128
767

 

YE‘SE E?E=Ez, C)? PGTASMUM AND SOBZUM
ON THE WELD AMI: CEEMKAL
COMFGSETEON OF SUGAR 85575 A30
TABLE EEETS GRQWN GEN FCIUR
ORGAMC Sfi'fiLS

“and: For tho Moe sf M. S.
MiCfi'flGAN STATE CGLLEGE
Herman Timm
WSZ

 

I

This is to certify that the

” thesis entitled

The Effect oi‘Potassium and Sodium on the Yield
and Chemical Composition of Sugar Beets and Table
Beets Grown on Four Organic Soils

presented bg

Herman Tim

has been accepted towards fulfillment

of the requirements for

Master of ficience degnm hL_Snil_Science

imeZgL

Major professor

[WW

THE EFFECT OF POTASSIUM AND SODIUM ON THE YIELD
AND CHEMICAL COHPOSITION OF SUGAR BELTS AND

TABLE BEETS GROWN ON FOUR ORGANIC SOILS

BY

Herman Timm

W

An ABSTRACT
Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of fiichigan
State College of Agriculture and Apnlied Science
in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE
Department of Soil Science

195' 2

,,,4
Approved f )7?- [14%

Herman Timm

ABSTRACT

The Effect of Potassium and Sodium on the Yield and
Chemical Composition of Sugar Beets and
Table Beets Grown on Four Organic Soils.

The study :as insnrsva~n at investigate factors that might be
associated with the differential yield response of sugar beets and table
beets, grown on different organic soils, to sodium chloride applications.

Four organic soils were obtained from various locations in
Michigan and treated with four levels of potassium and three levels of
salt under greenhouse conditions.

On October 16, 1951, sugar beet seeds, commerical grade 213x216,
were planted and the crop harvested on larch 3, 1952. Fresh and oven dry
weights of roots and leaves were recorded.

The untreated soils were analyzed for the following constituents:
Exchangeable potassium and sodium, pH, exchangeable hydrogen, total exchange
capacity, exchanjeable cations, percent base saturation, and percent
organic matter. The exchangeable potassium and sodium of the soils and the
total potassium and sodium of beet leaves and roots were analyged after
harvest.

Table beets weresampled weekly, beginning July 29, up to harvest,
September 2h, 1951, from an experiment at the Muck Experimental Farm. The
fertilizer treatments consisted of four levels of potassium and two levels
of sodium chloride. Fresh and oven dry weights of leaves and roots were
recorded and total potassium and sodium determinations were made of leaf

and root tissue.

(3- W, .- r ‘_ 3'! 1‘
. , '4- - I. .. ,.

F
I
‘5“

Herman Timm

2

The yield responses of sugar beets grown in the greenhouse, on four
soils, to applications of salt were not the same as reported under field
conditions. The yield increases due to applications of salt, were not associ-
ated with the amount of exchangeable sodium before the salt was added.

Less exchangeable Sodium was found in all soils, after cropping, at
the lower level than at the higher levels of potassium applications; however,
the exchangeable sodium content in all soils increased with increasing in-
crements of salt.

In general, the exchangeable potassium contents of the soils treat d
with different amounts of potassium were proportional to the potassium applied
with no observable change in exchangeable potassium as a result ofthe salt
treatment.

The application of salt to soils 1 and 3 produced a significant yield
increase of sugar beet roots and there was an increase in.yield of roots
observed in soils 2 and h when treated with the lower rate of potassium plus
salt.

There was a higher percentage of potassium and sodium in the sugar
beet and table beet leaves than in the roots with all treatments. The sodium
content of the leaves increas d with increasing increments of salt to the
soil under greenhouse conditions and the sodium content was not influenced
by the potassium levels in the soil. With the lower levels of potassium and
with the addition of increments of salt, the concentration of potassium in

the sugar beet leaves generally was reduced.

Herman Timm

3

Where the concentration of potassium in the sugar beet leaf was
1.72 percent or higher and when salt was applied to the soil, no potassium
deficiency symptoms appeared. However, in the absence of a salt application,
potassium deficiency symptoms were evident when the percent of potassium
was less than 1.77.

Under field conditions the concentration of sodium in the leaves
of table beets, was not affected by the addition of salt at any level of
potassium application, and as the table beet matured, the percent of
potassium in the leaves decreased, but the percent of sodium remained
fairly constant.

An apparent substitution of sodium for potassium, in the nutrition
of the sugar beets, occurred on soils with a low initial exchangeable
potassium content treated with the 10 percent potash fertilizer. In view of
this observation, it would appear that the differential response of sugar
beets to salt applications could be influenced by either initial lOW'ex~
changeable potassium content of soils or by high levels of potassium applica-

tions. '

THE EFFECT OF POTASSIUM AND SODIUM ON THE YIELD
AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF SUGAR BEETS AND

TABLE BEETS GROWN ON FOUR ORGANIC SOILS

Herman Timm

A THESIS

Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of Michigan
State College of Agriculture and Applied Science
in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of

MASTER OF SCIENCE
Department of Soil Science

1952

ACKNOW EMENT

The author expresses his appreciation to several
members of the Michigan State College faculty; Dr. J. F. Davis,
whose suggestions were instrumental in bringing this thesis to a
conclusion; Dr. K. Lawton and Dr. E. J. Benne, for their interests
in the progress of the laboratory analysis; Dr. L. M. Turk, for
reviewing the manuscript and for guidance in the selection of a
graduate program; Dr. A. L. Erickson and Dr. R. L. Cook, for
reviewing the manuscript; and.Dr. W} D. Baten, for his help with
the statistical analysis of data.

