, and 6 weeks after seeding. Each pot contained the equivalent of 2,000 grams of air-dried soil. Shoot samples were collected from the market able group of the field experiments and all of the greenhouse experiments. Samples were oven-dried at 70C for 48 hours, ground in a Wiley mill and digested according to Toth et al. (16). Soil and Plant Analyses Soil ph was estimated on a 1:1 suspension in distilled water after soaking 30 minutes. Avail able P, K, Ca, and Mg were determined from an extraction solution of 0.05 N with respect to HC1 and N with respect to H2SO4 (12). To determine phosphorus the color was developed in an aliquot of the extract by using ammonium molybdate solution and stannous oxalate solution. Cations were measured with an atomic absorp tion spectrophotometer (2, 15). Results and Discussion From the dolomitic limestone at 2,000 lb/a, marketable transplant yield increased by 70,000 per acre on the Goldsboro loamy sand, and by 194,000 and 70,000 on the Tifton loamy sand (Tables 2 and 3). The yield increase resulted from increased uniformity of growth. Many of the grown without dolomitic limestone exhibited severe magnesium deficien cies, including a characteristic chlorosis and the abscission of older leaves. These symptoms were Table 3. Effect of dolomitic limestone levels on tomato transplant yield on Tifton loamy sand. * Limestone level (lb/a) Marketable per acre Per cent marketable Cull per Per cent cull acre Test I 0 296,000a 43a 390,000a 57a 2, ,000b 71b 210,000b 29b Test II 0 370,000a 64a 210,000a 36a 2, ,000b 76b 140,000b 24b * Any two treatment means with the same letter are not different at the 5 per cent level.

4 158 FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1965 more severe on the Tifton loamy sand than on the Goldsboro loamy sand, even though the Mg levels were the same. Probably the higher level of Ca and other nutrients in the Tifton loamy sand decreased Mg availability (7). The Mg con tent of the oven-dried shoots of marketable trans varied from 0.27 to 0.42 percent; it increased with decreasing K level and increasing dolomitic limestone level. These results suggest that dolomitic limestone may be of value both because it provides needed Mg and because it lowers acidity (17). In the greenhouse experiment, growth re sponse from the addition of dolomitic limestone was found with all soils except Ruston loam (Tables 5 and 6). When plant height was used as an index of growth at 4 weeks after seeding, maximum response was found with limestone at 4,000 lb/a. However, at 5 and 6 weeks after seeding, plant height was not increased by apply ing limestone at more than 2,000 lb/a; the largest increase resulted from the first 1,000-lb addition. Stem diameters and fresh and dry weights of shoots also increased with limestone up to 2,000 lb/a. Plants grown on Tifton loamy sand (very high in iron concretions), Norfolk loamy sand and Klej sand exhibited Mg deficiency without dolomitic limestone; trace element deficiencies appeared when limestone additions were over 4,000 lb/a. The limestone additions did not influence P content (Table 7), which ranged from 0.29 to 0.50 percent for the 6 soils (Table 8). The K content was highest without the limestone (3.83 percent) and decreased significantly only with the first 1,000 lb/a of limestone; the per cent K in the shoots varied with the soil type. Ca content of shoots increased with the addition of limestone, although it varied more between soils than between limestone levels. The use of fertilizers containing regular superphosphate as the P source probably supplies sufficient Ca for tomato transplant growth. However, if mixed fertilizers which are low in Ca are used on newly-cleared pine land without adding dolomitic limestone, reduced tomato seedling growth from insufficient Ca may occur. The percent Mg in the shoots varied with both the dolomitic limestone level and the soil, Table 4. Soil type, ph and available potassium, calcium and magnesium of soils used in greenhouse test. Soil Type PH Ca (lb/a) Mg 1. Tifton loamy sand (over 50% iron concretions) Norfolk loamy sand Klej sand Tifton loamy sand (light in iron concretions) Tifton loamy sand (high in iron concretions) Ruston loam

