T H E Y I E L D RE S P O N S E T O AND ABSORPTION O F SODIUM. BORON, P OT AS S IU M , AND C A L C I U M F R O M D I F F E R E N T SOIL L E V E L S BY S E V E R A L V A R I E T I E S OF F I F T E E N V E G E T A B L E CROPS By JOHN C L A Y T O N L I N G L E A THESIS S u b m i t t e d to t h e School of G r a d u a t e S t u d i e s of M i c h i g a n S t a t e C o l l e g e of A g r i c u l t u r e a n d A p p li e d S c i e n c e in p a r t i a l f u l f i l l m e n t of t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r t h e d e g r e e of D O C T O R O F PHILOSOPHY D e p a r t m e n t of H o r t i c u l t u r e 1954 P roQ uest N um ber: 10008366 All rights reserved IN FO R M A TIO N TO A LL USERS The quality o f this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy subm itted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a com plete m anuscript and there are m issing pages, these will be noted. Also, if m aterial had to be rem oved, a note will indicate the deletion. uest P roQ uest 10008366 Published by P roQ uest LLC (2016). C opyright o f the D issertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This w ork is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code M icroform Edition © P roQ uest LLC. P roQ uest LLC. 789 E ast E isenhow er P arkw ay P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 - 1346 A C K N O W LED GEM EN TS T h e a u t h o r w i s h e s to e x p r e s s h i s s i n c e r e a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r t h e s u p p o r t a n d e n c o u r a g e m e n t o f D r . H. B . T u k e y . a n d to D r . R . L C a r o l u s f o r h i s g u i d a n c e a n d a c t i v e a s s i s t a n c e t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u r s e of th is investigation. T h a n k s a r e due to D r s . L . M . T u r k . S. H. W i t t w e r . L e o W . M e r i c l e . a n d R . L . Cook, m e m b e r s of t h e a u t h o r ’s G u i d a n c e C om m ittee. He a l s o w i s h e s to e x p r e s s h i s g r a t i t u d e to h i s wife A d e l a i d e f o r h e r a s s i s t a n c e in t h e c h e m i c a l a n d s t a t i s t i c a l a n a l y s e s a n d t h e p r e p a r a t i o n of t h i s m a n u s c r i p t . S p e c i a l t h a n k s a r e d u e to D r . A . L . K e n w o r t h y f o r t h e u s e o f h i s l a b o r a t o r y s p a c e a n d f l a m e s p e c t r o p h o t o m e t e r , a n d to D r . S a m A s e n f o r h i s s u g g e s t i o n s on m a k i n g t h e b o r o n d e t e r m i n a t i o n s . T h e a u t h o r i s g r a t e f u l to t h e A m e r i c a n P o t a s h I n s t i t u t e , Inc . f o r i t s f i n a n c i a l a s s i s t a n c e d u r i n g t h e c o u r s e of t h e s e i n v e s t i g a t i o n s . TA B LE OF C O N T EN T S Page INTRODUCTION . 1 L IT E R A T U R E REVIEW 3 Boron . 3 Sodium . 10 V arietal D ifferences 17 M E T H O D S A ND M A T E R I A L S . 20 Field Experim entation 20 G reenhouse Experim entation . 24 A nalytical P ro c e d u re . 25 P r e s e n t a t i o n of R e s u l t s . 28 RESULTS . 29 T otal Yields . 29 P la n t C o m p o s i t i o n . 39 G re e n h o u s e Studies . 60 DISCUSSION . 67 I n f l u e n c e o f S o d iu m on P o t a s s i u m a n d C a l c i u m R e m o v a l by C r o p s ...................................................... 68 R e l a t i o n of B o r o n R e s p o n s e to Bo ro n A c c u m u l a t i o n . 73 S o d i u m - B o r o n R e l a t i o n s h i p s ......................... 76 V a r i e t a l D i f f e r e n c e s in I o n A c c u m u l a t i o n . 79 SUMMARY . LITE R A T U R E CITED 83 . 88 LIST OF TABLES TABLE I. T h e P la n t F a m i l i e s . C r o p s a n d V a r i e t i e s R e p r e s e n t e d in t h e S t u d y ............................................................................................................. I I . T h e E f f e c t of S o d i u m A p p l i c a t i o n on t h e T o t a l P la n t Y i e l d o f V a r i e t i e s of S e l e c t e d V e g e t a b l e C r o p s ............................. III. T h e E f f e c t of B o r o n on t h e T o t a l Y i e l d s of S e l e c t e d V e g e ­ t a b l e C r o p s .................................................. IV . R e l a t i v e Y i e l d s of S q u a s h a n d M u s k m e l o n V a r i e t i e s a s I n ­ f l u e n c e d by B o r o n at T w o P o t a s s i u m L e v e l s . . . . V. S o d i u m C o n t e n t of V e g e t a b l e C r o p V a r i e t i e s a s I n f l u e n c e d ................................................................... by S o d i u m A p p l i c a t i o n V I . B o ro n C o n t e n t of V e g e t a b l e C r o p V a r i e t i e s a s I n f l u e n c e d by B or o n A p p l i c a t i o n s ............................................................... VII. Page T h e P o t a s s i u m C o n t e n t of V a r i e t i e s of S e l e c t e d V e g e t a b l e C r o p s a s I n f l u e n c e d by P o t a s s i u m A p p l i c a t i o n . . . . 23 30 33 38 40 43 46 VIII . T h e C a l c i u m C o n t e n t of S e v e r a l V a r i e t i e s W i th in V e g e ­ t a b l e C r o p s a s I n f l u e n c e d by pH 49 I X . B o r o n C o n t e n t of S e l e c t e d V e g e t a b l e C r o p s a s I n f l u e n c e d b y S o d i u m A p p l i c a t i o n .............................................................. 51 X . B o r o n C o n te n t of S e l e c t e d V e g e t a b l e C r o p s a s I n f l u e n c e d by BCron A p p l i c a t i o n s at D i f f e r e n t S o di u m L e v e l s . . . 52 XI. T h e P o t a s s i u m C o n te n t of S e l e c t e d V e g e t a b l e C r o p s a s I n ­ f l u e n c e d by S o d i u m a n d P o t a s s i u m A p p l i c a t i o n s . . . . X I I . T h e C a l c i u m C o n te n t of S e l e c t e d V e g e t a b l e C r o p s a s I n ­ f l u e n c e d by pH a n d S o d iu m A p p l i c a t i o n . . . . . 56 57 TABLE XIII . Page T h e S o d iu m C o n t e n t of S e l e c t e d V e g e t a b l e C r o p s a s I n ­ f l u e n c e d by P o t a s s i u m A p p l i c a t i o n ..................................................... X IV . A n a l y s i s of V a r i a n c e o f G r e e n h o u s e C e l e r y E x p e r i ­ m ents . X V. T h e Y ie ld . B o ro n , a n d S o d i u m C o n t e n t of T w o V a r i e t i e s o f C e l e r y a s I n f l u e n c e d by D i f f e r e n t S o d iu m a n d B or on L e v e l s in Sa n d a n d Soil C u l t u r e s ........................................................ XVI. XVII . X VIII. XIX 59 62 A v e r a g e Y ie l d . P e r C en t D r y W e i g h t , a n d C o m p o s i t i o n of al l C r o p s G r o w n in F i e l d E x p e r i m e n t .............................................. T h e I n f l u e n c e of S o d iu m A p p l i c a t i o n s on t h e P o t a s s i u m R e ­ m o v e d f r o m t h e S o i l ................................................. . . . . . T h e I n f l u e n c e o f S od iu m A p p l i c a t i o n s on t h e C a l c i u m R e ­ m o v e d f r o m t h e Soil . . . . T h e I n f l u e n c e of S o d iu m A p p l i c a t i o n s on t h e B o ro n R e m o v e d f r o m t h e S o i l ............................................................. 65 69 72 LIST OF FIGU RES FIGURE 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Page T h e R e l a t i v e Y i e l d s o f C e l e r y V a r i e t i e s a s I n f l u e n c e d by S o d i u m at D i f f e r e n t Soil p H V a l u e s .......................................... 35 R e l a t i v e Y i e l d s of Beet V a r i e t i e s a s I n f l u e n c e d by Bor on at D i f f e r e n t S o d i u m L e v e l s .......................................................... 35 R e l a t i v e Y i e l d s of Snap B e a n s , P e a s , a n d L i m a B e a n s a s I n f l u e n c e d by B o ro n A p p l i c a t i o n at D i f f e r e n t S o d iu m L e v e l s ( E a c h Point an A v e r a g e of 16 V a l u e s ) ..................................... 36 B o r o n C o n t e n t a s P p m D r y W e i g h t of Snap B e a n s . P e a s . L im a Beans. M u s k m e lo n s , C u c u m b e r and Squash V a r i e ­ t i e s a s I n f l u e n c e d by B o r a x A p p l i c a t i o n ( E a c h Point an A v e r a g e of 16 V a l u e s ) . . . 45 B o r o n C o n t e n t of F o u r V e g e t a b l e C r o p s a s I n f l u e n c e d by B o ro n A p p l i c a t i o n s at D i f f e r e n t S o d iu m L e v e l s ( E a c h Po in t a n A v e r a g e of at L e a s t E i g h t V a l u e s ) ........................... 53 T h e B o r o n C o n te n t of C e l e r y V a r i e t i e s a s I n f l u e n c e d by B o r o n A p p l i c a t i o n s at D i f f e r e n t S o d iu m L e v e l s . . . . 54 T h e B o ro n C o n te n t of Beet V a r i e t i e s a s I n f l u e n c e d by B o ro n A p p l i c a t i o n s at D i f f e r e n t S o d i u m L e v e l s . . . . 54 1 INTRODUCTION T h e r o l e s of b o r o n a n d s o d i u m h a v e b e e n i n v e s t i g a t e d e x t e n ­ s i v e l y in t h e p a s t t w e n t y y e a r s . B o ro n d e f i c i e n c i e s a n d t o x i c i t i e s h a v e r e c e i v e d t h e a t t e n t i o n of m a n y w o r k e r s , yet t h e b o r o n r e q u i r e m e n t of t h e p l a n t h a s r e m a i n e d s o m e w h a t i n d e f i n i t e b e c a u s e of t h e m a n y c o m ­ p l i c a t i n g f a c t o r s t h a t a f f e c t t h e a v a i l a b i l i t y of so il b o r o n , a n d i t s a b s o r p ­ t i o n a n d u t i l i z a t i o n by p l a n t s . S o d iu m , a l s o , h a s b e e n s t u d i e d e x t e n s i v e l y f r o m t h e s t a n d p o i n t of t h e e x t e n t to w h i c h it c a n r e p l a c e p o t a s s i u m in s o i l f e r t i l i z a t i o n , w h i c h p l a n t s a r e c a p a b l e of p r o f i t a b l y u t i l i z i n g t h i s e l e m e n t , a n d w h at e f f e c t it h a s on t h e a b s o r p t i o n a n d u t i l i z a t i o n of o t h e r plant n u trie n ts . A c l a s s i f i c a t i o n of c r o p s (74) i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e s a m e c r o p s t h a t a r e b e n e f i t e d by b o r o n , a r e a l s o b e n e f i t e d by s o d i u m , a n d t h e c r o p s e a s i l y i n j u r e d b y b o r o n a r e a l s o e a s i l y i n j u r e d by s o d i u m . The literature a l s o r e v e a l s l i t t l e th a t m i g h t i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e s e l e c t i v e a b s o r p t i o n a n d u t i l i z a t i o n of t h e s e tw o e l e m e n t s by v a r i o u s c r o p s i s r e l a t e d . s tu d ie s by Pope and M unger ( Recent 6 3 , 64), H a r m e r et ai_ (34). H a a s (30. 31), C o o p e r et a l . (16) , a n d o t h e r s h a v e i n d i c a t e d c o n s i d e r a b l e v a r i a t i o n in t h e a b i l i t y b e t w e e n d i f f e r e n t v a r i e t i e s o f t h e s a m e c r o p to s e l e c t i v e l y a b s o r b a n d r e s p o n d to v a r i o u s p l a n t n u t r i e n t s . 2 On t h e b a s i s of t h e a b o v e o b s e r v a t i o n s of t h e p o s s i b l e r e l a ­ t i o n s h i p of t h e s e two n u t r i e n t s , a d e t a i l e d s t u d y of t h e b o r o n - s o d i u m r e l a t i o n s h i p s in c r o p s a n d v a r i e t i e s m i g h t p o s s i b l y a i d in b r i n g i n g into p r o p e r f o c u s t h e i r r o l e s in p l a n t n u t r i t i o n . Such i n v e s t i g a t i o n s m i g h t a l s o a i d in t h e m o r e e f f i c i e n t u t i l i z a t i o n of t h e s e two e l e m e n t s in i n c r e a s ­ ing crop production, b e tte r crop rotation s y ste m s, b reed in g b e tte r v a r i e ­ tie s , and diagnosing p e r p le x in g nutritional p r o b l e m s which a r i s e f ro m th e ir use . 