Mention should also be made of the helpful suggestions

given to him by his fellow graduate students.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRO UCTION .............................................
REVIEW OF LITERATURE .....................................
memmmtu.u.n.u.u.u.n.u.u.u.u.u.u.u.u.u.
(1) Greenhouse Experiment ....................
(2) Field Experiment .........................
METHODS OF CHLHICRL ANALYSIS .............................
DISCUSSION OF EKPERIXELT' RESULTS .......................
(1) Greenhouse Experiment ....................
(2) Field Experiment .o.......................

smt3JIARrY 00....OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO0.0.0.0000...00.0.0000...

BRLIQ}MPEH 00.0.0.0;0000IOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO0.0.0.0000...

PAGE

10

l6
16
32

39

INTRODUCTION

Approximately ten percent of the sugar beet crop, plus
an important part of the table beet acreage in the State of Michigan,
is produced on organic soils. A general recommendation of five hundred
pounds of salt (sodium chloride) per acre, is made in addition to the
regular fertilizer applications for sugar beets and a number of other
crops produced on these soils.

Field investigations show a considerable variation in the
magnitude of response in yield of these crOps to salt applications to
soils at different locations.

Because of these differential yield responses the following
study was instituted to investigate factors that might be associated
with these differences. The objectives.were as follows: first, to
determine the relationship between the sodium and potassium contents of
roots and leaves of sugar beets and table beets at varying levels of
potassium and sodium; second, to compare chemical and physical character-
istics of organic soils that are known to be responsive to salt applica-
tions in the field with those that have Shown little or no response under

similar field conditions.

._2_
REVIEW OF LITERATURE

'Lehr (25) stated. "There is evidence that the application of
sodium to beets produces an effect, especially on weakly buffered
soils, that may equal or even exceed the reaction to nitrogen and
potassium. Consequently, sodium is being regarded more and more as an
essential element for the nutrition of the beet."

Sodium is now believed by many (h, 18, 21, 2h, 26, hS) to have
an independent function in plant metabolism, although Simon (hl) in
reviewing literature from'Western EurOpe found investigators ascribing
to the premise that sodium can partly replace potassium in plant
nutrition.

Delemenchuk and Morozov (7) concluded that the favorable effect
of sodium chloride on sugar beets could be attributed to the improve-
ment by sodium of the assimilation of nitrogen and phosphorus.

The sodium along with potassium.in plants, was found by
Osterhout (33) to have some protective or balancing action in the pre-
sence of the antagonizing bivalent ions of calcium and magnesium.

Decoux, Vanderwaeren and Simon (6) reported for sufficiently
rapid development of leaves, some sodium in the soil is necessary even

with a sufficient supply of available potassium.

-3-

Harmer (12) observed that sugar beets receiving sodium chloride
maintained a vigorous, healthy green foliage considerably later in
growth and that the leaves of table beets retained their healthier green
color instead of becoming prematurally purple as generally happened when
ample potassium but no sodium was supplied. Van Schreven (ho) noted that
where the amount of potassium was small, addition of sodium chloride
distinctly improved the growth of the plants, but the effect of sodium
chloride diminished as the amount of potassium chloride was increased.
This effect of sodium.was ascribed to the establishment of more favorable
ratio between bases and acids in the leaf.1

Sayre and Vittum (37) studying sodium salts, did not find any
toxic effect of sodium sulphate on beets and the sulphate salt proved
equal to sodium chloride in increasing crop yields, indicating that it
was sodium and not chlorine in the salt that stimulated the growth of
table beets. Harmer (12) also reported that crops showed less damping-
off in early growth, had less black rot later on, and exhibited more
resistance to disease attacks when sodium chloride was applied in
addition to potassium.

Andrlik and Urban (1) obtained results showing no increase in
the sodium content of the beet root and therefore believed that the

use of salt as a fertilizer would not influence the sugar content.

-h—

Harmer and Benne (16) pointed out that a narrow potassium/sodium
ratio in plants indicated a probable sodium responsive crop and a wide
ratio, a on-responsive crop. Hopkins (l9) mentioned sodium as a
macronutrient for certain crops, notably celery, mangolds, sugar beets
and table beets, turnips and swiss chard, while maize, potatoes, soybeans,
lettuce, onions, parsnips, spinach and peppermint had shown no significant
growth response to sodium.

Van Itallie (hS) observed that the consumption of sodium by beets
depends to a great extent upon the potassium supply of the soil. On
soils low in potassium, Chile saltpeter produced an increase in yield
equal to that produced by ho; potassium salts, and he concluded that the
addition of sodium was not important in the production of crops grown on
soils high in potassium.

Lill, Byall and Hurst (27) indicated that the benefit derived
from theepplication of sodium salt may be a measure of the needs of a
certain type of fertilization and that if this fertilization was given
directly, no benefit would be derived from additional applications of
salt.

Sayre and Vittum (38) noted that for table beets, at all potash
levels, the substitution of sodium chloride for l/h of the potash resulted
in no reduction in yield and in most cases significantly increased the
yield. With pot experiments, Dorph—Peterson and Steenbjerg (8) showed that
sodium did not replace equivalent amounts of potassium in plants studied,
and that two to three times as much sodium as potassium was required to

produce an increase in yield.

-5-

Harmer and Benne (17) suggested, that with the greater pur-
ification of potash salts, fertilizer problems might arise on soils
naturally low in sodium when sodium responsive crops are to be grown.

Lehr (26) commented, "Sodium has the capacity either to prevent, or to
defer for a long time, or to reduce considerably symptoms of potassium
deficiency} Specific sodium deficiency might easily be over-looked in
agricultural practice,toth because its eventual symptoms will resemble

much the known symptoms of potassium deficiency and because practice
usually combats 'potassium deficiency' with sodium containing potash salts."

In addition to correcting the normal deficiency of potash, in
most muck soils, additional potash may be required for normal crop develop-
ment because of the fixation of potassium in the presence of a larger
amount of organic matter (3). Pehelkin and Kozlova (35) were of the
opinion that the addition of sodium chloride increased the fixation of
potassium by the soil.

Besides the interactions of sodium and potassium in plant
metabolism there are many soil phenomenona, observed by investigators,
which are attributed to the presence of sodium.