5 JAWORSKI: DOLOMITE-TOMATO STUDIES 159 ranging from 0.26 to 0.91 for 0 and 8,000 lb/a of dolomitic limestone, respectively, and from 0.22 to 0.32 for the 6 spoils when lacking the lime stone. Both the soil and tissue analyses indicate that Coastal Plain soils which are recently cleared of pine trees have very low available native Mg. This severe Mg deficiency is probably accentuated by K and Ca accumulation in the soil after several years of vegetable seedling production on cleared pine land. The Zn content of the tomato shoots varied from 77 to 142 ppm, and decreased with increased limestone additions. Usually, less than 20 ppm of Zn in plant tissue produces deficiency symp toms. The Mn content of the shoots ranged inversely from 102 to 448 with limestone levels. Plants growing on Tifton loamy sand (light in iron con cretions) without dolomitic limestone exhibited Mn toxicity symptoms and the tissue contained 834 ppm of Mn. The Mn content of the shoots was dractically decreased with increasing addi tions of dolomitic limestone. This is probably due to reduced exchangeable, and easily reducible soil Mn content from additions of dolomitic lime stone (4, 8, 14). The Mn content of grown on some soils with high levels of limestone may have been sufficiently low to reduce plant growth. The Fe content of shoots was not altered sig nificantly by additions of limestone, and ranged Table 5. Tomato plant growth as affected by dolomitic limestone levels* Limestone level (lb/a) Plant height (cm) Weeks 4 after seeding 5 6 Stem diameter (mm) fresh (g) dry (g) 0 7.9a 10. la 12.5a 3.43a 14.0a 1.64a 1, b ll.lb 14. lb 3.53ab 15.6ab 1.85b 2, b 11.5bc 14.8bc 3.67bc 18.0c 2.09c 3, bc 11.5bc 14.8bc 3.58bc 16.5bc 1.92bc 4, C 11.6bc 14.7bc 3.59bc 16.8bc 2.02bc 5, bc 12.2C 15.4C 3.67bc 17.2bc 2.01bc 6, C 11.9bc 14.9bc 3.69C 18.3C 2.04bc 7, bc 11.5bc 15.2bc 3.68bc 18.5C 2.00bc 8, bc 12.0c 15.1bc 3.65bc 18.0C 1.99bc Any two treatment means having the same letter are not different at the 5 per cent level. ** Sum of 4.

6 160 FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1965 from 79 to 108 ppm for the 6 soils. A better sampling technique would likely be provided by using either shoot tips or young leaves instead of the entire shoot. In general, Fe deficiency can be expected in with less than 80 ppm. Summary The application of 2,000 lb/a of dolomitic limestone increased yields of marketable tomato trans by 70,000 to 194,000 per acre on 3 recently-cleared Coastal Plain soils. This increase in yield resulted from increased uni formity of growth. Many of the marketable and cull trans grown without dolomitic limestone additions exhibited severe Mg defic iency. In a greenhouse experiment the addition of dolomitic limestone on 6 Coastal Plain soils in creased tomato seedling growth in 5. Plants without it exhibited Mg deficiency grown on 3 of the soils. The very low natural soil Mg of 1 to 10 lb/a, and the low tissue content of 0.22 to 0.32 percent for grown without dolomitic limestone, indicate that Mg is inadequate for tomato transplant production on Coastal Plain soils recently cleared of pine trees. Mn toxicity may also be reducing tomato seedling growth on certain soils. The P and Fe content of tomato shoots was not altered; the K, Zn, and Mn con tent was decreased; and Ca and Mg content was increased by the addition of dolomitic lime stone. Table 6. Tomato plant growth as affected by soil type. Plant height (cm) Stem Shoot weight Soil Type Weeks after seeding diameter (mm) fresh (g) dry (g) 1. Tifton loamy 8.1a 9.6* 12.2a sand (over 50% iron concretions) 2. Norfolk loamy 8.4a 10.3b 13.0 sand 3. Klej sand 8.4* b 2.84a 11.6a 1.38a b 1.83b 3.57C 15.4bc 1.88bc 4. Tifton loamy sand (light in iron concretions) 10.2c 12.6C 15.8C 3.66C 16.7C 2.03c 5. Tifton loamy d sand (high in iron 10.2C 13.lc 16.5 concretions) 6. Ruston loam 9.4b 12.9C 16.7d 3.91d 20.4d 2.26d 3.98d 23.4e 2.34d * Any two treatment means having the same letter are not different at the 5 per cent level. ** Sum of 4.