3 L IT E R A T U R E REVIEW B o ro n r e l a t i o n s h i p s h a v e b e e n i n v e s t i g a t e d by m a n y w o r k e r s in t h e f i e l d of p l a n t s c i e n c e , yet m a n y of i t s f u n c t i o n s a n d r e l a t i o n s h i p s in the plant r e m a in e lu siv e . T h e r e s p o n s e of p l a n t s t o s o d i u m h a s b e e n t h e s u b j e c t of m a n y i n v e s t i g a t i o n s , a n d c o n c e r n s e i t h e r t h e e x t e n t to w h i c h s o d i u m c a n be s u b s t i t u t e d f o r p o t a s s i u m , o r t h e c r o p s w h i c h r e s p o n d m a r k e d l y to s o d i u m . T h e d i f f e r e n t i a l r e s p o n s e of c r o p v a r i e t i e s to v a r i ­ o u s f e r t i l i z e r s h a s r e c e i v e d o n ly t o k e n a t t e n t i o n e v e n in v i e w of t h e fact t h a t m a n y t y p e s of v a r i e t a l r e s p o n s e m i g h t p o s s i b l y be e x p l a i n e d on th e b a s i s of d i f f e r e n t i a l a b i l i t y to a c c u m u l a t e s p e c i f i c i o n s to t h e i r d e t r i m e n t o r benefit. B or o n R o l e o f B o ro n in t h e Pla nt : T h e a c t u a l f u n c t i o n s of b o r o n in p l a n t m e t a ­ b o l i s m r e m a i n s o b s c u r e e v e n th o u g h m u c h e f f o r t h a s b e e n e x p e n d e d in studying its v a rio u s p o s sib le functions. a p p e a r s of p a r a m o u n t i m p o r t a n c e . T h e r e l a t i o n of b o r o n to c a l c i u m W a r i n g t o n (77), w o r k i n g w it h V i c i a F a b a , fo und i n c r e a s i n g a m o u n t s of c a l c i u m a b s o r b e d a s b o r o n w a s i n ­ c r e a s e d in t h e s u b s t r a t e . with s o y b e a n s . M i n a r i k a n d Sh ive (5&) o b t a i n e d s i m i l a r r e s u l t s H o w e v e r . M a r s h a n d Sh ive (56). w o r k i n g w it h c o r n , d id 4 not find i n c r e a s e s in c a l c i u m c o n c e n t r a t i o n in t h e p l a n t but i n s t e a d o b s e r v e d t h a t i n c r e a s e d b o r o n in t h e s u b s t r a t e i n c r e a s e d t h e a m o u n t o f c a l c i u m r e m a i n i n g in s o l u b l e f o r m . L o r e n z (53) i n t e r p r e t e d h i s r e s u l t s w i t h g a r d e n b e e t s to i n d i c a t e t h a t b o r o n i n c r e a s e d t h e m o b i l i t y of c a l c i u m . O t h e r f u n c t i o n s a t t r i b u t e d to b o r o n i n d i c a t e t h a t it p l a y s a p a r t in t h e f o r m a t i o n of a u x i n s , a r o l e in p h o s p h o r y l a t i v e r e a c t i o n s , a n d s o m e u n k n o w n f u n c t i o n in n i t r o g e n r e d u c t i o n p r o c e s s e s . E a t o n (25) p r e ­ s e n t e d e v i d e n c e to s h o w t h a t i n d o l e a c e t i c a c i d c o u l d b e s u b s t i t u t e d in p a r t f o r t h e b o r o n in t h e s u b s t r a t e of n u t r i e n t c u l t u r e s of c o t t o n , He s u g g e s t e d t h a t in t h e l i g h t of t h e s e f i n d i n g s , b o r o n i s i n v o l v e d in t h e e l a b o r a t i o n of a u x i n s in p l a n t s . T h e l e a v e s of b o r o n d e f i c i e n t p l a n t s h a v e r e p e a t e d l y b e e n f ou nd to b e hig h in s u g a r s . J o h n s t o n a n d D o r e (42) fou nd s u g a r s a c c u m u l a t e d in t h e l e a v e s of b o r o n d e f i c i e n t t o m a t o p l a n t , wiiile t h e s t e m s w e r e c o r r e s p o n d i n g l y lo w in s u g a r s . T h e y believed this showed t h a t b o r o n i n f l u e n c e s t h e t r a n s l o c a t i o n of e l a b o r a t e d m a t e r i a l s in p l a n t s . J a c o b s a n d W h i t e - S t e v e n s (41) s h o w e d t h a t b o r o n a p p l i c a t i o n s on m u s k m e l o n s t e n d s t o i n c r e a s e s u c r o s e in t h e f r u i t r a t h e r t h a n h e x o s e s u g a r s . M a r s h a n d S hiv e (56) fou nd s i m i l a r c o n d i t i o n s e x i s t i n g in b o r o n d e f i c i e n t c o t t o n p l a n t s , a n d in a d d i t i o n , n o t e d t h a t a m m o n i a n i t r o g e n h a d a c c u m u ­ l a t e d in s o m e t i s s u e s . T h e y p o s t u l a t e d th at b o r o n d e f i c i e n c y d e c r e a s e s t h e o x i d a t i o n of s u g a r s a n d t h e a m i n a t i o n - o f c a r b o h y d r a t e d e r i v a t i v e s so that p r o t e i n a c e o u s s u b s t a n c e s n e c e s s a r y fo r th e m a in te n a n c e and b u i l d i n g of ne w p r o t o p l a s m c a n not b e f o r m e d . F i n a l l y H ewitt (38). r e v i e w i n g t h e r o l e s of m i n e r a l e l e m e n t s in p l a n t n u t r i t i o n , i n d i c a t e d t h a t b o r o n i s th ou g ht to ac t a s a r e g u l a t o r in s o m e v i t a l e n z y m e s y s t e m s . He c i t e d e v i d e n c e th a t b o r o n in t h e s u b ­ s t r a t e p r e v e n t s t h e g r o w t h i n h i b i t i o n e f f e c t s of m a l o n a t e on c u l t u r e s of C l o s t r i d i u m s a c c h a r o b u t y r i c u m , s p e e d s t h e r a t e of s o m e o x i d a s e a c t i ­ v i t i e s , i n f l u e n c e s o x y g e n a b s o r p t i o n of c h l o r o p l a s t s , a n d i s n e c e s s a r y in s o m e p h o s p h o r y l a t i v e r e a c t i o n s . F a c t o r s A f f e c t i n g B or o n R e q u i r e m e n t s : d o m i n a n t i n f l u e n c e on b o r o n r e q u i r e m e n t . Species differences exert a E a t o n (21) s t a t e d t h a t c o t t o n h a s o n e of t h e h i g h e s t b o r o n r e q u i r e m e n t s k n o w n . It f l o u r i s h e d u n d e r b o r o n s u b s t r a t e c o n c e n t r a t i o n s t h a t r e d u c e d t h e g r o w t h of b e a n s , c o r n , a n d s m a l l c e r e a l s by 25 p e r c e n t . M a r s h a n d Sh ive (56) a t t r i b u t e d t h e low b o r o n r e q u i r e m e n t o f c o r n a n d o t h e r c e r e a l s to t h e fa c t th a t a l a r g e f r a c t i o n of t h e b o r o n a b s o r b e d by t h o s e c r o p s r e m a i n e d in t h e s o l u b l e f o r m , w h i l e o t h e r c r o p s f ix e d a l a r g e p a r t of t h e a b s o r b e d b o r o n int o so m e insoluble fo rm . R o g e r s (69) f o u n d s e v e r a l f o r a g e l e g u m e s h ad w idely v ary in g boron r e q u ir e m e n t s . A u s t r ia n w i n t e r - p e a s , blue lupine, s o y b e a n s , a l y c e c l o v e r , p e a n u t s , a n d S e r i c i a l e s p e d e z a did not r e s p o n d 6 to b o r a x on s o i l s w h e r e a l f a l f a a n d b u r r c l o v e r s h o w e d d e f i c i e n c i e s . V a r i e t i e s w i t h i n s p e c i e s v a r y g r e a t l y in t h e i r b o r o n r e ­ q u i r e m e n t , Scott (70) s h o w e d t h a t s e v e r a l g r a p e v a r i e t i e s p r o d u c e d g o o d y i e l d s a d j a c e n t to r o w s c o n t a i n i n g o t h e r v a r i e t i e s w h i c h s h o w e d s e v e r e boron deficiency sy m p to m s. P o p e a n d M u n g e r (64) s h o w e d t h a t c o m p a r a t i v e b o r o n r e q u i r e m e n t in c e l e r y a p p a r e n t l y i s d e p e n d e n t on a s i n g l e g e n e t i c f a c t o r . A h ig h b o r o n r e q u i r e m e n t " l i n e " , w h e n c r o s s e d w i t h n o r m a l b o r o n r e q u i r i n g v a r i e t i e s , r e s u l t e d in an p o p u l a t i o n t h a t s e g r e g a t e d into a 3 to 1 r a t i o f o r b o r o n r e q u i r e m e n t , indicating a single gene facto r . Cation i n t e r - r e l a t i o n s within the plant e x e rt p ro fo u n d i n ­ f l u e n c e s on t h e b o r o n r e q u i r e m e n t . D r a k e et a l . (20). in a n e f f o r t to e x p l a i n t h e i n c r e a s e d o c c u r r e n c e of b o r o n d e f i c i e n c y in r e c e n t l y l i m e d s o i l s , c o n d u c t e d e x p e r i m e n t s in w h i c h t h e y found t h a t t o b a c c o p l a n t s g r e w n o r m a l l y if t h e c a l c i u m - b o r o n r a t i o r e m a i n e d n e a r 1340 to 1. w h e r e a s s e v e r e b o r o n d e f i c i e n c i e s d e v e l o p e d as t h i s r a t i o a p p r o a c h e d 1500 to 1 . J o n e s a n d S c a r s e t h (43) fou nd t h a t e a c h c r o p p l a n t a p p a r e n t l y h a s i t s own s p e c i f i c b a l a n c e b e t w e e n c a l c i u m a n d b o r o n , a n d t h a t t h e i d e a l C a / B r a t i o s v a r y f r o m 1200:1 f o r t o b a c c o , 500:1 f o r s o y b e a n s , to 100:1 f o r sugar beets. T h e y f ou nd c o r r e s p o n d i n g d e f i c i e n c i e s o r t o x i c i t i e s of boron a s the ratio s v aried appreciably from these values. R e e v e a n d S hi v e (66), w o r k i n g w it h t o m a t o e s , f o und p o t a s ­ s i u m c o n c e n t r a t i o n s in p l a n t t i s s u e a l s o e x e r t e d a n i n f l u e n c e on t h e b o ro n r e q u i r e m e n t . T h e y o b s e r v e d that a s the p o t a s s i u m content i n ­ c r e a s e d , t h e t o l e r a n c e to h ig h b o r o n c o n c e n t r a t i o n d e c r e a s e d , a n d t h a t C a / B r a t i o s w e r e i n v e r s e to K/ B r a t i o s . T h ey r e a s o n e d that since p o t a s s i u m e x e r t s s u c h a p r o f o u n d i n f l u e n c e on c a l c i u m c o n t e n t , t h e e f f e c t of p o t a s s i u m on b o r o n i s i n d i r e c t , in t h a t it r e d u c e s c a l c i u m a n d t h e r e b y r e d u c e s t h e b o r o n r e q u i r e m e n t of t h e p l a n t . B e c k e n b a c h (3) found t h a t a n i o n c o n c e n t r a t i o n s in p l a n t t i s s u e a l s o e x e r t e d a n i n f l u e n c e on t h e b o r o n r e q u i r e m e n t . He foun d t h a t t h e b o r o n r e q u i r e m e n t of t o m a t o p l a n t s w i t h a m p l e n i t r o g e n in t h e s u b s t r a t e w a s m a n y t i m e s t h a t of n i t r o g e n d e f i c i e n t p l a n t s . The boron r e q u ir e ­ m e n t s o f p h o s p h o r u s d e f i c i e n t p l a n t s w a s fou nd to b e m u c h g r e a t e r t h a n t h a t of p l a n t s w e l l s u p p l i e d w i t h t h i s e l e m e n t . H e s u g g e s t e d th a t p e r h a p s b o r o n a n d p h o s p h o r u s a c t s o m e w h a t i n t e r c h a n g e a b l y in s o m e p l a n t f u n c t i o n s , s u c h a s b u f f e r s y s t e m s o r in t h e p r e c i p i t a t i n g out of in ju r io u s c o n c e n tr a tio n s of c a tio n s . Boron A ccum ulation: B o r o n a c c u m u l a t i o n a l s o a p p e a r s to b e l a r g e l y c o n t r o l l e d by s p e c i e s a n d c r o p d i f f e r e n c e s . E a t o n et a l . (22) a n d R e e v e et a l . (67) b o th s t a t e that b o r o n s e n s i t i v e c r o p s s e e m to a b s o r b g r e a t e r a m o u n t s of b o r o n t h a n c r o p s t h a t a r e l e s s s e n s i t i v e . E a t o n (26) 8 l i s t s s e v e r a l o r c h a r d , f ie l d, a n d t r u c k c r o p s in t h e i r o r d e r of t o l e r ­ a n c e t o high b o r o n c o n c e n t r a t i o n s in s o i l s . R e e v e et a l . (67) n o t e d th a t s e n s i t i v e c r o p s i n c l u d e d in t h e i r s t u d i e s h a d a c c u m u l a t e d l a r g e q u a n titie s of b o ro n when they showed to x icity s y m p to m s . E aton and B l a i r (23) n o t e d t h a t d i f f e r e n t m e m b e r s of t h e s a m e b o t a n i c a l f a m i l y f r e q u e n t l y d i f f e r e d g r e a t l y in t h e i r r e l a t i v e t o l e r a n c e to high b o r o n c o n c e n t r a t i o n s in t h e s u b s t r a t e . T h ey re c ip r o c a lly grafted sunflower. H elianthus an n u a s with J e r u s a l e m a rtic h o k e , H elianthus tu b e r o s u s , and E u r e k a lem on. C itr u s lim o n ia with C hinese b o x -o ra n g e . S everinia buxifolia. T h e y fou nd t h a t t h e r e l a t i v e a m o u n t