Reports (17, 18, 30) indicated that sodium caused a reduction
in evaporation and increased the water holding power of soils, while

there was a tendency for sodium chloride to delay germination (hl).

-6-

Scharer and Schreiber (39) found that sodium chloride decreased
the availability of phosphorus in light, medium and heavy soils.
Sokoloff's (h2) conclusions, after treating aerated soils with the
sulphates and chlorides of calcium and sodium, were: 1) the release of
nitrate and total nitrogen as well as of the soluble and volatile forms
of carbon was stimulated by sodium salts and depressed by the correspond-
ing calcium salts regardless of aeration; 2) presaturation of the soil
with sodium tended to emphasize the stimulating effects of the sodium
salts; 3) the carbon/nitrogen ratio of the undissolved organic matter
of the soil was lower in the sodium treated than in the calcium treated
aerated soils. Harmer (13) indicated that with aging the rate of decom-
position of muck soils was reduced and nitrogen deficiencies tended to develop
in certain crops and necessitated nitrogen fertilization. Sokoloff's work
may well apply to the situation Which Harmer mentioned.

Franco (10) working with aerobic organisms, stated they were
mostly found in soils where the nitrogen content was 0.05 to 0.15% and
no microorganisms developed in soils where sodium chloride was found in
quantities exceeding 0.2% or where sulphur was over 0.06%.

Van Itallie (hh,h§) mentioned that in addition to the
potassium/sodium ratios found in plants, there also existed a similar
ratio in soils. Decoux and Simon (5) found that the content of exchange-
able potassium and sodium decreased with increasing depth from the soil
surface and that the ratio of exchangeable potassium.to sodium varied from

0.5 to 2.58.

-7-

Pehelkin and Kozlova (35) showed that potassium was more strongly
absorbed as a bicarbonate than chloride, and that the addition of sodium
chloride increased fixation of potassium. Joffee and Levine (20) observed
that when potassium was fixed there was usually a decrease in the exchange
capacity, but that the relationship was not equivalent. Sodium, calcium,
magnesium, boron and strontium were not fixed by the soil.

Some investigators reported other observations dealing with

1

organic soils. Pierre and Scarseth (36) suggested that it was probable
that if a soil contained a large proportion of exchangeable sodium, it
Imight through hydrolysis of the exchange complex show a lower degree of
base saturation at the various pH values than would a similar soil contain-
ing a greater proportion of exchangeable calcium.

McGeorge (28) believed that as the carbonhydrates of the soil were
decomposed the phenolic hydroxyl groups were rendered free to act and the
exchange capacity of the complex increased accordingly. However, Mitchell
(31) thought that lignin or a derivative of a very similar nature was
responsible for the base exchange. Muller (32) concluded there apparently
'was no one substance wholly responsible for base exchange in organic
materials.

Soils investigated by Pierre and Scarseth (36) failed to show

any relationship between the percentage of organic matter and the

percentage of base saturation of soils with like pH values.

PROCEDURE

reenhouse Experiment: Four organic soils were obtained from the
following locations in Michigan during the spring of 1951 from the
upper twelve inches of the soil profile.

Soil 1 - Muck Experimental Farm (Clinton County)

2 - Scaffer Farm (Shiawasse County)
3 - Olsen Farm (Montcalm County)
h - College Farm, Mt. H0pe Rd. (Ingham County)

Sugar beets grown on two of these soils (2, b) have shown an
increase in yield from sodium chloride applications.

The soils were dried to an apparent optimum moisture content,
sieved through a 1/h inch screen, then uniformly mixed and a five gram
sample was dried to a constant weight at 110°C to determine the moisture
content.

Determinations of pH were made on triplicate samples of air-
dried soil by the glass electrode method.

The fertilizer exclusive of sodium chloride, which was common

table salt, was prepared from C.P. chemicals (ammonium sulphate, mono—

potassium phosphate and potassium chloride). The treatments were as

 

follows:

Sodium Chloride

Fertilizer* Pounds per acre
5—10—10 None
5-10-10 1000
5-10-10 2000
5.10.30 None
5-10-30 1000
5-10-30 2000
5-10-60 None
None None

 

*Sufficient fertilizer carriers were added to each pot, to supply an
equivalent of 2000p0unds per acre of the various fertilizer analyses
indicated.

-9-

Ammonium nitrate was applied in solution at tie rate of 200
pounds per acre once during the growing season.

Boron in the form of boric acid was also added, in solution at
a rate equivalent to ho pounds per acre of borax.

The soil and fertilizer, plus ho; chlordane, at the rate of
10 pounds per acre, were mixed thoroughly and placed in three and four
gallon pots. The chlordane was added to the soil to control wire worms.

On October 16, 1951, sugar beet seed, commercial grade 215 x 216,
were seeded 3/h of an inch deep in potted soils.

Prior to seeding, the seeds received a treatment of "Arasan" as
a preventive measure for control of soil borne organisms.

The beets were thinned, once after three weeks and again at six
weeks, to two and three seedlings per 3 and h gallon pot respectively.’

The soils were maintained at optimum moisture conditions by
periodically bringing the pots up to weight with distilled water. Notes
were recorded and photographs taken of the plants to show differences that
developed.

The beets were harvested March 3, 1952 and fresh and dry weights
of roots and leaves were recorded.

The untreated soils ( air dried) were analyzed for exchangeable
potassium and sodium. In addition the following properties were determined:
pH, exchangeable hydrogen, total exchange capacity, exchangeable cations

(total bases), per cent base saturation, and per cent organic matter.

.10...

Missing yield data was calculated by the following formula:

x _ (t Tn) - (b Bn) - S
- (t '1) (b *1)

 

Field Experiments: Table beets were sampled weekly beginning July 29, 1951,
up to harvest time, September 2h, 1951, from an experiment at the Muck
Experimental Farm.