7 JAWORSKI: DOLOMITE-TOMATO STUDIES 161 The applications and dolomitic limestone on recently cleared Coastal Plain soils improved tomato seedling growth, probably at least in part by lowering soil acidity, and by increasing Mg and Ca supply and decreasing Mn toxicity. Acknowledgement Appreciation is extended to Dr. William S. Murphy, Soil Scientist, Joseph Campbell Com pany, Cairo, Georgia, for suggestions on preci sion seeding, seed and row spacing and fertilizer placement. LITERATURE CITED 1. Borders, Huey I Trans grown in the South. USDA Yearbook of Agriculture, pp David, D. J. December, Atomic absorption spectrochemical analysis of plant materials with particular refer ence to manganese and iron. Atomic Absorption Newsletter No. 9, Perkin-Elmer Corporation, Norwalk, Connecticut. 3. Duncan, D. B Multiple range and multiple F tests. Biometrics 11: Fiskell, J. G. A Solubility of manganese in Florida soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Florida Proc. 14: Foy, C. D., and G. R. Burns Toxic factors in acid soils. Plant Food Review. Vol. 10, No Georgia Department of Agriculture, Division of En tomology and Plant Industry Regulations for the production of Georgia certified tomato (mimeograph). 7. Ghoneim, Mohamed F., and Robert H. Maier Development and use of a short-term nutrient- absorption technique for evaluating soil magnesium status. Plant and Soil XXI: Table 7. Phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese and iron content of tomato shoots in relation to dolomitic limestone levels. Limestone level (lb/a) P K Ca Mg Zn Mn Fe (%) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) a 3.83a 1.33a 0.26a 142a 448C 93a 1, a 3.14b 1.43ab 0.49b 108b 283b 90a 2, a 3.08b 1.48b 0.62c 98C 200c 3, a 3.18b 1.54bcd 0.71d 85d 183d 4, a 2.90b 1.52bc 0.74d 85d 144e 5, a 2.92b 1.63cd 0.81e 78de 120f 6, a 2.90b 1.61cd 0.85ef 73e 7, a 2.90b 1.66d 0.89f 79 de 8, a 3.02b 1.66d 0.91f 77de 102S 90a 87a 86a 83a 87a 91a 88a Any two treatment means having the same letter are not different at the 5 per cent level.

8 162 FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1965 Table 8. Phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese and iron content of tomato shoots in relation to soil type. Soil Type P (%) K (%) Ca (%) Mg (%) Zn Mn Fe (PP*0 1. Tifton loamy sand 0.45b 2.62cd 1.58b 0.71b 129* C (over 50% iron concretions) 2. Norfolk loamy sand 0.40c 2.57d c 81C 134d 79C 3. Klej sand 0.39cd 2.89C 1.22d 0.69b 87bc 125d 83C 4. Tifton loamy sand,,, c (light in iron 0.50a 3.30b 1.51bc 0.68b 88bc 354a 85 concretions) 5. Tifton loamy sand, K (high in iron 0.37d 3.68a 1.60b 0.64c 70d 133d 93b concretions) 6. Ruston loam 0.29e 3.53ab 1.90a 0.84a 94b 238b 108a * Any two treatment means having the same letter are not different at the 5 per cent level. 8. Hortenstine, Charles C, and H. Y. Ozaki The effects of liming on the availability of Fe and Mn and on soil Ca and ph on Davie fine sand. Soil and Crop Sci. Soc Florida Proc 21: Jaworski, C. A., and D. J. Morton Nutritional, seeding and disease studies of tomato and pepper trans. Georgia Agricultural Research. Vol. 6, No. 2, pp Jaworski, Casimir A The effect of dolomitic limestone on tomato plant quality and yield. 62nd Annual Proc. Assoc. Southern Agric. Workers, Inc. 11. Locascio, S. J., and G. F. Warren Growth pattern of the roots of tomato seedlings. Proc. Am. Soc. Hort Sci Mehlich, A Determination of P, Ca, Mg, K, Na and NH4 by North Carolina Soil Testing Laboratory (mimeograph ). 13. Murphy, William S Phosphorus and potassium nutrition of southern tomato trans. Proc. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci. 85: Rothwell, D. F Manganese in Florida soils. Soil and Crop Sci. Soc. Florida Proc. 19: Slavin, Walter. June, Agricultural applications of atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Atomic Absorption Newsletter No. 4, Perkin-Elmer Corporation, Norwalk, Connecticut. m 16. Toth, S. J., et al Rapid quantitative de termination of eight mineral elements in plant tissue by a systematic procedure involving use of a flame photometer. Soil Sci. 66: Volk, G. M Soil acidity and liming. Soil and Crop Sci. Soc. Florida Proc. 19:66-71.