s of b o r o n a b s o r b e d w e r e t h e n r e v e r s e d , t h e s u n f l o w e r on a r t i c h o k e r o o t s a b s o r b i n g m u c h l a r g e r q u a n t i t i e s of b o r o n t h a n w h e n on i t s own r o o t s , t h e a r t i c h o k e much less. L i k e w i s e , t h e b o x - o r a n g e a b s o r b e d m u c h m o r e b o r o n on l e m o n r o o t s t h a n on i t s ow n r o o t s , w h i l e l e m o n a b s o r b e d m u c h l e s s . H a a s (31) l a t e r o b s e r v e d l a r g e d i f f e r e n c e s in t h e a b i l i t i e s of v a r i o u s c i t r u s r o o t s t o c k s to s u p p l y v a r i e t i e s g r a f t e d to t h e m w it h b o r o n . He s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h i s f in d i n g m i g h t b e u t i l i z e d w h e r e h ig h b o r o n c o n c e n ­ t r a t i o n s in s o i l o r i r r i g a t i o n w a t e r a r e p r o b l e m s o f t h e c i t r u s i n d u s t r y . Soil c o n d i t i o n s u n d o u b t e d l y e x e r t a g r e a t i n f l u e n c e on b o r o n accum ulations. E a t o n (22), R e e v e et a l . (67), P u r v i s a n d H a n n a (65) a n d o t h e r s , h a v e s h ow n t h a t g e n e r a l l y b o r o n a c c u m u l a t i o n by a n y g iv e n 9 c r o p d e p e n d s to a l a r g e e x t e n t on b o r o n c o n c e n t r a t i o n s in t h e s u b ­ strate. H o w e v e r , h e a v y l i m e a p p l i c a t i o n s h a v e o f t e n b e e n f o un d to c a u s e ” o v e r - l i m i n g s i c k n e s s ” in t h e p l a n t s . In r e a l i t y , t h i s w a s u s u a l l y f o un d to b e b o r o n o r m a n g a n e s e d e f i c i e n c y . N a f t e l (61 i c o n ­ s i d e r e d t h e p r o b l e m of o v e r - l i m i n g a s b i o l o g i c a l in n a t u r e , a n d tho u gh t t h e a c c o m p a n y i n g c h a n g e in p H i n c r e a s e d m i c r o b i a l a c t i v i t y to s u c h an e x t e n t t h a t h i g h e r p l a n t s c o u l d not o b t a i n e n o u g h b o r o n f o r n o r m a l grow th. M i d g e l y a n d D u n k l e e (57) f o u n d t h a t h e a v y l i m i n g f i x e d s o m e b o r o n into i n s o l u b l e f o r m s , a n d t h a t t h e a m o u n t f i x e d d e p e n d e d on t h e t y p e of s o i l , a c l a y s o il f i x i n g c o m p a r a t i v e l y l e s s t h a n a s a n d y p o d z o l . C o o k a n d M i l l a r (13) a n d M u h r (59) f ou nd t h a t c a l c i u m a n d m a g n e s i u m a d d e d to s o i l s r e s u l t e d in t h e f i x a t i o n of s o m e b o r o n , but s o d i u m f a i l e d to do so . E a t o n a n d W i l c o x (24) r e p o r t e d th a t b o r o n c o u l d be f ix e d in t h r e e m a n n e r s ; by a n i o n e x c h a n g e , m o l e c u l a r a b s o r p t i o n , a n d by c h e m i c a l p r e c i p i t a t i o n , but di d not s u g g e s t w h i c h w a s t h e m o r e i m ­ portant . It i s . t h e r e f o r e , a p p a r e n t t h a t t h e v a r i o u s c a t i o n s fo un d in s o i l s a n d p l a n t s m o d i f y t h e b o r o n r e q u i r e m e n t a n d i t s a c c u m u l a t i o n by plants. It i s a l s o a p p a r e n t tha t s p e c i e s an d c r o p s v a r y w i d e l y in t h e i r r e s p o n s e to b o r o n , a n d t h a t v a r i e t a l d i f f e r e n c e s m a y be a f f e c t e d to s o m e e x t e n t by t h e s e p h e n o m e n a . 10 S o d iu m T h e R e s p o n s e of C r o p s to S o d i u m : T h e d i r e c t e f f e c t s of s o d i u m on e x c h a n g e a b l e p o t a s s i u m in t h e s o i l a r e w e l l know n, a n d do not n e e d to be review ed h e re . H a r t w e l l a n d D a m o n (35). w o r k i n g w i t h s e v e r a l c r o p s , f o u n d s o d i u m i n c r e a s e d c r o p r e s p o n s e in s e v e r a l c r o p s w h e r e p o t a s s i u m w a s in s h o r t s u p p l y , but g a v e l i t t l e i n c r e a s e s w h e r e p o t a s ­ sium w as a m p le . M o r e r e c e n t l y , H a r m e r a n d Benne (32), a n d H a r m e r et a l . (34), in a l o n g s e r i e s of e x p e r i m e n t s , h a v e s ho wn t h a t s o m e c r o p s r e s p o n d to s o d i u m on m u c k s o i l s , but t h a t t h e b e n e f i t f r o m s o d i u m i s l a r g e l y d ue to i t s s u b s t i t u t i o n f o r p o t a s s i u m w h i c h i s f r e ­ q u e n t l y low in t h e s e s o i l s . T h e y c l a s s i f i e d c r o p s int o f o u r g r o u p s , b a s e d on t h e d e g r e e of r e s p o n s e to s o d i u m at lo w o r a m p l e a v a i l a b l e soil p o t a s s i u m . T h e firs t group, including such c r o p s a s corn, b u c k ­ wheat, lettuce, onions, po tatoes, rye, soybeans, spinach, and squash, r e s p o n d e d t o s o d i u m o n ly s l i g h t l y , o r not at a l l , e v e n w h e n p o t a s s i u m w as deficient. T h e s e c o n d g r o u p , c o n s i s t i n g of a s p a r a g u s , b a r l e y , b r o c c o l i , c a r r o t s , c o t t o n , flax , m i l l e t , o a t s , p e a s , t o m a t o e s , a n d w h e a t , g a v e s l i g h t to m e d i u m r e s p o n s e to s o d i u m w h e n p o t a s s i u m w a s low. T h e t h i r d g r o u p of c r o p s , w h i c h r e s p o n d e d to s o m e e x t e n t e v e n w h e n p o t a s s i u m w a s a m p l e , i n c l u d e d m o s t of t h e c r u c i f e r s . T heir l a s t c l a s s i f i c a t i o n w a s m a d e up o f c r o p s w h i c h g a v e l a r g e r e s p o n s e s 11 to s o d i u m e v e n w h e n p o t a s s i u m w a s s u f f i c i e n t , a n d i n c l u d e d c e l e r y , m angel, su g ar beets, table beets, sw iss chard, a n d tu rn ip s . The a u t h o r s c o n c l u d e d by s a y i n g t h a t w ith ou t a d e q u a t e p o t a s s i u m t h e y i e l d s of all c r o p s w e r e p o o r . L e h r (48, 49. 50), w o r k i n g in H o ll a n d , i n v e s t i g a t e d t h e v a l u e o f s o d i u m f o r s e v e r a l c r o p s a n d fou nd b e e t s to b e t h e m o s t r e s p o n s i v e , a n d t h a t s p i n a c h , a n o t h e r m e m b e r of t h e C h e n o p o d a c e a e , a l s o g a v e i n ­ c r e a s e s in y i e l d , e v e n w h e n p o t a s s i u m w a s a m p l e . O ther c ro p s such a s p o t a t o e s , m a n g e l s , r y e g r a s s , t u r n i p s , a n d l u p i n e s r e s p o n d e d to a m u c h s m a l l e r extent when p o t a s s iu m w a s a m p le . L e o n a r d a n d B e a r (52) f ou nd b e e t s g a v e no i n c r e a s e in y i e l d s to s o d i u m a p p l i c a t i o n w he n p o t a s s i u m w a s a m p l e , but w h e n a b o u t o n e h a l f of t h e p o t a s s i u m w a s r e p l a c e d by e q u i v a l e n t a m o u n t s of s o d i u m , y i e l d s w e r e not d e c r e a s e d . T h e y found, h o w e v e r , t h a t c e l e r y y i e l d s in s a n d c u l t u r e s a c t u a l l y i n c r e a s e d w h e n p o t a s s i u m w a s r e d u c e d f r o m 195 t o 39 p p m , a n d w a s r e p l a c e d by e q u i v a l e n t a m o u n t s of s o d i u m . Lettuce, r a d i s h , a n d o a t s di d not r e s p o n d to t h e a b o v e t r e a t m e n t s , a n d t o m a t o yields w ere m ark ed ly reduced. H o w e v e r , in f i e l d s t u d i e s w i t h t h e a b o v e c r o p s , n i t r a t e of s o d a a p p l i c a t i o n s r e s u l t e d in y i e l d s that w e r e s i g n i f i ­ c an tly b e t t e r th a n th o s e fro m c a lc iu m o r a m m o n iu m n itra te , and equal to y i e l d s f r o m p o t a s s i u m n i t r a t e . 12 T r u o g et a l , (73) fo u nd e q u i v a l e n t a m o u n t s of p o t a s s i u m a n d s o d i u m in t h e s u b s t r a t e s u p e r i o r to p o t a s s i u m a l o n e f o r g a r d e n beets, s u g a r b e e t s , r u t a b a g a s , c a r r o t s , a n d c e l e r y . B a r l e y a n d oat s r e s p o n d e d t o s o d i u m to s o m e e x t e n t , w h i l e c o r n , a l f a l f a , a n d p o t a t o e s f a i l e d to r e s p o n d . to s o d i u m L a r s o n a n d P i e r r e (47) fo un d b e e t s a n d f l a x r e s p o n d e d w h e n p o t a s s i u m w a s in s h o r t s u p p l y . C o p e et a l . (17) f o u n d t h a t l a d i n o c l o v e r , a l f a l f a , a n d o a t s p r e f e r r e d m i x t u r e s of s o d i u m a n d p o t a s s i u m in t h e i r f e r t i l i z a t i o n , but t h a t c o r n , Su dan g r a s s , a n d S e r c i a l e s p e d e z a y i e l d e d l e s s t h a n w i t h o nl y p o t a s s i u m f e r t i l i z a t i o n . C o o p e r et a l . (15) a n d L a n c a s t e r et a l . (46) o n t h e r e s p o n s e o f c o t t o n to s o d i u m . have r e p o r te d All found t h a t e q u a l y i e l d s c o u l d b e o b t a i n e d f r o m m i x t u r e s of s o d i u m a n d p o t a s s i u m e q u i v a l e n t to h e a v y a p p l i c a t i o n s of p o t a s s i u m , but t h e c r o p d i d not g e n e r a l l y r e s p o n d to sodium when p o ta s s iu m was am p le . Sodium Content: H o p k i n s (40), r e v i e w i n g t h e r o l e of s o d i u m a s a c r o p n u t r i e n t , i n d i c a t e d t h e f o u r c l a s s e s of s o d i u m r e s p o n s e in c r o p s a s : (a) t h o s e w h i c h do not a b s o r b s o d i u m , (b) t h o s e w h i c h a b s o r b s o d i u m o n l y if it i s a b u n d a n t l y p r e s e n t , (c) t h o s e w h ic h a c c u m u l a t e s o d i u m if it i s a b u n d a n t o r no t, a n d (d) t h o s e w h i c h a r e n a t i v e to s a l i n e s o i l s . fe lt t h e a m o u n t a b s o r b e d w a s t h u s a n i n d i c a t i o n of t h e i m p o r t a n c e of He 13 s o d i u m to t h e c r o p . T h o s e c r o p s r e s p o n d i n g o n ly s l i g h t l y to s o d i u m d i d so o n ly b e c a u s e o f t h e e f f e c t o f s o d i u m on i n c r e a s i n g t h e e x c h a n g e ­ a b l e p o t a s s i u m in t h e s o i l . T h i s g r o u p of c r o p s c a n b e s u c c e s s f u l l y g r o w n t o t a l l y w it ho ut s o d i u m , a n d . t h e r e f o r e , it p e r f o r m s no f u n c ti o n in t h e p l a n t , a n d s o m e of t h e m a r e i n d e e d q u i t e s e n s i t i v e to t h e e l e m e n t . T h o s e t h a t a b s o r b e d r e l a t i v e l y l a r g e q u a n t i t i e s of s o d i u m o n ly w h e n it w a s in a m p l e s u p p l y , s u b s t i t u t e d t h a t e l e m e n t in p a r t f o r p o t a s s i u m in c e r t a i n n o n - s p e c i f i c f u n c t i o n s . In c r o p s w h i c h a b s o r b e d c o p i o u s a m o u n t s o f s o d i u m , it p e r f o r m e d a s p e c i f i c f u n c t i o n w h i c h w a s not r e a d i l y p e r f o r m e d by p o t a s s i u m . In c o n t r a s t to c r o p s w h i c h r e a d i l y a c c u m u l a t e s o d i u m a r e t h o s e w h i c h s e l e c t i v e l y e x c l u d e it . T h e s e l e c t i v e a b s o r p t i o n of s o d i u m by p l a n t s h a s b e e n s t u d i e d e x t e n s i v e l y in r e c e n t y e a r s . Collander (12) s t u d i e d t w e n t y s p e c i e s of p l a n t s g r o w n in n u t r i e n t s o l u t i o n s c o n ­ t a i n i n g e q u i v a l e n t a m o u n t s of s e v e r a l c a t i o n s . v a r i e d f r o m 20 to 60 t i m e s b e t w e e n s p e c i e s . He foun d t h a t s o d i u m S o d iu m m a y a l s o i n f l u ­ e n c e p o t a s s i u m a b s o r p t i o n by i t s p r e s e n c e in t h e p l a n t . He found th a t h a l o p h y t e s a b s o r b e d l a r g e a m o u n t s of s o d i u m , but s u c h c r o p s a s b u c k ­ wheat c o r n , a n d s u n f l o w e r l a r g e l y e x c l u d e d it. H a r m e r a n d Benne (33) s u g g e s t e d th a t t h e a m o u n t of s o d i u m a b s o r b e d by a p l a n t m i g h t i n d i c a t e i t s p r o b a b l e r e s p o n s e to t h e e l e m e n t . 