The fertilizer treatments, replicated four times were as follows:

Sodium Chloride

 

Fertilizer* Pounds per acre
0-10—10 ' None
0-10-10 500
0-10-20 ' None
0-10-20 ~ 500
0-10-30 None
0-10-30 500
0-10-60 None
0-10-60 500

 

*Sufficient fertilizer carriers were added to supply an equivalent of
1000 pounds per acre of the various fertilizer analyses indicated.

Fresh and oven dry weights of both leaves and roots were recorded.
Total potassium and sodium determinations were made on oven-dried tissue,
and exchangeable potassium and sodium determinations made from samples

taken from plots, the day prior to harvest.

.11-

METHODS OF CHEMICAL ANALYSIS

Base Exchange Capacity Determination (3h)

 

'Weigh out 5 grams of air dry soil into a 250 m1. erlenmqyer flask
and add 100 ml. of neutral N ammonium acetate solution. Shake flask for
several minutes, and allow to stand overnight. Transfer contents into a
Buchner funnel, fitted with moist 5.5 cm. Whatman No. h2 filter paper and
apply gentle suction. Leach soil with an additional hOO m1. of N ammonium
acetate, adding small portions at a time and using gentle suction, so leach-
ing process will require not less than 1 hour. Save filtrate.

'Wash out the excess ammonium acetate from the ammonium saturated
soil with 200 ml. of 95% ethyl alcohol, using small portions at a time and
draining well each time. 'Then leach soil with h50 ml. of acidified
(.005 N HCl) 10 percent NaCl solution to extract adsorbed ammonium from
soil adding small portions at a time and draining well between additions.

Transfer the sodium.chloride extract to a kjeldahl flask, add
25 ml. of 1 N NaOH, and distill 200 ml. into 60 ml. of standard 0.2 N HQSOh.
Titrate the excess acid with standard 0.1N NaOH, using methyl red as the
indicator.

Note: To determine if all of the occluded ammonia has been removed
by leaching with ethyl alcohol, add 1 drop of Nessler's reagent to 3 drops
of the leachate. Compare color obtained against a color chart for ammonia.
A very pale yellow color indicates approximately 1 part per million of

ammonia present.

Determination of Total.Bases:(2)

The collected ammonium acetate filtrate is evaporated to dryness
on a hot plate. Transfer the residue to a porcelain evaporating dish and
gradually ignite at 550°C, for 30 minutes. After cooling, add a calculated
excess of 0.2 N HCl, warm the solution and rub bottom of the dish.with a
rubber policeman. Add 5 drops of methyl orange indicator. The solutions
should be red. Back titrate with 0.1 N NaOH. Calculate the millie-
quivalents of bases per 100 grams of soil.

Per Cent Base Saturation

 

From the base exchange capacity and total base determinations the
per cent base saturation may be determined in the following manner:

Total.bases
Base exchange capacity

 

X 100 giper cent base saturation

 

Exchangeable Hydrogen
From the base exchange capacity and the total bases in a soil,
the exchangeable hydrogen may be calculated in the following manner:
Base exchange capacity - total bases =rExchangeable hydrogen

The Determination of Potassium.and Sodiumggy the Flame Photometer (hQ)

 

Extraction and Determination of Exchangeable Sodium and Potassium in Soil

 

Place 5 grams of air dry, 20 mesh sieved soil, into a 250 ml.
flask and add about 0.5 grams of ammonium oxalate crystals and 50 ml.
(2 N ammonium acetate and 0.0h N ammonium oxalate) extracting solution.
Shake flask intermittently for one-half hour. Filter suspension on a moist

5.5 cm. No. h2 Whatman filter paper in a Buchner funnel. Adjust the

.13-

suction to a filtration rate of about two or three drops per second.
Rinse flask three times with 15 ml. of extracting solution each
time, and add rinsings to the funnel after previous additions have
completely passed through.

Place filtrate in a 100 ml. volumetric flask; rinse suction
flask with about 5 ml. of extracting solution and add rinsing to
volumetric flask. Bring up to volume with extracting solution and
determine concentrations of sodium and potassium with flame photometer.
Extraction and Determination of Sodium and Potassium in Plant Tissue

Place 1.0 grams of plant tissue ground to pass a sieve with
1 mm. openings, into a 250 ml. flask and add about 0.1 grams of ammonium
oxalate crystals and 100 ml. (2 N ammonium acetate and 0.0hN ammonium
oxalate) extracting solution. Shake intermittently for 1 hour. Filter
suspensions as done with soil extract. The extract is nOW'ready for
testing with flame photometer.

Determination and Calculation of Sodium or Potassium in Soils and Plant
Tissue by Flame Photometer

 

warm up the flame photometer for at least ten minutes. Locate
the position of the sodium or potassium whichever is to be used first,
'wave length by using a standard solution. An internal standard of lithum
chloride is not necessary.

For use in translating dial readings to parts per million
sodium or potassium in solution, usually two graphs are needed, one for

unknown solutions containing up to 100 p.p.m. of sodium or potassium,

.m-

and the other for solutions containing from 100 to 500 p.p.m.

These are prepared by taking dial readings for a series of standard
solutions ranging in concentration from 0 to 100 and from 100 to 500
p.p.m. of sodium or potassium, and then plotting them against parts
per million of the element in solution. .The parts per million of
sodium or potassium in the unknown solutions can then be read directly
from the graph.

