Summary
Effects of water content of the topsoil on the supply of manganese, zinc and copper to plants from an acid, siliceous sandy soil were investigated. The experiment was designed to provide a good supply of water and of nutrients other than those mentioned above at all times.
Water content of the topsoil affected the root growth in that layer significantly. However, drying of the topsoil for as long as 42 days did not significantly affect the concentration of micronutrients in the shoots of oats, provided the plants did not experience water stress.
Despite the acidic, siliceous sandy nature of the topsoil it showed a surprisingly high ability to render added manganese, zinc and copper unavailable. This phenomenon, probably mediated by organic matter, had a dominant effect on the exchangeable micronutrients in comparison to the effects due to fluctuations in soil water content.
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Nambiar, E.K.S. The effects of water content of the topsoil on micronutrient availability and uptake in a siliceous sandy soil. Plant Soil 46, 175–183 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00693124
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00693124