14 In t h i s c o n n e c t i o n t h e y s h o w e d t h a t w h e n p o t a s s i u m w a s a d e q u a t e , s o d i u m o x i d e m a d e up 2 . 1 2 p e r c e n t of t h e d r y w e i g h t s of s u g a r b e e t l e a v e s , 3 . 6 9 p e r c e n t of c e l e r y t o p s , 3 .12 p e r c e n t of t a b l e b e e t t o p s , 2 . 6 8 p e r c e n t o f t u r n i p t o p s , a n d 0 . 7 1 p e r c e n t of c a b b a g e h e a d s , w h e r e a s o n i o n s , a n o n - r e s p o n s i v e c r o p , c o n t a i n e d o n ly 0 . 1 3 5 p e r c e n t sodium oxide. In a l a t e r w o r k (34), t h e y s u g g e s t e d t h a t a lo w K / N a r a t i o i n d i c a t e d a s o d i u m r e s p o n s i v e c r o p . L e o n a r d a n d B e a r (52) s u p p o r t e d t h e s e f i n d i n g s , o b s e r v i n g t h a t w ith ou t a d d i t i o n a l s o d i u m t h e m i l l i e q u i v a l e n t c o n t e n t o f p o t a s s i u m in t h e t o p s o f t a b l e b e e t s w a s t w i c e t h a t of s o d i u m , but w h e n 265 p o u n d s o f N a20 w a s a d d e d to t h e s o il , m i l l i e q u i v a l e n t s o d i u m c o n t e n t of t h e l e a v e s w a s f iv e t i m e s th a t of p o t a s s i u m . T r u o g et a l . (73) r e p o r t e d t h e s o d i u m c o n t e n t of c a r r o t t o p s r e a c h e d 1 .1 5 p e r c e n t a n d in c e l e r y 1 .23 p e r c e n t , w h e n s o d i u m a n d p o t a s s i u m w e r e p r e s e n t i n i h e s u b s t r a t e in e q u i v a l e n t a m o u n t s . T h e y f u r t h e r s h o w e d t h a t c o r n , a l f a l f a , a n d p o t a t o e s , c r o p s w h i c h f a i l e d to r e s p o n d to s o d i u m , a b s o r b e d o n l y s m a l l a m o u n t s of t h e e l e m e n t . C op e (17) in a s i m i l a r s tu d y , r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e s o d i u m c o n t e n t a n d y i e l d r e s p o n s e of s e v e r a l c r o p s d i m i n i s h e d in t h e o r d e r o a t , l a d i n o c l o v e r , a l f a l f a , S e r i c e a l e s p e d e z a . Su dan g r a s s , a n d c o r n . C a m p b e l l (8) d e t e r m i n e d t h e r e l a t i v e c o m p o s i t i o n of s e v e n t e e n v e g e t a b l e c r o p s g r o w n at v a r y i n g l e v e l s of c a t i o n s on a s a n d y l o a m s o i l . He fou nd s o d i u m c o n c e n tr a ti o n s v a r y in g fr o m 1 9 .6 p e r cent of the total ca tio n s ( m i l l i e q u i v a l e n t b a s i s ) in t h e c a s e o f b e e t s , to 0 . 2 p e r c e n t in s q u a s h leaves. T h e d e c r e a s i n g o r d e r in w h i c h t h e c r o p s a c c u m u l a t e d s o d i u m w a s b e e ts , c e l e r y , c a r r o t s , onions, cauliflow er, cabbage, lettuce, spinach, tom ato, cu cu m b er, m uskm elon. p eas, beans, potatoes, sweet corn, lim a snap b e an s, and s q u a sh . I n f l u e n c e o f S o d i u m on O t h e r I o n s : S o d iu m a p p l i c a t i o n h a s b e e n f o u n d to h a v e p r o n o u n c e d i n f l u e n c e on t h e a b s o r p t i o n of o t h e r i o n s . L a n c a s t e r et a l . (46) a n d C o o p e r et a l . (15) su g g e s te d that one b e n e ­ fit c o t t o n d e r i v e s f r o m s o d i u m i s t h e e x t e n t to w h i c h s o d i u m d e p r e s s e s c a l c i u m a b s o r p t i o n w h e n p o t a s s i u m i s low. w h i c h b r i n g s a b o u t a m o r e f a v o r a b l e K / C a r a t i o in t h e p l a n t . L e h r (48) fo u nd b e e t s g a v e m a x i m u m y i e l d s onl y w h e n th e t o t a l c a t i o n c o n c e n t r a t i o n in t h e l e a f t i s s u e fe ll in a r a n g e of r e l a t i v e c o n c e n t r a t i o n s , in w h i c h s o d i u m w a s t h e p r e d o m i n a n t i o n . He fou nd h ig h c a l c i u m c o n c e n t r a t i o n s in t h e l e a v e s q u i t e d e t r i m e n t a l to t h e y i e l d , a n d t h o u g h t t h a t o n e i m p o r t a n t f u n c t i o n of Na i s i t s i n h i b i t i o n of calcium absorption. G a u c h a n d W a d l e i g h (27. 28) fo un d s o d i u m a p p l i ­ cation re d u c e d the calciu m and in c re a s e d the nitrogen, phospho rus 16 a n d p o t a s s i u m c o n t e n t s o f b e a n p la n t s . T h e y r e l a t e d t h i s to t h e c o m ­ p a r a t i v e e f f e c t of s o d i u m a n d c a l c i u m on t h e c e l l p r o t o p l a s m , w h e r e i n sodium usually i n c r e a s e s and calciu m d e c r e a s e s p e r m e a b ility . Larson a n d P i e r r e (47) f o u n d in g e n e r a l t h a t t h e m o r e a c t i v e m o n o v a l e n t Na K and i o n s d e p r e s s e d t h e a b s o r p t i o n of Ca* * a n d Mg* * i o n s . S o d i u m a p p a r e n t l y i n f l u e n c e s p o t a s s i u m a b s o r p t i o n in two ways. C o p e et a l . (17) i n d i c a t e t h a t c r o p s t h a t r e s p o n d o nl y s l i g h t l y to s o d i u m , s u c h a s a l f a l f a , c o r n , s u d a n g r a s s , a n d S e r i c e a l e s p e d e z a . do so b e c a u s e t h e s o d i u m i n c r e a s e s t h e r e l e a s e of n o n - e x c h a n g e a b l e p o t a s ­ s iu m f r o m the soil; an d noted that so d iu m a p p lic a tio n s i n c r e a s e d the p o t a s s i u m c o n t e n t in t h e a b o v e c r o p s . O a t s w e r e t h e on ly c r o p s t u d i e d by t h e m t h a t a b s o r b e d a p p r e c i a b l e a m o u n t s of s o d i u m w h e n p o t a s s i u m w a s lo w , a n d w a s c o n s i d e r e d a s o d i u m r e s p o n s i v e c r o p . Bear and P r i n c e (2). C o o p e r et a l . (15), a n d H a r m e r a n d Benne (32), h a v e found t h a t a b s o r p t i o n of l a r g e a m o u n t s of s o d i u m by s u c h c r o p s a s c e l e r y , s p i n a c h , b e e t s , a n d c o t t o n f a i l e d to m a t e r i a l l y r e d u c e t h e p o t a s s i u m c o n c e n t r a t i o n in t h e s e c r o p s , a n d o f t e n i n c r e a s e d it . However. L a rs o n a n d P i e r r e (47) f o u n d t h a t s o d i u m a p p l i c a t i o n s r e d u c e d a b s o r p t i o n of p o t a s s i u m by t a b l e b e e t s a n d o a t s , but did not a ff e c t c o r n . Saline so ils, w h i c h u s u a l l y c o n t a i n a l a r g e q u a n t i t y of s o d i u m s a l t s , a r e q u i t e t r o u b l e s o m e in t h e w e s t e r n s t a t e s . T h o r n e and P a t e r s o n (75) r e p o r t e d a c l a s s i f i c a t i o n m a d e by R i c h a r d s (69). of t h e t o l e r a n c e of v a r i o u s c r o p s to s a lt . T h e v e r y t o l e r a n t g r o u p i n ­ clu d ed such c r o p s a s s u g a r beet, g a rd e n beet, ra p e , kale, and cotton. T h e m o d e r a t e salt t o l e r a n c e group included alfalfa, tom ato, a s p a r a ­ gus, sorg h u m , rye, oats, cantaloupe, lettuce, c a r r o t, and p e p p er. s p i n a c h , o n io n, Sensitive c ro p s w e re listed a s peas, celery, cabbage, eggplant, sweet potato, potato, and g r e e n b e a n s . All o f t h e a b o v e w e r e l i s t e d in t h e d e s c e n d i n g o r d e r of t h e i r t o l e r a n c e . It i s i n t e r ­ e s t i n g to n o t e t h a t m a n y c r o p s l i s t e d a s h ig h l y t o l e r a n t h a v e b e e n f o u n d to a b s o r b a n d u t i l i z e s o d i u m , a n d t h e i n t o l e r a n t c r o p s do not a b s o r b any a p p r e c i a b l e a m ount of so d iu m . V arietal D ifferences C r o p v a r i e t i e s h a v e b e e n foun d to v a r y g r e a t l y in t h e i r r e s p o n s e to v a r i o u s f e r t i l i z e r e l e m e n t s . Hoffe-r (39) in an e a r l y w o r k , f o u n d t h a t o n e c a u s e of t h e e x p r e s s i o n of h e t e r o s i s in h y b r i d c o r n w a s r e l a t e d to t h e r e d u c t i o n in t h e a m o u n t o f i r o n a n d a l u m i n u m a b s o r b e d , t h u s e l i m i n a t i n g a n a p p a r e n t t o x i c i t y th a t e x i s t e d i n t h e i r p a r e n t s . L y n e s s (55) s h o w e d t h a t t h r e e c o r n i n b r e d s a b s o r b e d p h o s p h o r u s f r o m i d e n t i c a l n u t r i e n t s o l u t i o n s in t h e r a t i o s of 3 :5 :7 . As a re s u lt, the l i n e a b s o r b i n g t h e m o s t p h o s p h o r u s h ad t h e h i g h e s t y i e l d i n g a b i l i t y . 18 L a m b a n d S a l t e r (44, 45) fo u nd t h a t w h e a t a n d oat v a r i e t i e s r e s p o n d e d d i f f e r e n t l y to v a r i o u s i n t e n s i t i e s of s o i l f e r t i l i t y ; h o w e v e r , they indicated other environm ental fa c to rs frequently overshadow ed t h e s e e f f e c t s w h e n c o m p a r e d o v e r a p e r i o d of y e a r s . D e T u r k et a l . (18) f o u n d t h e s e a t of t h e d i f f e r e n t i a l r e s p o n s e of tw o c o r n h y b r i d s to b e in t h e i r r e l a t i v e a b i l i t i e s to m e t a b o l i z e i n o r g a n i c p h o s p h a t e s int o o r g a n i c p h o s p h o r u s , a n d t h u s p r e v e n t t o x i c i t i e s at high l e v e l s of n u t r i t i o n . H a r v e y (36) w o r k i n g w i t h c o r n , fo un d v a r i e t i e s r e s p o n d e d d i f f e r e n t l y to v a r y i n g l e v e l s of a m m o n i a o r n i t r a t e n i t r o g e n . He found t h o s e l i n e s t h a t c o u l d u t i l i z e l a r g e a m o u n t s of a m m o n i a p r o d u c e d m o r e d r y m a t t e r p e r unit of n i t r o g e n . He f o u n d t o m a t o v a r i e t i e s p r o d u c e d d i f f e r e n t i a l l y w it h r e s p e c t to d i f f e r e n t l e v e l s of v a r i o u s n u t r i e n t s . One g e n e t i c c h a r a c t e r i n f l u e n c e d t h e e f f i c i e n t u t i l i z a t i o n of p o t a s s i u m at l o w l e v e l s a n d v a r i e t i e s th at c o n t a i n e d t h a t f a c t o r p r o d u c e d c o m p a r a t i v e l y g r e a t e r y i e l d s w h e n t h a t e l e m e n t w a s in low s u p p l y . H a r m e r et a l . (34) f ou nd c e l e r y , su g ar beets, and pea v a r i e ­ t i e s r e s p o n d e d d i f f e r e n t l y to v a r y i n g l e v e l s of s o d i u m n u t r i t i o n . V arie­ t i e s of t h e s e c r o p s a l s o a c c u m u l a t e d c o n c e n t r a t i o n s of t h i s e l e m e n t , but in a m o u n t s not n e c e s s a r i l y in a c c o r d a n c e wi th y i e l d r e s p o n s e . P o p e a n d M u n g e r (63, 64) fo un d t h a t c e l e r y v a r i e t i e s v a r i e d g r e a t l y in t h e i r a b i l i t i e s to a p p r o p r i a t e m a g n e s i u m a n d b o r o n f r o m 19 n u t r i e n t s o l u t i o n s , a n d w e r e a b l e to a s s e s s t h e s e c h a r a c t e r s to single gene d iffe re n c e s between v a r ie tie s . A y r e s et a l . (1) s h o w e d t h a t s i x h e a d l e t t u c e v a r i e t i e s w e r e not d i f f e r e n t i a l l y t o l e r a n t t o hi gh s a l t c o n c e n t r a t i o n s , but o n e v a r i e t y a b s o r b e d m o r e c h l o r i d e t h a n t h e o t h e r s . In a s i m i l a r e x p e r ­ i m e n t , B e r n s t e i n a n d A y r e s (5) f o u n d t h a t s n a p b e a n v a r i e t i e s d i f f e r e d s i g n i f i c a n t l y in t h e i r t o l e r a n c e to h ig h s a l t c o n c e n t r a t i o n s . 