Pour unknown into the funnel of the flame photometer and
record scale reading. By reading from the prepared graph p.p.m. can
be determined. The percentage of potassium or sodium in plant tissue
can be found in the following manner:

(m1. of extract) (p.p.m. K or Na in extract) (0.00Cl)
weight of sample

 

% K or Na 2

The milliequivalents of potassium or sodium per 100 grams of
soil can be found in tje following manner:

_ mgms. K or Na/lOO gms. soil

 

hilliequivalents K or Na/lOO gms. soil
' meq. weight of K or Na

or to find pounds of exchangeable potassium or sodium per acre:

(ml. extract) (p.p.m. of standard) (dial reading) (0.005)

 

Pounds per acre 2 _ 1
weight of sample

Organic latter and Total Ash

 

Place 5 grams of oven dry doil into a weighed flat bottomed
fused silica dish of about hO ml. capacity, which has previously

been ignited. The dish with the sample is then placed in an electric

.15-

muffle furnace and slowlyignited at SOD-600°C overnight. Allow to
cool in a desiccator and weigh. The loss in weight is due to the loss of
volatile constituents, which in peat and muck analysis is taken as the

organic matter content.

~16-
DISCUSSION OF EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS.

Greenhouse Experiment: As shown by the data in Table 1, the four soils
did not vary greatly in their exchangeable hydrogen content. Each soil
was found to possess a high absorptive capacity for cations and con-
tained a large amount of replaceable bases.

There was no relationship found between pH and total exchange
capacity or exchangeable cations. However, there was an apparent
direct relationship noted between pH and percent base saturation and an
inverse relationship between pH and exchangeable hydrogen.

The total exchange capacity was highest in soil 1, 166.5
milliequivalents, and lowest in soil h, lhl.3 milliequivalents. The
amount of exchangeable cations followed in the same order, soil 13>
soil 2=>soil 3:>soil h, although the difference between soil 3 and h
was negligable.

The percent base saturation ranged between 65.9 and 72.9, with

soil 1 having the highest degree of saturation.

Table 1— Some chemical prOperties of four soils.

 

 

 

 

Killiequivalents
4per 100 grams of air dry soil <_
Total Per cent
Exchangeable exchange Exchangeable base
Soil pH hydrogen capacity cations saturation
1 6.7 h5.1 166.5 121.h 72.9
2 6.3 55.1 161.6 106.5 ' 65.9
3 6.8 h1.0 1hl.6 100.6 71.0

h 6.8 h2.h lhl.3 . 98.9 70.0

 

-17-

The organic matter contents, as shown in Table 2, of soils
1, 2, 3, and h were 82.6, 76.2, 75.6 and 69.6 percent respectively,
with corresponding ash contents of l?.h, 23.9, 2h.5, and 30.h percent.

The potassium and sodium content of the soils varied greatly.
McCool (29) working with fertilizer fixation of organic soils, noted,
that when the ash content was 10 percent or less, the soils possessed
a low capacity to take up potassium and phosphorus, and this capacity
increased with an increasing mineral content or stage of decay. Staker
and Jornlin (h3) also found the lowest concentration of potassium in ‘
virgin profiles and the highest concentration of potassium in soils
that had been cultivated over a long period.

The lowest exchangeable potassium was found in soil 1, which
also contained the highest organic matter content. Soil h, having the
highest ash content, had the highest percentage of exchangeable
potassium. It is believed that this situation, is the result of a
recent fertilizer application and not due to a high potassium
base saturation.

Soils 2 and 3 were similar with respect to their content of
ash and exchangeable potassium.

The percent exchangeable sodium was highest inesoil 3 and
lowest in soil 1, yet sugar beets grown on these_soils, as shown
in Table h and 5, produced significant yield response from salt.

Soils 2 and u had nearly the same concentration of exchangeable sodium

but sugar beets grown on these soils did not give any significant

.18..

increase in yield, under greenhouse conditions with the addition of
salt. However, at the lower level of potassium (soil 2) and at
both potassium.levels (soil h), higher yields were obtained as a
result of salt applications.

As shown by these data, yield increases of sugar beets grown
in the greenhouse, due to applications of salt, were not associated

with the amount of exchangeable sodium.

Table 2- Exchangeable potassium and sodium, organic matter, and
ash content of four soils.*

 

 

Per cent Milliequivalents

 

 

 

Organic Aper 100 grams of air dry;soil
§3§l matter Ash K Na
1. 82.6 17.1. 0.22. 0.09
2 _ 76.2 23.9 0.51 0.17
3. 75.6 21.5 0.143 ' 1.01;
h 69.6 30.b 3.63 0.13

 

*OrganiC’matter determined by igniting at 500—6000 C.

The amount of exchangeable potassium and sodium found in the
four soils after harvest of the sugar beets is shown in Table 3.

In general, the exchangeable potassium contents of the soils
treated with different amounts of potassium were proportional to the
potassium applied with no observable effect from.salt applications.

The exchangeable potassium content of the soils, receiving a S-lO-lO

-19-

fertilizer, was approximately the same as that content found in the un-
fertilized soils.

There was less exchangeable sodium remaining in all soils at the
lower level of potassium applications, indicating a higher absorption by
the plants, of sodium, at the lower potassium levels.

It should be pointed out (Table 3) that soils 1 and 3 had lower
concentrations of exchangeable potassium and sodium than soils 2 and h
when the soils were fertilized with 5-10-30 plus salt, again supporting
the idea that where potassium is limited in the soil, sodium is absorbed
by plants in larger amounts. Data reported by Van Schreven (h6) is in
agreement with this observation.

The exchangeable sodium increased with increasing increments of

salt in all soils.

Table 3— The effect of potassium and sodium levels on the sodium and
potassium content of four soils after harvest of sugar beets,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1952.*
Hilliequivalents per
grams of air dry soil
Treatment Potassium Sodium
Pounds salt Soil Soil
Fertilizer%* per acre ‘1 2 3’ _H*_ 1 2 3 If
5-10-10 None 0.12 0.23 0.23 0.19 0.03 0.0h 0.03 0.0h
S-10-10 2000 0.16 0.17 0.17 0.18 0.07 0.10 0.36 1.33
5-10-30 None 0.22 0.30 0.29 0.3h 0.03 0.02 0.0h 0.03
5-10-30 1000 0.21 0.h8 0.31 0.h2 0.15 0.h7 0.18 0.35
5-10-30 2000 0.15 0.u1 0.23 0.h1 0.u1 1.27 0.h7 1.82
5—10-60 None 0.27 0.52 0.52 1.55 0.05 0.07 0.0h 0.05
None None 0.12 0.37 0.2h 0.23 0.01 0.03 0.01 0.01

 

*Exchangeable potassium and sodium content expressed

as K and Na.
**Ferti1izer was applied at the rate of 2000 pounds per acre.