20 M A T E R I A L S AND M E T H O D S F ield E xperim entation A f i e l d e x p e r i m e n t w a s c o n d u c t e d in t h e s u m m e r of 1953 on t h e H o r t i c u l t u r e F a r m at E a s t L a n s i n g . M i c h i g a n , to s t u d y t h e i n ­ d e p e n d e n t a n d i n t e r a c t i v e i n f l u e n c e s of c a l c i u m , p o t a s s i u m , s o d i u m , a n d b o r o n on t h e y i e l d s a n d p l a n t c o m p o s i t i o n of d i f f e r e n t v a r i e t i e s of s e v e r a l vegetable c r o p s . T h e soil w a s a H illsd a le sandy loam which i s d e s c r i b e d b y V e a t c h (75) a s h a v i n g a " l i g h t b r o w n i s h y e l l o w i s h s u r ­ face soil u n d e rla in by a y ello w ish fria b le , m o d e r a t e l y r e te n tiv e sandy l o a m a n d g r i t t y c l a y s u b s o i l of o n l y m o d e r a t e f e r t i l i t y " . A n a l y s i s of t h e s o i l i n d i c a t e d t h a t it h a d a b a s e e x c h a n g e c a p a c i t y of 6 . 5 m i l l i e q u i v a l e n t s p e r 100 g r a m s of s o i l , a n d h a d a b a s e s a t u r a t i o n of 41 ,2 p e r c e n t c a l c i u m . 5 . 2 p e r c e n t p o t a s s i u m , a n d 1 . 5 p e r ce n t s o d i u m . T h e s o i l t r e a t m e n t s c o n s i s t e d of two l e v e l s of c a l c i u m , two of p o t a s s i u m , tw o o f s o d i u m , a n d t h r e e of b o r o n . These w ere arranged in a s p l i t - p l o t f a c t o r i a l d e s i g n , w h e r e i n o n e t r e a t m e n t w a s s u p e r i m p o s e d on t h e p r e v i o u s e l e m e n t , t h e f i n a l s i z e of t h e p l o t s b e i n g 9 fe e t by 125 f e e t . T h e p l o t s w e r e r e p l i c a t e d , a n d c r o p s w e r e g r o w n in r a n d o m l y a s s i g n e d r o w s a c r o s s t h e p l o t s , v a r i e t i e s of t h e s a m e c r o p b e i n g g r o w n in a d j a c e n t r o w s . 21 All p l o t s r e c e i v e d a n i n i t i a l f e r t i l i z e r a p p l i c a t i o n at r a t e s o f 180 p o u n d s o f P 2 O 5 a s t r e b l e s u p e r p h o s p h a t e , 30 p o u n d s of n i t r o g e n a s NH 4 N O 3 , a n d 60 p o u n d s of m a g n e s i u m a s MgSC >4 • 7 h 2 0 p e r a c r e , s p r e a d w i t h a f e r t i l i z e r s p r e a d e r a n d d i s k e d in a f t e r a p p l i c a t i o n . T h e v a r i a b l e s o i l t r e a t m e n t s w e r e a s f o ll ow s : Elem ent Nutrient L evel Calcium H ig h (pH 6 .0) Amount Applied 1000 Hi gh Low Sodium High Low Boron pounds/acre Ca(OH) 2 no n e Lo w Potassium S o u r c e of E l e m e n t 100 pounds K /a c re KC1 n one 100 p o u n d s N a / a c r e Na Cl n one High 20 p o u n d s B o r a x / a c r e N a 2 B4 0 y- IOH 2 O M edium 10 p o u n d s B o r a x / a c r e N a 2 B4 0 y- IOH 2 O Low no ne L im e and p o ta ssiu m chloride w ere applied b ro ad ca st before d i s k i n g in p r e p a r a t i o n f o r p l a n t i n g . S o d iu m c h l o r i d e a n d b o r a x w e r e ap p lie d a s s i d e - d r e s s i n g s a f te r the crop had becom e e s ta b lis h e d . The b o r a x w a s m i x e d 1:24 p a r t s by w ei g ht w it h fine d r y s a n d to i n s u r e e v e n distribution. 22 C o n v e n t i o n a l c u l t u r a l m e t h o d s w ith r e s p e c t to c u l t i v a t i o n , w eed co n tro l, and p e st c o n tro l w e r e followed. Supplem ental i r r i g a ­ t i o n w a s a p p l i e d in a d d i t i o n to n a t u r a l r a i n f a l l to s u p p l y a t o t a l of o n e inch of w a te r p e r week. T h e c r o p s a n d v a r i e t i e s i n c l u d e d in t h i s stu d y , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e i r t a x o n o m i c c l a s s i f i c a t i o n , a n d f i e l d s p a c i n g a r e l i s t e d in T a b le I. Al l c r o p s w e r e d i r e c t s e e d e d , e x c e p t f o r c e l e r y w h ic h , b e ­ c a u s e of i t s l o n g g r o w i n g s e a s o n , w a s s t a r t e d in t h e g r e e n h o u s e . E a c h c r o p w a s h a r v e s t e d a s it r e a c h e d m a r k e t m a t u r i t y and the yields w e re re c o rd e d . Only a s i x foot s e c t i o n of th e c e n t e r of e a c h p lo t w a s h a r v e s t e d , l e a v i n g a n e i g h t e e n i n c h b u f f e r s t r i p at e a c h e n d o f t h e p l o t to r e d u c e c r o s s - f e e d i n g e f f e c t s . A p l a n t t i s s u e s a m p l e f r o m e a c h p lo t , a p p r o x i m a t e l y one k i l o g r a m in s i z e , w a s c o l l e c t e d at h a r v e s t . T h e p l a n t p a r t of e a c h c r o p t h a t w a s a n a l y z e d i s l i s t e d in T a b l e I. T h e sam p les w ere chopped a n d a 1 0 0 - g r a m a l i q u o t w a s d r i e d in a d e h y d r a t o r at 140 d e g r e e s F . T h e d r i e d t i s s u e w a s t h e n g r o u n d in a W i l e y m i l l to p a s s a 4 0 - m e s h sieve . 23 TABLE I T H E P L A N T F A M I L I E S , CROPS A N D V A R I E T I E S R E P R E S E N T E D IN T H E STUDY Botanical F a m ily Crop V arieties Spacing (Feet) P art1 H arvested And S a m p l e d U m belliferae C elery C o r n e l l 19 E m erso n Pascal Sum m er Pascal U t a h 10B 3 T U m belliferae Carrot G o ld Sp ike S u p r e m e Half L ong 2 T & ER Chenopodiaceae Beet D etroit D ark Red L o n g D a r k Blood Long Red Mangel 2 T & ER Chenopodiaceae Spinach A m erica B loom sdale L .S . 2 T C ruciferae Turnip P u rp le Top White Globe 2 T & ER C ruciferae Rutabaga A m e ric a n Purple Top 2 T & ER C ruciferae Cabbage Red Rock R esistant D etroit 3 T C ruciferae C a u l i f l o w e r S n ow ba ll " M " 3 T C ruciferae Broccoli De C i c c o 3 T L egum inosae Pea F reezonian T h o m a s Laxton 2.5 T & F Legum inosae Snap Bean Top crop B la ck V a l e n t i n e 3 T & F Legum inosae L i m a Bean Thorogreen F o r d h o o k 242 3 T & F Cucurbit aceae Cucum ber M arketer National Pickling 4.5 T & F C ucurbitaceae M u sk m elo n Honey Rock R e s i s t a n t 45 4.5 T & F C ucurbitaceae Squash 4.5 T & F Blue H u b b a r d C aserta *T i n d i c a t e s t o p s , E R e n l a r g e d r o o t s , a n d F f r u it . 24 G reenhouse E xperim entation An e x p e r i m e n t w a s c a r r i e d out in t h e P la n t S c i e n c e G r e e n ­ h o u s e d u r i n g t h e w i n t e r of 1 9 5 2 - 5 3 to s t u d y t h e i n t e r a c t i v e e f f e c t s of potassium , tion. s o d i u m , a n d b o r o n w i t h r e s p e c t to p l a n t y i e l d a n d c o m p o s i ­ C e l e r y w a s g r o w n a s t h e t e s t c r o p in s o il a n d s a n d c u l t u r e s . T h o m a s s a n d y l o a m , v e r y low in b o r o n w a s u s e d . s c r e e n e d , m i x e d , and p l a c e d in t h r e e - g a l l o n g l a z e d p o t s . It w a s Fertilizers a t t h e r a t e s of 50, 150. o r 450 p o u n d s o f p o t a s s i u m , n o ne , 100, o r 30 0 p o u n d s of s o d i u m , a n d no n e, p e r a c r e w e re applied facto rially . 10, o r 30 p o u n d s of b o r a x e q u i v a l e n t O ne-fourth chloride, one-fourth n itr a te , and o n e -h a lf sulfate s a lts of sodium and p o ta s s iu m w e re used, and b o ric acid w as the boron c a r r i e r . In t h e s a n d c u l t u r e t e s t s , t h e s a m e t y p e p o t s u s e d f o r t h e s o i l t e s t s w e r e f i l l e d w i t h w a s h e d q u a r t z s a n d , a n d p l a c e d in e n a m e l e d p a n s , w hich a c te d a s n utrient solution r e s e r v o i r s . A nutrient so lu ­ t i o n w a s u s e d in w h i c h a l l e s s e n t i a l e l e m e n t s w e r e kept c o n s t a n t , e x ­ cept the v a r ia b le e l e m e n t s , p o ta s s iu m , sodium, and b o ro n . Potassium w a s m a i n t a i n e d at 25. 75, a n d 225 p p m , s o d i u m at 0, 50. a n d 150 p p m . a n d b o r o n at 0 . 0 5 . 0 . 5 . a n d 5 . 0 p p m . to th e soil s e r i e s w a s u se d . A fa c to ria l a r r a n g e m e n t identical T w o p l a n t s e a c h of S u m m e r P a s c a l a n d U ta h 10B c e l e r y w e r e t r a n s p l a n t e d in to e a c h pot . One p l a n t of e a c h v a r i e t y w a s r e ­ m o v e d a f t e r t h e p l a n t s b e c a m e w e ll e s t a b l i s h e d to p r e v e n t e x c e s s i v e crow ding. T h e s e p l a n t s w e r e h a r v e s t e d at t h e e n d of t h r e e m o n t h s , a n d y i e l d s r e c o r d e d a s g r a m s p e r p l a n t . P la nt t i s s u e s a m p l e s w e r e t a k e n a n d p r e p a r e d f o r a n a l y s i s in t h e s a m e m a n n e r a s d e s c r i b e d fo r th e field e x p e r i m e n t . Analytical P ro c e d u re O ne g r a m a l i q u o t s o f p l a n t t i s s u e w e r e w e i g h e d into p o r ­ c e l a i n c r u c i b l e s a n d a s h e d in a m u f f l e f u r n a c e at 450 d e g r e e s C f o r 12 h o u r s . No b a s i c s a l t s w e r e a d d e d at t i m e of a s h i n g a s B e r g e r a n d T r u o g (4) h a v e s h o w n t h a t m o s t p l a n t t i s s u e c o n t a i n s s u f f i c i e n t b a s e s to p r e v e n t e x c e s s i v e v o l a t i l i z a t i o n of b o r o n in t h e a s h i n g p r o c e s s . T h e a s h w a s d i g e s t e d w it h 2 m l o f 1:4 HC1 a n d f i l t e r e d t h r o u g h W a t t m a n N o . 2 f i l t e r p a p e r w it h f r e q u e n t w a s h i n g s of . I N H C 1 . T h e s o l u t i o n s w e r e t h e n m a d e to 25 m l v o l u m e w it h . I N H C l . A l i q u o t s of t h e r e s u l t ­ i n g s o l u t i o n w e r e r e d i l u t e d v o l u m e t r i c a l l y to b r i n g t h e m in p r o p e r c o n c e n tr a tio n for d e te r m in a tio n of the r e s p e c t iv e e l e m e n t s . B o r o n w a s d e t e r m i n e d by t h e C a r m i n e m e t h o d of H a t c h e r 26 a n d W i l c o x (37), w h i c h i n v o l v e s t h e u s e of ,05 p e r c e n t by w ei gh t of a s o l u t i o n of C a r m i n e , a n d a n t h r a q u i n o n e dye. in c o n c e n t r a t e d s u l f u r i c acid. T w o m i l l i l i t e r s of t h e t e s t s o l u t i o n w e r e p l a c e d in a 125 m l E r l e n m e y e r f l a s k , to w h i c h w a s a d d e d 10 m l of c o n c e n t r a t e d s u l f u r i c acid. A f t e r t h e h e a t o f t h i s r e a c t i o n h a d d i s s i p a t e d , 10 m l of t h e C a r m in e solution w as added. T h e r e s u l t a n t s o l u t i o n w a s a l l o w e d to s t a n d 45 m i n u t e s f o r c o l o r d e v e l o p m e n t . T h e s o l u t i o n c h a n g e s f r o m a b r i g h t r e d in t h e a b s e n c e o f b o r o n to a b l u i s h r e d o r d a r k b l u e in th e p r e s e n c e of b o ro n . T h e r e a c t i o n follows B e e r 's law o v e r a ra n g e o f 1 - 1 5 p p m . T h e s o l u t i o n s w e r e r e a d in a Bauch a n d L o m b c o l o r i ­ m e t e r , u s i n g a 585 m M f i l t e r . T h e s e r e a d i n g s w e r e c o m p a r e d to a s t a n d a r d c u r v e d e v e l o p e d f r o m know n c o n c e n t r a t i o n s of b o r o n . C a l c i u m , p o t a s s i u m , a n d s o d i u m w e r e d e t e r m i n e d in a Beckm an m odel B flam e s p e c tro p h o to m e te r, using a p r o c e d u re s im ila r to B ro w n et a l . ( 7) . A c e t y l e n e w a s u s e d a s fuel b u r n e d in t h e p r e s e n c e of oxygen. T h e w a v e l e n g t h s a n d p h o t o - t u b e s u s e d a r e a s fo ll ow s: Ca K Na W a v e l e n g t h (mM) 556 771 589 P hotot ube Blue Red Blue 27 T h e s lit w i d t h s u s e d v a r i e d w i t h t h e e l e m e n t s a n d t h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n r a n g e s of t h o s e e l e m e n t s in t h e v a r i o u s c r o p s . At a g i v e n c o n c e n ­ t r a t i o n of t h e s t a n d a r d s o l u t i o n , t h e s m a l l e s t s l i t w i d t h p o s s i b l e to m a i n t a i n a c o n s t a n t g a l v a n o m e t e r r e a d i n g of 100 p e r cent w as u sed . T h e s e n s i t i v i t y knob w a s s e t on p o s i t i o n 4, w h i c h w a s t h e m a x i m u m s e n s itiv ity for all d e t e r m in a tio n s . S t a n d a r d s o l u t i o n s c o n s i s t e d of c a r b o n a t e s a l t s n e u t r a l ­ iz e d with h y d r o c h lo r i c acid, th u s the anions p r e s e n t w e r e the s a m e a s in t h e un k no w n s o l u t i o n s . I n t e r f e r e n c e s of a s s o c i a t e d i o n s at v a r i o u s c o n c e n t r a t i o n s w e r e d e t e r m i n e d on t h e r e a d i n g o f a s p e c i f i c cation and c o r r e c t e d sta n d a rd c u rv e s w e re then d eriv e d for each cation o v e r the ran g e of co n ce n tratio n s em plo yed. T h e p e r ce n t t r a n s m i s s i o n w a s p l o t t e d in t h e u s u a l m a n n e r a g a i n s t p a r t s p e r m i l l i o n . P r o b a b l e m a x i m u m c o n c e n t r a t i o n s w e r e d e t e r m i n e d b y a s u r v e y of e a c h c r o p , a n d top s t a n d a r d s w e r e e m p l o y e d on t h a t c r o p t h a t w o ul d b r i n g t h e m a j o r i t y of t h e r e a d i n g in t h e r e g i o n of m a x i m u m a c c u r ­ a c y of t h e m a c h i n e ; t h a t i s . 20 t o 80 p e r ce n t t r a n s m i s s i o n . 28 P r e s e n t a t i o n of R e s u l t s r Yields a r e p r e s e n te d a s pounds p e r 6 feel of r o w o r a s r e l a t i v e y i e l d s w h e n t h i s m e t h o d l e n d s i t s e l f to a b e t t e r e x p l a n a t i o n of the data . G re e n h o u s e y ields a r e e x p r e s s e d a s g r a m s p e r p l a n t . P l a n t c o m p o s i t i o n d a t a a r e e x p r e s s e d a s p a r t s p e r m i l l i o n d r y w e ig h t in t h e c a s e of b o r o n , a n d a s p e r c e n t d r y w ei gh t in t h e c a s e of s o d i u m , p o ta ss iu m , and calciu m . S i n c e s o i l pH i s l a r g e l y d e p e n d e n t on s o il c a l c i u m c o n c e n ­ t r a t io n , the t e r m s pH and c a lc iu m a r e u sed in te rc h a n g e a b ly . For s i m p l i c i t y , p l o t s r e c e i v i n g p o t a s s i u m a n d s o d i u m s oi l a p p l i c a t i o n s a r e r e f e r r e d t o a s hi g h , w h i l e t h o s e r e c e i v i n g no a d d i t i o n a l a p p l i c a t i o n s a s low . B o r o n i s t r e a t e d s i m i l a r l y w it h h ig h (20 p o u n d s b o r a x p e r a c r e ) , m edium (10 p o u n d s b o r a x p e r a c r e ) , a n d low (no a d d e d b o r a x ) . T h e s i g n i f i c a n c e of y i e l d r e s u l t s a n d p l a n t c o m p o s i t i o n d i f f e r e n c e s w e r e d e t e r m i n e d by t h e a n a l y s i s of v a r i a n c e m e t h o d f o r a s p l i t - p l o t f a c t o r i a l e x p e r i m e n t (80). M u c h of t h e c a l c u l a t i n g w a s c a r r i e d out by t h e T a b u l a t i n g D e p a r t m e n t of M i c h i g a n S t a t e C o l l e g e by t h e IBM punch c ard system . (72) . T h e " t " a n d " F ” v a l u e s a r e t h o s e found in S n e d e c o r 29 EXPERIM ENTAL RESULTS T h e d a t a p r e s e n t e d h e r e i n a r e d i v i d e d into two p a r t s ; d a t a c o n c e r n i n g t h e i n d e p e n d e n t i n f l u e n c e s of s o d i u m a n d b o r o n , t h e i n t e r ­ a c t i v e i n f l u e n c e s o f t h e s e e l e m e n t s , a n d w ith p o t a s s i u m a n d c a l c i u m on t o t a l y i e l d s ; a n d p l a n t c o m p o s i t i o n d a t a c o n c e r n i n g t h e i n f l u e n c e of t h e s e e l e m e n t s on t h e i r ow n a b s o r p t i o n , a s t h e y i n f l u e n c e t h e a b s o r p t i o n of t h e o t h e r e l e m e n t s i n c l u d e d in th e a n a l y s i s , a n d t h e d i f f e r e n t i a l a b s o r p t i o n of t h e s e e l e m e n t s by t h e c r o p s a n d v a r i e t i e s s t u d i e d . T h e i n f l u e n c e of c a l c i u m a n d p o t a s s i u m on y i e l d s w e r e e r r a t i c a n d h i g h l y v a r i a b l e , du e t o v e r y high s o i l l e v e l s of p o t a s s i u m a n d low l e v e l s of c a l c i u m . Consequently, calcium and p o ta s s iu m t r e a t ­ m e n t s w e r e g e n e r a l l y u s e d a s r e p l i c a t e s of t h e o t h e r s o il t r e a t m e n t s , a n d t h e i r i n d e p e n d e n t e f f e c t s w e r e not c o n s i d e r e d e x c e p t w h e r e t h e y i n t e r a c t e d w i t h s o d i u m a n d b o r o n a n d c a u s e d d i f f e r e n t r e s p o n s e s to t h e la tte r elem ent s . T o ta l Yields I n f l u e n c e of S o d iu m : T h e e f f e c t s of s o d i u m on p l a n t y i e l d s o f t h e v a r i o u s c r o p s a n d v a r i e t i e s a r e p r e s e n t e d in T a b l e II. T h e c o e f f i c i e n t of v a r i a ­ b i l i t y ( C . V . ) i n d i c a t e t h e d i f f e r e n c e s in v a r i a b i l i t y found in t h e v a r i o u s crops. T h e y i e l d s of c e l e r y w e r e t h e m o s t m a r k e d l y i n c r e a s e d by 30 T A B L E II T H E E F F E C T O F SODIUM A P P L I C A T I O N ON T H E T O T A L P L A N T Y I E L D O F V A R I E T I E S O F S E L E C T E D V E G E T A B L E CROPS Crop and V ariety Pounds Sodium p e r A c r e 0 ( P oun ds p e r Celery Sum m er Pascal C o r n e l l 19 E m erso n Pascal U t a h 10B C arrots G o ld S pi k e S u p r e m e Half L ong Beet s D etroit D a rk Red L o n g D a r k Blood L o n g Red Mangel Spinach A m erica B lo o m s d a l e Turnips R utabagas Cabbage R esista n t Detroit Red Rock Cauliflow er Broccoli Peas Freezonian T h o m a s Laxton Snap B e a n s Topcrop Black V alentine L i m a Beans Thorogreen F o r d h o o k 242 M uskm elons H o n ey R o c k R b s i s t a n t #45 Cucum bers* M arketer National Pickling Squa sh Blue H u b b a r d C aserta 6 100 P e r Cen t Change Coeff. Var . F o o t Row, A v g . o f 16 P l o t s ) 9.1 13.7 14.8 15.2 14.6 17.4 8 .8 12.1 10.6 11 1 10.5 12.0 9.1 18.6 6,3 19.9 29.6 4.4 4.4 4.3 30.5 22.3 37.5 34.1 40.9 31 .9 49.7 4.9 6.4 3.5 8.2 9.0 7.4 9.7 7.2 12 .3 14.4 13.6 15 .1 30 24 37 49.8 58.9 40.7 12.1 13.9 10.3 22.6 8 .0 25.6 34.0 5.1 5.1 5.5 33.8 25.7 40.2 36.5 43.9 35.5 51 .7 4.5 5.9 3.2 7.5 39 36.-< 61 27 37 14 16 13 28 28 15 20 ' 16 25 i o 5< 15 ! 7 7 7 4 -8 -9 -9" - 9 -7 -7 D e n o t e s s i g n i f i c a n c e at fiv e p e r c e n t l e v e l ^ C u c u m b e r y i e l d s - - n u m b e r of f r u it h a r v e s t e d .107 .051 . 162 -8 6.8 16.9 16.1 17.7 30 24 37 48.5 57.1 39.8 .207 .246 .115 . 225 11 -10 11 . 2 .30 9 .577 21 8.2 9.0 6.7 .882 -163 .262 -8 17 18 17 .395 0 .243 0 0 -3 -3 -2 .092 3J sodium ap p licatio n s. D i f f e r e n t v a r i e t i e s did not r e s p o n d a l i k e . Cornell 19 w a s i n c r e a s e d 61 p e r c e n t , w h e r e a s U t a h 10B, S u m m e r P a s c a l , an d E m e r s o n P a s c a l w e r e i n c r e a s e d o n ly 37, 36. a n d 27 p e r c e n t r e s p e c t i v e l y . C a r r o t s , t h e o t h e r c r o p in t h e U m b e l l i f e r a e i n c l u d e d in t h e s t u d y , r e s p o n d e d to a m u c h l e s s e r e x t e n t . T h e y i e l d s of t h e c r o p a s a w h o l e w e r e i n c r e a s e d o n l y 14 p e r c e n t , w i t h G o l d Sp ike v a r i e t y r e s p o n d ­ ing slightly m o r e than S u p r e m e Half Long. T h e C h en opodiaceae re s p o n d e d a lm o s t a s m a rk e d ly a s the U m belliferae . S o d i u m i n c r e a s e d t h e y i e l d of b e e t s by an a v e r a g e of 21 p e r c e n t , but t h e d i f f e r e n t v a r i e t i e s r e s p o n d e d s o m e w h a t d i f f e r e n t l y . D e t r o i t D a r k R e d a n d L o n g D a r k Blood, bot h t a b l e b e e t v a r i e t i e s , w e r e i n c r e a s e d to a m u c h g r e a t e r e x t e n t t h a n L o n g R e d M a n g e l , a s t o c k b e e t . T h e y ie ld s of spinach, the o th e r m e m b e r of this fam ily, w e re in c re a s e d s i g n i f i c a n t l y by s o d i u m a p p l i c a t i o n s . L ong Standing B loom sdale r e ­ s p o n d e d to a m u c h g r e a t e r e x t e n t t h a n A m e r i c a . T h e o th e r fa m ilie s studied re sp o n d e d to sodium applicatio n s to a m u c h l e s s e r e x t e n t . T h e C r u c i f e r a e g a v e y i e l d i n c r e a s e s , t h o ug h slight. T h e y i e l d of t u r n i p s a n d r u t a b a g a s w a s s i g n i f i c a n t l y i n c r e a s e d . C a u l i f l o w e r a n d c a b b a g e y i e l d s w e r e i n c r e a s e d s l i g h t l y , both v a r i e t i e s o f c a b b a g e r e s p o n d i n g to ab ou t t h e s a m e e x t e n t . ially influenced. B r o c c o l i w a s not m a t e r ­ L e g u m e c r o p s w e r e all a d v e r s e l y a f f e c t e d by s o d i u m a p p l i c a t i o n s , t h e y i e l d s of s n a p b e a n s b e i n g d e p r e s s e d to a s i g n i f i c a n t e x t e n t , t h e d e p r e s s i o n a m o u n t i n g to a b o u t t e n p e r c e n t . P e a s a n d l i m a b e a n s w e r e d e p r e s s e d t o a l e s s e r e x t e n t . T h e d i f f e r e n t v a r i e t i e s in t h e s e c r o p s r e s p o n d e d in m u c h t h e s a m e m a n n e r . Cucurbit r e s p o n s e s w e re v a rie d . M uskm elon yields w ere f a v o ra b ly influenced by sodium ap p lic a tio n s, w h e r e a s c u c u m b e r and s q u a s h y i e l d s w e r e not m a t e r i a l l y a f f e c t e d . T h e c u c u m b e r data a r e b a s e d on n u m b e r of f r u i t s p r o d u c e d , b e c a u s e d i s e a s e s k i l l e d m a n y v i n e s b e fo re total y ields could be taken. T h e vines w e re stripped im m ed iately a f t e r t h e o n s e t of t h e d i s e a s e s a n d h e n c e , t h e n u m b e r s of f r u i t p r o d u c e d w e r e t a k e n a s t h e c r i t e r i o n of y i e l d s . I n f l u e n c e s o f Bor on: T a b l e III s h o w s t h e a v e r a g e y i e l d s of a l l c r o p s at t h e d i f f e r e n t b o r o n l e v e l s . In a l l c a s e s t h e m a g n i t u d e s of r e s p o n s e w e r e sm all. No b o r o n d e f i c i e n c i e s w e r e o b s e r v e d in t h e f i e l d a n d h e n c e , l i t t l e r e s p o n s e w o u l d be e x p e c t e d . p r e s s e d by b o r o n a p p l i c a t i o n s . Snap b e a n y i e l d s w e r e s i g n i f i c a n t l y d e ­ V a r i e t i e s of e a c h c r o p r e a c t e d in th e s a m e m a n n e r , a n d h e n c e no v a r i e t y by b o r o n i n t e r a c t i o n s w e r e o b s e r v e d . It will b e n o t e d t h a t t h e o r d e r of r e s p o n s e to t h i s e l e m e n t i s m u c h t h e s a m e a s t h a t o f s o d i u m w i t h t h e p o s s i b l e e x c e p t i o n of m u s k m e l o n w h i c h s e e m e d to b e b e n e f i t t e d by s o d i u m . TA B LE III T H E E F F E C T O F BORON ON T H E T O T A L Y I E L D S O F S E L E C T E D V E G E ­ T A B L E CROPS 1 Pounds Borax p e r A c re Crop 0 C . V. 10 (P ou n ds p e r 6 20 F o o t of Row) C elery 12.49 12.22 12.94 .420 C arrots 11 .5 7 10.91 11 .45 .207 Beet s 19.81 20.82 21 . 2 0 .5 34 Spinach 4.86 4.67 4.97 .397 T urnips 32.08 31 .33 32.98 .08 9 R utabagas 23.76 24.06 24.31 . 