-20—

As shown by Table h, on soil 1, a significant increase in
yield of sugar beet roots (1% level) was obtained from pots treated
with 5-10-10 fertilizer and 2000 pounds salt per acre over yields of
pots treated with fertilizer alone. Yield increases (53 level) were
also obtained from soil 1, treated with 5-10-30 fertilizer and 1000
pounds of salt per acre. Yields from pots treated with 5-10-60 fertilizer
were the highest of any treatment, (Figure l), but notsignificantly so.

‘With soil 2, similar trends as found with soil 1, were shown
with the 5—10-10 fertilizer treatment, but due to the variability of
data no significant differences were obtained between any treatments.

The yield of sugar beet roots, produced on soil 3 (Table 5)
was significantly increased by the 5—10—10 plus salt treatment, and
there was little further increase in yields of roots as a result of
higher levels of potassium, with or without salt.

There was no significant yield increase of sugar beet roots
grown on soil h with any treatment. There was a trend toward higher
yields when increasing increments of salt with the 5—10-10 and 5-10—30
fertilizer treatments were applied. These yields were comparable to
yields from pots treated with a 5-10-60 fertilizer.

An interesting observation was made (Figure 2) in which beet
plants growing in pots treated with salt resisted wilting longer, than
those plants grown in soils with no salt added. This phenomenon,
occured in the greenhouse between temperature ranges of 90 to 1023?.
Sayre and Vittum.(37) reported that soil treated with salt produced table
beets that were larger, stronger and had more erect leaves than plants

grown on soil without salt.

Table 8- The effect of potassium.and sodium levels on the yield of sugar

-21-

beet roots grown in the greenhouse on soils 1 and 2, 1952.

 

 

Yield (gramsgperpot)*

 

 

 

Treatment
Pounds salt Soil 1 Soil 2
Fertilizer** ‘per acre 1 2 3 8 Mean 1 2 3 h .ean
5-10-10 None 27.8 23.8 16.5 19.8 21.8 66.8 28.6 39.8 88.2 88.9
5-10-10 1000 27.9 29.8 85.2 85.6 37.1 38.8 58.6 38.8 59.1 86.8
5-10—10 2000 38.6 73.0 86.0 79.5 59.3 51.6 60.6 82.0 69.1 65.8
5-10-30 None 32.8 35.8 83.8 62.6 83.7 59.6 80.8 71.8 82.0 63.6
5-10-30 1000 68.0 56.2 77.0 51.8 63.2 68.0 88.2 78.8 87.9 58.6
5-10-30 2000 60.2 56.3 55.8 67.6 59.9 89.2 83.8 81.9 78.7 62.3
5-10-60 None 57.9 39.6 67.8 93.0 68.6 67.7 30.6 73.2 101.3 68.2
None None 17.0 17.2 15.1 18.8 16.9 36.7 36.8 88.6 81.6 39.9
L.S.D.
1% level 22.9 N.S.
5% level 16.8 N.S.

 

*Oven—dry weight at 90° C.
'**Fertilizer was applied at the rate of 2000 pounds per acre.

Analysis of variance of yield data of sugar beet roots, soils 1 and 2.

 

 

 

 

Source of Degrees of Sum of squares Mean square F
variance freedom Soil 1 Soil 2 Soil 1 ' Soil 2 Soil 1 Soil 2
Total 31 18171.0 10879.6

Replication 3 930.6 1301.3 310.2 833.8 2.07 1.58
Treatment 7 10099.0 3261.2 1882.7 865.9 9.68%* 1.65
Error 21 3181.8 5917.1 189.6 281.8

 

-**Significant at 1% level.

-22-

Table 5- The effect of potassium and sodium levels on the yield of sugar
beet roots grown in the greenhouse on soils 3 and 8, 1952.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treatment Yield (grams per pot)*
Pounds salt Soil 3 Soil'H

Fertilizer%* 4per acre 1 2 h, 3 lean l 2 3 Lean
5-10—10 None 82.7 88.7 77.6 69.5 39.7 38.8 50.9 83.0
5-10—10 1000 106.1 86.7 107.8 100.2 83.8 50.7 56.2 50.2
5—10—10 2000 93.7 108.8 115.8 106.0 70.7 56.2 53.7 60.2
5-10-30 None 99.8 118.5 102.8 106.8 85.2 75.6 36.7 52.5
5-10-30 1000 128.6 80.8 118.2 109.1 88.6 63.3 78.7 63.5
5-10-30 2000 127.8 108.9 95.7 109.5 86.2 73.0 89.2 69.5
5-10—60 None 97.8 112.8 95.3 102.0 87.2 72.8 67.6 62.8
None None 61.7 68.6 58.0# 60.1 56.8 81.2 88.5# 88.8

L.s.0. ‘
1% level 37.5 N.S.
5% level 27.0 N.S-

 

*Oven-dry weight at 90

CC.

'**Eertilizer was applied at the rate of 2000 pounds per acre.
#Missing values supplied by use of formula (see procedure).

Analysis of variance of yield data of sugar beet roots, soils 3 and h.

 

 

Source of Degrees of

Sum of squares
Soil 3 5oi1‘8

Mean square
Soil 3 Soilgfi’ Soil 3 Soil'h

F

 

variance freedom
Total 22
Replication 2
Treatment 7
Error 13

11325.5 8738.9

369.7
7827.1 1686.0

873.2

3025.2 2683.2

157.7
1118.2

151.3

138.2

123.2 1.08

0.92

280.9 7.39** 1.80

 

**Significant at 1%

level.