175 Cabbage 38 .80 38.36 39.33 .177 Cauliflow er 33.33 33.37 34.45 .178 Broccoli 51 .45 50.81 49.91 .130 Peas 4.99 4.65 4.56 .212 Snap B e a n s 8.57 7.75" 7.19" .200 L im a Beans 6.12 5.97 5.55 .201 C ucum bers 94.21 86.59 91 .21 .245 M uskm elons 48 .48 46 .93 45.27 .368 149.50 145.26 147.56 .268 Squash E a c h v a l u e a n a v e r a g e of at l e a s t 16 d e t e r m i n a t i o n s Interactive Influences: Many f ir s t and second o r d e r in te ra c tio n s w ere c a l c u l a t e d , but o n l y a few w e r e f ou nd to b e s i g n i f i c a n t , o r s h o w e d an y p r o b a b i l i t y o f b e i n g s i g n i f i c a n t , a n d t h e r e f o r e , o n ly t h o s e a r e d e a l t w ith here. T h e d a t a in F i g u r e 1 s h o w t h a t c e l e r y v a r i e t i e s r e s p o n d e d d i f f e r ­ e n t l y to s o d i u m at d i f f e r e n t s o i l pH l e v e l s C o r n e l l 19 g a v e p o s i t i v e r e ­ s p o n s e s t o s o d i u m at hot h p H l e v e l s , w h e r e a s t h e o t h e r t h r e e v a r i e t i e s r e s p o n d e d o n l y at t h e h i g h e r l e v e l . T h i s i s r e f l e c t e d in y i e l d r e s p o n s e to s o d i u m a l o n e , a s s h o w n in T a b l e I w h e r e C o r n e l l 19 m a d e m u c h l a r g e r r e s p o n s e s to s o d i u m t h a n t h e o t h e r v a r i e t i e s . T h e d a t a c o n t a i n e d in F i g u r e 2 s how t h e s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r ­ e n t i a l v a r i e t a l r e s p o n s e of b e e t s to b o r o n at d i f f e r e n t l e v e l s of s o d i u m . T h e y i e l d s o f D e t r o i t D a r k R e d b e e t s w e r e p o o r e s t at m e d i u m b o r o n l e v e l s w it h o u t s o d i u m , w h i l e w i t h s o d i u m t h e m e d i u m b o r o n y i e l d s w e r e t h e b e s t . T h e o t h e r v a r i e t i e s r e s p o n d e d in a s o m e w h a t s i m i l a r m a n n e r but t h e m a g n i t u d e of r e s p o n s e w e r e s o m e w h a t s m a l l e r . F i g u r e 3 shows the i n t e r a c t iv e influence of sodium and b o r o n on t h e r e l a t i v e y i e l d s of s n a p b e a n s , p e a s , a n d l i m a b e a n s . It is o b s e r v e d in s n a p b e a n s th at e i t h e r s o d i u m o r b o r o n a l o n e r e d u c e d y i e l d s h o w e v e r , w h e n s o d i u m w a s a d d e d w it h b o r o n , t h e y i e l d s w e r e r e d u c e d o n l y o n e - t h i r d a s m u c h a s w ith b o r o n a l o n e . T h e e f f e c t in p e a s w a s 0 I.Ijs lOu Na Applied RELATIVE YIELDS I 50 « C o r n e l l 19 RELATIVE YIELDS Figure 1. The rela tiv e y ield s of cele r y v a r ie tie s as influenced by sodium at different so il pH values (each bar an average of 12 values). 0 Na Detroit 1 00 Dark Red Na 0 Na Long 10 0 Dark Blood No L) Na Long 100 Red F igu re 2 . R elative y ie ld s of beet v a rieties a s influenced by boron at different sodium le v e ls (each bar an average of 8 v a lu e s ). Mangel Na Relative Yields Relative Yields Relative 80 10 0 100 . 0 10 L b s Borax Applied 20 L b s B orax Applied P EA S 100 0 Na 100 Na 80 10 L b s B orax Applied 20 L I M A BEANS 0 Na 100 Na 80 20 Figure 3. Relative yields of snap beans, peas, and lima beans as influenced by boron appl icatio n at different sodium levels (each point an average of 16 val ues). Yields 36 SNAP BEANS 100 Na 100 Na 37 s i m i l a r , e x c e p t t h a t t h e a d d i t i o n o f s o d i u m w it h t w e n t y p o u n d s of b o r a x i n c r e a s e d y i e l d s o v e r b o r a x a l o n e . L i m a b e a n s p r o v i d e an i n t e r e s t i n g c o n t r a s t in t h a t n e i t h e r s o d i u m n o r b o r o n h a d a n y i n f l u ­ e n c e on t h e e f f e c t of t h e o t h e r on y i e l d s . T a b l e IV s h o w s t h e i n t e r a c t i v e i n f l u e n c e of p o t a s s i u m a n d b o r o n on t h e y i e l d s of t h e d i f f e r e n t v a r i e t i e s of s q u a s h a n d m u s k m e l o n s . C a s e r t a s q u a s h y i e l d s w e r e not m a t e r i a l l y a f f e c t e d by b o r o n a p p l i c a t i o n s r e g a r d l e s s of t h e p o t a s s i u m a p p l i c a t i o n s , w h e r e a s Blue H u b b a r d y i e l d s w e r e i n c r e a s e d by t h e t w e n t y p o u n d b o r a x a p p l i c a t i o n s w h e n p o t a s s i u m w a s not a p p l i e d , a n d w e r e s h a r p l y d e p r e s s e d by l i k e a m o u n t s of b o r a x a p p l i e d in c o n j u n c t i o n w it h p o t a s h a p p l i c a t i o n s . M u s k m e l o n v a r i e t i e s r e s p o n d e d q u i t e d i f f e r e n t l y to t h e i n t e r a c t i o n s of p o ta ssiu m and boron. Ho ne y R o c k y i e l d s w e r e s h a r p l y r e d u c e d , e s ­ p e c i a l l y b y t h e m e d i u m b o r a x a p p l i c a t i o n wit ho ut p o t a s s i u m a p p l i c a t i o n s , h o w e v e r, when p o t a s s i u m w as applied, the m e d iu m b o r a x application i n c r e a s e d , but t h e h ig h l e v e l s s h a r p l y r e d u c e d y i e l d s . R e s i s t a n t 45 w a s q u i t e i n s e n s i t i v e to a n y i n f l u e n c e of b o r a x , w ith o r w it ho ut a d d i ­ tional p o ta sh . S e v e ra l o th e r c r o p s showed tr e n d s to w ard s im ila r i n t e r ­ a c t i o n s . but b e c a u s e o f t h e v a r i a b i l i t y in r e s p o n s e , t h e y w e r e not 38 T A B L E IV R E L A T I V E Y I E L D S O F SQUASH AND M U S K M E L O N V A R I E T I E S AS I N F L U E N C E D BY BORON A T T W O P OT AS S IU M L E V E L S L b s P o ta s s iu m Applied L b s Borax Applied 0 0 10 100 20 0 ( E a c h N u m b e r a n A v e r a g e of 10 8 20 Values) SQUASH Blue H u b b a r d C aserta 100.0 100.0 96.7 102.8 126. 4 94. 4 96.7 120.3 104.7 119 .3 98 .7 100.2 108 .7 95..9 81 .9 98.2 MUSKMELON Honey Rock R e s i s t a n t #45 100.0 100.0 73.4 103.0 86 8 91.9 100. 6 101.6 39 s i g n i f i c a n t , a n d a r e t h e r e f o r e not d i s c u s s e d . D u e to v a r i a b i l i t y , c a l c i u m a n d p o t a s s i u m d i d not e x e r t in d e p e n d e n t o r i n t e r a c t i v e i n ­ f l u e n c e s o n y i e l d s of a n y c r o p ; t h e r e f o r e , t h o s e d a t a a r e not i n c l u d e d . Plant C o m p o s i t i o n T h e a n a l y s e s w e r e m a d e on t h e v e g e t a t i v e l e a f t i s s u e only, w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f b r o c c o l i a n d c a u l i f l o w e r , w h i c h w e r e abou t o n e - h a l f c u r d a n d o n e - h a l f l e a f t i s s u e . T h e s i z e of tlie e x p e r i m e n t di d not p e r m i t a n a ly z in g th e fruit o r root t i s s u e s a m p l e s c o lle c t e d . It w a s felt t h a t a n a l y s i s o f l e a f t i s s u e a l l o w e d a m o r e c r i t i c a l e v a l u a t i o n of t h e n u t r i i i o n a l r e l a t i o n ­ s h i p s t h a n c o u l d b e o b t a i n e d by u s e o f t h e w h o l e p l a n t , s i n c e t h e l e a v e s a r e t h e s e a t of p h y s i o l o g i c a l a c t i v i t y a n d a r e u s u a l l y u s e d in d i a g n o s i n g n u t r i t io n a l t r o u b l e s A n a l y s e s of t h e s o d i u m , b o r o n , p o t a s s i u m , a n d c a l c i u m c o n t e n t s w e r e m a d e of le af ti s s u e of all c r o p s . S ig n if i ca n t d i f f e r e n c e s w e r e found in t h e a v e r a g e n u t r i e n t c o n t e n t b e t w e e n c r o p s a n d in s e v e r a l i n s t a n c e s w ithin a crop am o n g v a r ie tie s . Sodium Content: Sodium w a s th e m o s t v a r i a b le constituent d e t e r m i n e d . S o d iu m c o n t e n t s , a s sh o w n in T a b l e V, r a n g e d f r o m a n a v e r a g e of 1 .11 p e r c e n t in b e e t s t o o n ly 0.01 p e r ce n t in s n a p b e a n s , l i m a b e a n s , a n d s q u a s h . S o d i u m i n s i g n i f i c a n t l y i n c r e a s e d t h e s o d i u m co n t en t of a l l c r o p s e x c e p t sna p bean s, lim a beans, and s q u a s h . TA B L E V S ODI UM C O N T E N T O F V E G E T A B L E CROP V A R I E T I E S AS I N ­ F L U E N C E D BY SODIUM A P P L IC A T I O N Crop and V ariety P o u n d s S o d iu m p e r A c r e 0 H /L R atio1 100 ( V a r i e t y V a l u e s A v e r a g e s f r o m 24 S a m p l e s in P e r Ce n t D r y Wei ght ) C elery C o r n e l l 19 E m erso n Pascal Sum m er Pascal U t a h 10B Carrot s G o ld S p ik e S u p re m e H alf L ong Beet s D etroit D a rk Red L o n g D a r k Blood Long Red Mangel Spinach A m erica Bloom sdale T urnips R utabagas Cabbage R e sista n t D etroit Red Rock C auliflow er Broccoli Peas Freezonian T h o m a s Laxton Sn ap B e a n s Topcrop Black V alentine L i m a Beans Thorogreen F o r d h o o k 242 Cucum bers M arketer National Pickling M uskm elons Honey R ock R e s i s t a n t #45 Squash Blue H u b b a r d C aserta 0.21 0.23 0 .2 0 0.2 0 1 .23" 1 .49** 1.13 1 .30 1 .01 0.21 0.27 0.32 0.22 0.56 0.54 0.59 0.57 0.05 0.05 0.06 0.13 0.07 0.06 0.08 0.04 0.09 0.04 0.0 2 0.03 0.01 0.01 0.60 0.72" * 0.48 1 .77" 2.29"" 1 .48 1 .54 0 . 59" 0.55 0 .6 4 " " 0.28" 0 .12" 0 . 1 7" 0.25"" 0.1 0 0 0 0 .2 2 * .19* .08" 0 .11" • 0.05 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 5.8 6.5 5.7 6.5 4.8 2.2 2.2 2.2 3.1 4.2 2.5 2.7 10.8 11.0 10 .6 2.0 1.7 2.8 3.1 2.5 2.4 4 .7 4.0 3.7 5.0 1.0 1 .0 1 .0 1 .0 0.01 0.01 1.0 0.01 0.01 1 .0 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.05" 0.05 0.05 0.06 0.07"" 0.05 5.0 5.0 5 .0 0.01 1.0 6 .0 7.0 5 .0 .0 0.01 0.01 1 0.01 0.01 1.0 ^High to low l e v e l r a t i o ' D e n o t e s s i g n i f i c a n c e at t h e one p e r ce n t l e v e l b e t w e e n v a r i e t i e s D e n o t e s s i g n i f i c a n c e at t h e fiv e p e r ce n t l e v e l f o r s o d i u m a p p l i c a t i o n 41 In a d d i t i o n to b e e t s ; s p i n a c h , c e l e r y , a n d c a r r o t s a l s o a b s o r b e d a p p r e c ia b le a m o u n ts of sodium T a b l e V a lso shows the r a t i o of t h e s o d i u m c o n t e n t f o un d at t h e low a s c o m p a r e d to t h e high l e v e l s of a p p l i c a t i o n . Spinach a b s o r b e d eleven t i m e s a s m uch sodium at t h e high a s at t h e low l e v e l s , w h e r e a s c a r r o t s a b s o r b e d onl y two t i m e s as much. T h e i n c r e a s e d a b s o r p t i o n of b e e t s a n d c e l e r y at t h e high s o d i u m l e v e l s w a s i n t e r m e d i a t e to t h a t of c a r r o t s a n d s p i n a c h . T h e c r u c i f e r s v a r i e d to s o m e e x t e n t in t h e i r a b i l i t y to a c ­ c u m u l a t e s o d i u m . A p p l i c a t i o n s of s o d i u m d o u b l e d t h e s o d i u m c o n c e n t r a ­ t i o n s in t u r n i p s w h i l e in b r o c c o l i it i n c r e a s e d c o n c e n t r a t i o n s 4 . 7 t i m e s , w h e r e a s in c a u l i f l o w e r a n d b r o c c o l i t h e i n f l u e n c e s o f s o d i u m a p p l i c a t i o n a s sodium content w e r e in t e r m e d i a te . T h e legum es and cucurbits also provide i n t e r e s t i n g d i f f e r e n c e s w i t h i n f a m i l i e s in t h a t p e a s , c u c u m b e r s , a n d m u s k m e lo n s a b s o r b e d sodium while snap b e a n s, lim a b e a n s, and s q u ash s e l e c ­ t i v e l y e x c l u d e d it . In a l l c r o p s t h a t s h o w e d a s i g n i f i c a n t i n c r e a s e in s o d i u m f r o m i t s a p p l i c a t i o n , w it h t h e e x c e p t i o n of c u c u m b e r s a b i l i t y to a c c u m u l a t e s o d i u m . v a r i e t i e s d i f f e r e d in t h e i r C o r n e l l 19 c e l e r y , G o ld Sp ike c a r r o t s , D e t r o i t D a r k R e d b e e t s , B l o o m s d a l e spinach.. R e s i s t a n t D e t r o i t c a b b a g e Freezom an p e a s , a n d Ho ne y R o c k m u s k m e l o n s all a b s o r b e d g r e a t e r a m o u n t s of s o d i u m at t h e hig h s o d i u m l e v e l s t h a n t h e o t h e r v a r i e t y o r v a r i e t i e s t e s t e d . 42 Boron Content: T a b l e VI s h o w s t h e e f f e c t of b o r a x a p p l i c a t i o n s on t h e b o ro n content of the c r o p s and v a r i e t i e s . W i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n of c a r r o t s and cabbage, b o r a x ap p licatio n s significantly in c r e a s e d the boron content of all c r o p s . C r o p s w i t h i n f a m i l i e s v a r i e d w i d e l y in t h e i r a b i l i t y to a b s o r b b o r o n . C e le ry , a cro p freq u en tly tro u b le d with bo ro n d e f i c i e n c y , a b s o r b e d abo u t t h e s a m e a m o u n t of b o r o n a s c a r r o t s at t h e l o w s o i l l e v e l , but at t h e h i g h l e v e l s o f b o r a x a p p l i c a t i o n , c e l e r y a b s o r b e d 56 p e r c e n t m o r e b o r o n , w h e r e a s c a r r o t s o n l y a b s o r b e d p e r cent m o r e . 