Table 6— The effect of potassium and sodium levels on the yield of sugar

-23-

beet leaves grown in the greenhouse on four soils, 1952.

 

 

Treatment

Pounds salt

Mean yield (gramsper pot)*

 

 

Fertilizer** per acre Soil 1 Soil 2 Soil 3 801178
5-10-10 None 56.0 58.3 72.3 35.7
5-10—10 1000 71.1 58.3 77.2 38.2
5-10—10 2000 71.3 58.6 73.8 37.9
5-10-30 None 78.5 53.8 92.6 50.6
5—10-30 1000 68.8 53.9 71.8 85.8
5-10-30 2000 69.3 59.8 76.9 51.2
5—10—60 None 65.1 57.5 86.2 88.6
None None 27.8 88.8 82.9 25.7

 

*Oven-dry weight 90°C.

*errtilizer was applied at the rate of 2000 pounds per acre.

In general, more leaf growth was noted in the fertilized pots,
as shown.by the data in Table 6 and Figure 3. There was considerable loss
of leaves throughout the growing period, which tended to mask treatment
differences and increase the variability of the data.

At harvest, the various stages of potassium deficiencies were re—
corded and can be seen in Figure 8, Nimber 2. The first leaf on the left,
shows a crinkling along the edges, with a slight browning and was termed

"slightly deficient"; the middle leaf showed more advanced stages of

-28-

breakdown, with necrotic areas appearing near the mid-rib and more pro-
nounced browninj of edges, and was termed, "moderately deficient"; and
the last leaf on the right with severe necroses, was termed, "strongly
deficient". The appearance of these symptoms was associated with the
potassium content in the leaves and also with the sodium content in
the soil. When the potassium content in the leaves (Table 7) was 1.72
percent or higher and when salt was applied to the soil, no potassium
deficiency symptoms appeared. At lower potassium concentrations of the
leaf, regardless of whether salt had been applied or not, potassium de-
ficiency symptoms were evident.

These observations are in agreement with the data reported by
Goodall and Gregory (11), whose summary of plant tissue analysis work
of numerous invertigators, showed that when the concentration of
potassium in the younger mature leaves of sugar beets was less than
2.00 percent, then the potassium supply in the soil was inadequate.

Applications of salt to the soil increased the sodium content
of the sugar beet leaves, as shown in Table 7, and apparently the sodium
content of the leaves was not influenced by the potassium levels in the
soil. Hoffman (18) observed that sodium was found in greater abundance
in the leaves, where it apparently had displaced a certain amount of
potash, than in the roots of the sugar beet plant.

'With soils 1 and 3, at the lower level of potassium, the per-
cent of potassium in the leaves decreased with increasing increments

of salt added to the soil. A similar situation was noted in soil 3, when

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-26-

a 5-10—30 fertilizer was used. Results by Goodall and Gregory (11)
support this view, that where the potassium levels are low, there
would be lower limiting values for potassium when the sodium supply in
the soil was high than when it was low.

According to the data in Table 8, there is a lower precent
of potassium and sodium in the roots of sugar beets than in the leaves,
with less variation due to treatments which indicates that the anaLysis
of leaf tissue would be more indicative of variations in the amounts

of potassium and salt applied to the soil.

-27-

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Fig. 1. The effect of potassium and sodium levels on the growth of
sugar beet roots on soil 1. 0) no fertilizer or salt; 1) 5-10-10;
2) 5-10—10, 1000 pounds salt; 3) 5-10-10, 2000 pounds salt; 8) 5-10-30;
5) 5-10-30, 1000 pounds salt; 6) 5-10-30, 2000 pounds salt; 7) 5-13-60.

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.32-

Field Experiment: The data in Table 9 shows that as the table beets
matured, the potassium content of the leaves, in general, decreased with
some variation between sampling dates observed. The same trend occurred
with sodium, with a greater variation between sampling dates.

The concentration of potassium in plants, grown on soil treated
with 0—10—10 fertilizer, was lower than that found in plants growing on
plots to which higher levels of potassium were applied.

The concentration of sodium in the leaves was not affected by
the addition of 500 pounds of salt per acre at any level of potassium.

According to the data in Table 10, a lower percentage of potassium
'was found in the roots than in the leaves with very little variation due
to seasonal fluctuation. Potassium levels of the soil did not affect the
potassium and sodium content of the roots. In general a slightly higher
sodium content of the roots was found in plants harvested from plots
that had received salt.

As shown by data in Table 11, the exchangeable potassium of the
soil increased with each increment of applied potassium and the exchange-
able sodium content also increased when 500 pounds of salt per acre was
added. The exchangeable sodium content was lower in plots treated with
0-10-10 than these plots treated with higher levels of potassium, which
might indicate a partial substitution of sodium for potassium in the
plants at lower levels of potassium.

There was no significant difference in either years, 1951
and 1952, in yield of table beets due to treatments, although the

lowest average yield was obtained from plotstreated with O-lO-lO in 1952.

-33-

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.35-

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table ll—- The effect of potassium and sodium levels on the yield of table
beets and on the potassium and sodium content of the soil, Muck
Experimental.Farm, 1951 and 1952.*

Treatment Soil*** Mean yield%%**
Pounds salt Mean content Tons per acre
Fertilizer** pper acre K Na 1951 __l952
0-10—10 None 0.68 0.31 29.8 19.6
0-10-10 500 0.62 2.03 29.9 23.2
0-10-20 None 0.98 0.63 29.2 25.3
0-10-20 500 1.08 2.50 31.5 28.2
0-10—30 None 1.88 0.89 31.6 21.8
0-10—30 500 2.00 2.37 31.8 22.5
0-10-60 None 3.58 0.80 33.5 25.7
0-10-60 500 3.55 2.50 ‘ 32.0 25.7

 

#Exchangeaole potassium and sodium expressed as percent K and Na.
*fiFertilizer applied at the rate of 1000 pounds per acre.

***Eor 1951

****Average of h replications.

Analysis of variance of yield data of table beets, Muck Experimental Farm,

1951 and 1952.

 

 

Source of’Degrees of Sum of sguares
variance freedom

 

 

Total 31
Replication 3
Fertilizer 3

Error 9
Salt 1
Fert. x salt 3
Error _ l2

 

 

 

1251 1952
330.1 h52.7
70.6 29.9
h5.5 102.0
135.8 137.9
1.1 h.9
13.7 23.6
63.h 15h.h

Mean square F

1951. 1252 p1951 1252
23.5 10.0 1.56 0.65
15.2 316.0 1001 2022
15.1 15.3

1.1 h.9 0.21 0.38
8.6 7.9 0.87 0.61

5.3

 

12.9

 

—36-

The object of this study was to investigate factors that might
be associated with the differential yield response of sugar beets and
table beets grown on different organic soils, to sodium chloride ap-
plications.

Four organic soils were obtained from various locations in
Hichigan and treated with four levels of potassium and three levels
of salt under greenhouse conditions. Sugar beet seeds were planted on
October 16, 1951 and the crop harvested on Yarch 3, 1952. Fresh and
oven dry weights of roots and leaves were recorded.

The untreated soils were analyzed for the following: Exchange-
able potassium and sodium, pH, exchangeable hydrogen, total exchange
capacity, exchangeable cations, percent base saturation, and percent
organic matter.

The exchangeable potassium and sodium of the soils and the
total potassium and sodium of beet leaves and roots were analyzed
after harvest.

Table beets were sampled weekly, beginning July 29, up to
harvest, September 2h, 1951, from an experiment at the Kuck Experimental
Farm. The fertilizer treatments consisted of four levels of potassium
and two levels of sodium chloride.

Fresh and oven dry weights of leaves and roots were recorded
and total potassium and sodium determinations were made on leaf and

root tissue.

-37-

The following observations were made:

1. The yield responses of sugar beets grown on four soils
to aaplications of salt were not the same in the greenhouse as reported
under field conditions.

2. Yield increases of sugar beets grown in the greenhouse, due
to applications of salt, were not associated with the amount of exchange-
able sodium before the salt was added.

3. In general, the exchangeable potassium contents of the soils
treated with different amounts of potassium were proportional to the
potaSsium applied with no observable change in exchangeable potassium as
a result of.the salt treatment.

h. Less exchangeable sodium was found in all soils, after
cropping, at the lower level than at the higher levels of potassium
applications.

.5. There was a significant yield difference of sugar beet rootS‘
obtained from the application of salt to soils 1 and 3, and while there
was no significant yield difference Observed in soils 2 and h, there was
an increase in yield of roots, on these two soils, when treated with the
lower rate of potassium.

6. The exchangeable sodium content increased in all soils with
increasing increments of salt.

7. Where the concentration of potassium in the sugar beet leaf
was 1.72 percent or higher and when.salt was applied to the soil, no
potassium deficiency symptoms appeared. However, in absence of a salt

application, potassium deficiency symptoms were evident when the per-

.3 8...

cent of potassium was less than 1.77.

8. The sodium content of the leaves increased with increasing
increments of salt to the soil under greenhouse conditions and the
sodium content was not influenced by the potassium levels in the soil.

9. 'With lower levels of potassium and with the addition of
increments of salt, the concentration of potassium in the leaves
generally was reduced.

10. There was a higher percentage of potassium and sodium in
the sugar beet and table beet leaves than in the roots with all treat-
ments.

11. As the table beet matured, the percent of potassium.in
the leaves decreased, but the percent of sodium remained fairly constant.

12. Under field conditions the concentration of sodium in the
leaves of table beets, was not affected by the addition of salt at any
level of potassium application. 8

13. An apparent substitution of sodium for potassium, in the
nutrition of the sugar beets, occurred on soils with a low initial ex-
changeable potassium content treated with the 10 percent potash fertilizer.
In view of this observation, it would appear that the differential
response of sugar beets grown under field conditions could be influenced
by either initial low exchangeable potassium content of soils or by high

levels of potassium applications.

1.
2.
3.
h.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

IO.

12.

13.

.39-
BIBLIOGRAPHY

Andrlik, K and J. Urban, 1909. Common salt as a fertilizer for
sugar beets. Jour. Chem. Soc. 96, No. 560, 11:515.

Bray, R. H. and F. M. Willhite, 1929. The determination of total
replaceable bases in soils. Ind. E 0. Chem. Annal. Ed. 1:1hh.

Browne, F. 3., 1950. Organic soil management for vegetables.
Dept. of Ag. Ottawa, Canada, Pub. 853.

Decoux; L., J. Vanderwaeren, G. Roland and M. Simon, l9hl. Sodium
and sugar beets. Chem. Abs. 35, h898.

and M. Simon, l9hh. Effect of sodium and its ratio to
potash on certain sugar beet soils. Chem. Abs. hO, 2918.

, J. vaxderwaeren,and M. Simon, l9hh. Soda, potash and
sugar beet. Chem. Abs. hO, 976.

Delemenchuk, M. I., and A. S. Mbrozov, 1939. Sodium chloride as a
fertilizer for sugar beets. Chem. Abs. 36, h263.

Dorph-Peterson, K., and F. Steenbjerg, l9h8. Fertilizers containing
sodium. Chem. Abs. h3, 7173.

Frakes, M. J., 1950. Reports by the Research Department of the
Michigan Sugar Company. Unpublished data.

Franco, M., l9h0. Microbial degradation of cellulose and reclamation
. of the soil. Biol. Rev. 29:11-3h.

Goodall, D. W. and F. G. Gregory, 19h7. Chemical composition of
plants as an index of their nutritional status. Imperial Bureau
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{-0

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