8 Spinach a b s o r b e d o n e - t h i r d l e s s b o ro n than b e e t s at lo w s o i l l e v e l s , w h i l e at h i g h l e v e l s , it a b s o r b e d s l i g h t l y m o r e . T h e c r u c i f e r s p r o v id e an i n t e r e s t i n g c o n tra st within a single fa m ily . C abbage contain ed l e s s b o ro n with a tw enty pound b o r a x a p p l i c a t i o n t h a n w h e n no b o r a x w a s a d d e d , w h i l e c a u l i f l o w e r contained its tis s u e . 53 p e r c e n t m o r e , but h a d t h e l o w e s t a v e r a g e c o n c e n t r a t i o n in T u r n i p s and b roccoli contained alm o st tw ice as m uch b o r o n a s t h e o t h e r c r o p s in t h i s f a m i l y . L eg u m es v a rie d somewhat in that p e a s and snap b e a n s co n ta in e d o v e r t h r e e t i m e s a s m u c h boron at hi gh t h a n at t h e low l e v e l , w h i l e l i m a b e a n s a b s o r b e d o n l y about tw ice as m uch. C u c u r b i t s , l i k e w i s e , v a r i e d in m u c h t h e s a m e m anner as legum es. C ucum ber and m uskm elon absorption in c re a se d 4.3 TABLE VI BORON C O N T E N T O F V E G E T A B L E CROP V A R I E T I E S AS I N ­ F L U E N C E D BY BORON A PP L IC A T I O N S Crop and V ariety Pounds Borax p e r A c re 0 10 20 A verage H /L 1 ( A s p p m B o r o n . E a c h V a r i e t a l V a l u e a n A v e r a g e o f 16 D e t e r m i n a t i o n s ) C elery 41 . 1 52.5 64.3 52.7 1 .56 C o r n e l l 19 44. 2 53. 3 64 . 2 55. 9 1 .45 E m erson Pascal 35 . 5 46. 6 1.65 58. 6 46. 9 S um m er Pascal 47. 4 61. 8 70. 4 1 .48 59. 9** U t a h 10B 37. 4 48. 4 1 .70 63. 9 43 . 2 C arrots 41 . 8 42.3 1 .08 45.3 43.1 G o l d Sp ik e 41 . 8 41 . 6 1 .07 45. 0 42. 8 S u p r e m e H alf L o n g 41 . 9 43. 1 45. 7 43. 6 1.09 Beets 59.0 77.7 93.7 1 .58 76.8 D etroit D a rk Red 6 6 .2 97. 4 123. 1 95. 6 " * 1.86 L o n g D a r k Blood 60 . 9 2 72. 80. 6 71. 2 1 .32 L ong Red Mangel 63. 6 77. 0 1 .54 49. 9 63. 5 Spinach 2 .46 39.1 65.1 96.3 66.8 A m erica 35. 4 2.42 58 . 1 85. 7 59. 7 42. 8 2.50 72. 1 107. 0 74. o- * B loom sdale 1 .24 84.2 T urnips 74.7 85.0 92.9 1 .19 36.0 39.8 43.0 39.6 R utabagas .97 28 . 0 31 .0 26.1 Cabbage 26.9 .92 25 . 7 31 . 6 23. 7 Red Rock 29. 1 1.01 27. 0 28. 2 30. 5 28. 6 R e sista n t D etroit 1 .53 26.4 20.2 28 . 1 31 0 C auliflow er 1 .34 73.2 78.7 70.1 58 .4 Broccoli 3 .04 152 . 2 99.3 95 .7 50.0 Peas 3.91 165. 7 1 0 2 .5 42. 3 99. 6 F reezonia 2.39 96 . 1 138. 7 57. 8 91 . 9 T h o m a s Laxton 3 .28 1 6 0 . 6 1 0 6 . 6 1 1 0 . 3 48 .9 S nap B e a n s 4.21 116 . 8 * ‘ 186. 1 45. 1 119. 1 Top Crop 2.56 96 .5 135. 2 7 1 0 1 . 6 52. Black V alen tin e 2 .03 69.0 94.9 65.5 46.8 L i m a Beans 1 .67 6 8 . 6 85. 9 6 8 . 5 4 51 . Thoro green 2 .46 103. 9 69. 5 62 . 6 42. 1 F o r d h o o k 242 2 .63 158 .7 114.3 124.0 60.2 Cucum ber 2.62 118. 9 166. 9 126. 1 63. 6 M arketer 2.64 150. 6 109. 8 121 .9 56. 9 N ational Pickling 3 .39 1 5 0 . 2 2 2 9 . 9 153.0 67.8 M uskm elon 3.98 132 . 7 208. 2 137. 6 52. 2 Honey Rock 9*3.01 167. 7 251 168 . 5 83. 5 R e s i s t a n t *45 1 .75 99.2 128 .3 96.1 73.1 Squash 1 .48 1 1 0 . 1 ** 132. 1 2 109. 89. 1 Blue H u b b a r d 2 .18 88 .2 124. 5 83. 1 57. 1 C aserta ^ C o n t e n t at hig h l e v e l to c o n t e n t at low l e v e l r a t i o * ‘ S i g n i f i c a n t v a r i e t a l d i f f e r e n c e at t h e o n e p e r c e n t l e v e l 44 1 63 a n d 239 p e r c e n t , r e s p e c t i v e l y , w h i l e s q u a s h a b s o r p t i o n i n c r e a s e d o n l y 75 p e r c e n t f r o m lo w a s c o m p a r e d to h i g h s o il b o r o n t r e a t m e n t s . V a r i e t i e s w i t h i n c r o p s d i f f e r e d s i g n i f i c a n t l y in t h e i r a b i l i t y to a c c u m u l a t e b o r o n . S u m m e r P a s c a l a n d C o r n e l l 19 c e l e r y a b s o r b e d s i g n i f i c a n t l y g r e a t e r a m o u n t s of b o r o n at al l l e v e l s o f b o r o n in t h e s o il t h a n U t a h 10B o r E m e r s o n P a s c a l . D e t r o i t D a r k R e d b e e t s , B l o o m s d a l e s p i n a c h . T o p c r o p s n a p b e a n s , R e s i s t a n t #45 m u s k m e l o n s , a n d Blue H u b b a r d s q u a s h c o n t a i n e d s i g n i f i c a n t l y h i g h e r b o r o n c o n c e n ­ tra tio n s than th e ir com p ared v a rie tie s. T h e r e w e r e s i g n i f i c a n t v a r i e t y by b o r o n l e v e l i n t e r a c t i o n s in p e a s , s n a p b e a n s , a n d l i m a b e a n s . F i g u r e 4 s h o w s t h a t in al l t h r e e c r o p s t h e v a r i e t y t h a t a b s o r b e d t h e l e a s t b o r o n w h e n b o r a x w a s not applied, a b s o r b e d the m ost boron fro m plots re c e iv in g the twenty pound borax application. In c o n t r a s t , c u c u r b i t v a r i e t i e s s h o w e d no s i g n i f i c a n t i n t e r a c t i o n s w i t h b o r o n a p p l i c a t i o n a n d t h e v a r i e t i e s of c u c u m b e r , m u s k m e l o n , a n d s q u a s h t h a t a b o s r b e d t h e l e a s t b o r o n w h e n b o r a x w a s not a p p l i e d , a l s o a c c u m u l a t e d t h e l e a s t b o r o n w h e n t w e n t y p o u n d s of b o r a x w a s a d d e d . P o ta s s iu m Content: p o tassiu m contents. V a r i e t i e s w i t h i n c r o p s d i f f e r e d s i g n i f i c a n t l y in t h e i r T a b l e VII s h o w s s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e s a m o n g v a r i e ­ t i e s in b e e t s , c a b b a g e , p e a s , snap bean s, lim a beans, c u c u m b e rs , m u s k ­ m e l o n s . a n d s q u a s h c r o p s in t h e i r K c o n t e n t s . 45 SNAP BEANS MUSKMELONS 250 100 150 PPM BORON 200- 10 L b s Borax Applied PEAS 0 250 100 10 L b s Borax Applied 20 C U CU M BE R S 150 PPM BORON 200 20 0 10 0 ■ 20 50 0 L b s Borax Applied 200 LI M A BEANS BORON 250 10 L b s B orax Applied 20 SQUASH PPM 150 0 10 L b s Borax A pplied * 20 50 0 10 L b s Borax Applied 20 F i g u r e 4 . B o r o n c o n t e n t a s p p m d r y w eig ht of s n ap b e a n s , p e a s , l i m a b e a n s , m u s k m e l o n . c u c u m b e r a n d s q u a s h v a r i e t i e s a s i n f l u e n c e d by b o r a x a p p l i ­ c a t i o n ( e a c h p o i n t a n a v e r a g e o f 16 v a l u e s ) . T A B LE VII T H E P O T A S S IU M C O N T E N T O F V A R I E T I E S O F S E L E C T E D V E G E ­ T A B L E CROPS AS I N F L U E N C E D BY P OT AS SI U M A P P L IC A T I O N Pounds P o ta s s iu m A pplied 0 100 A vg ( E x p r e s s e d a s P e r C en t D r y "Weight, A v g of 24 V a l u e s ) C elery C o r n e l l 19 E m erso n Pascal Sum m er Pascal U t a h 10B C arrots G o l d S p ik e S u p re m e Half L ong Beets D etroit D a rk Red L o n g D a r k Blood Long Red M angel Spinach A m erica Bloom sdale Turnip Rutabaga Cabbage Red Rock R e sis ta n t D etroit Cauliflow er Broccoli Peas Freezonian T h o m a s Laxton Snap B e a n s T opcross Black V alen tin e L i m a Beans Thorogreen F o r d h o o k 242 Cucum bers M arketer National P ickling M u sk m elons Honey R ock R e s i s t a n t #45 Squash Blue H u b b a r d C aserta ' 3.32 3.30 3.43 3.37 3.19 3.66 3.77 3.56 4.93 6.14 4.61 4.05 6.08 5.93 6.24 6.56 3.01 2 69 2.62 2.75 2.95 2.50 2.09 2.43 1.75 2.44 2.03 2.85 2.01 2.55 1 -47 3.19 2.96 3.43 2 84 2.58 3.11 3.93 3.75 4.12 3.43 3.49 3.56 3.27 3.42 4.49 4 32^ 4.67 5.11 6.26 4.65 4.44 7.01 6 46 7.56 6 .8 8 3.13 2.88 2.71 3.05 3.34 2.81 2.46 ^ 2 92 2.02 2.94 2.56 3.33 2 03 2.62 1 .44 3.30 3.12 3 48 3.10 2.80 3.40 3.97 3.77 4.18 3.36 3.39 3.49 3.32 3.31 4.07 4 04 4.11 5.02 6 . 2 0 —s 4.63 4.24 6.54 6 .19 6.90 6.72 3.07 2.78 2.66 3.90 3.14 2.65 2.27 2.67 1.88 2.69 2.29 3.09 2.02 2 58 1 .45 3.24 3.04 3.45 2 95 2.69 3 .2 5 3.95 3.76 4 .1 5 - ^ D e n o t e s s i g n i f i c a n t v a r i e t y by p o t a s s i u m i n t e r a c t i o n =D e n o t e s s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n v a r i e t i e s at o n e p e r cent le \ 47 S i g n i f i c a n t v a r i e t y b y p o t a s s i u m i n t e r a c t i o n s o c c u r r e d in c a rro ts, cabbage and p e a s. At t h e lo w p o t a s s i u m l e v e l , S u p r e m e Half- l o n g c a r r o t s c o n t a i n e d l o w e r c o n c e n t r a t i o n s of p o t a s s i u m t h a n G o l d Spike, h o w e v e r w ith p o t a s s i u m app licatio n , it s c o n c e n tra tio n ex c e e d e d t h a t of G o l d S p i k e . R esistant D etroit cabbage and F re e z o n ia n p e a s c o n t a i n e d m u c h h i g h e r c o n c e n t r a t i o n s of p o t a s s i u m at t h e h i g h s o i l p o ta s s iu m level than th e ir c o m p a r e d v a r i e t i e s . C alcium C ontent: T h e r e w e r e la r g e significant differe n ces between v a r i e t i e s o f s e v e r a l c r o p s in t h e a m o u n t s o f c a l c i u m a b s o r b e d p e r unit o f d r y m a t t e r p r o d u c e d . T a b l e VIII s h o w s t h a t E m e r s o n P a s c a l c e le r y , S u p re m e H a lf-lo n g c a r r o t s , B loom sdale spinach, D etroit D a r k R ed b e e ts , T op c ro p snap b e a n s . T h o ro g re e n lim a beans, R e s i s t a n t #45 m u s k m e l o n s , a n d Blue H u b b a r d s q u a s h c o n t a i n e d s i g n i ­ f i c a n t l y g r e a t e r a m o u n t s o f c a l c i u m t h a n t h e o t h e r v a r i e t i e s of t h e s e crops. V a r i e t i e s of c a r r o t s and snap b e a n s d iffere d in t h e i r c a lc iu m a b s o r p t i o n at d i f f e r e n t p H l e v e l s . S uprem e Half-long c a r r o t s a b ­ s o r b e d 40 p e r c e n t m o r e c a l c i u m , w h e r e a s G o l d Sp ike i n c r e a s e d onl y 27 p e r c e n t in C a c o n t e n t at t h e high, a s c o m p a r e d t o t h e lo w pH l e v e l . B l a c k V a l e n t i n e s n a p b e a n s c o n t a i n e d a 25 p e r cent h i g h e r c o n - 49 ce n t r a t i o n s o f c a l c i u m at t h e h ig h a s c o m p a r e d to t h e low soi 1 pH l e v e l , w h e r e a s t h e T o p c r o p v a r i e t y c o n t a i n e d a 5 p e r cent l o w e r c o n c e n t r a t i o n at t h e s a m e l e v e l s . T h e s e d i f f e r e n c e s in c a l c i u m c o n t e n t w e r e not a s s o c i a t e d w i t h a n y s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e s in yield. I n f l u e n c e o f S o d i u m on t h e A b s o r p t i o n of O t h e r E l e m e n t s T h e I n f l u e n c e o f S o d i u m A p p l i c a t i o n on t h e A b s o r p t i o n of Boron: Table I X s h o w s t h e i n f l u e n c e o f s o d i u m a p p l i c a t i o n on t h e a b s o r p t i o n o f b o r o n . S o d i u m s i g n i f i c a n t l y r e d u c e d t h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n o f b o r o n in c e l e r y , beets, spinach,, p e a s , s n a p b e a n s , a n d c u c u m b e r s , a n d in c a b b a g e , b r o c c o l i, and m u s k m e lo n s to a l e s s e r extent . T h e o th e r c r o p s w e r e e i t h e r not a f f e c t e d o r t h e b o r o n c o n t e n t w a s s l i g h t l y i n c r e a s e d b y t h e a d d i t i o n of s o d i u m to t h e soil . T a b l e X a n d F i g u r e 5 sh ow s i g n i f i c a n t i n t e r a c t i o n s of s o d i u m a n d b o r o n a p p l i c a t i o n s on t h e b o r o n c o n t e n t o f c e l e r y , b e e t s , s p i n a c h and b ro c c o li . H e re sodium applicatio n significantly re d u c e d the a b ­ s o r p t i o n o f b o r o n to a g r e a t e r e x t e n t at t h e h i g h e r l e v e l s of b o r a x a p p l i c a t i o n t h a n w h e n no ne w a s a p p l i e d . 50 S o d i u m d e p r e s s e d t h e a b s o r p t i o n of b o r o n in s o m e v a r i e t i e s o f c e l e r y a n d b e e t s to s i g n i f i c a n t l y g r e a t e r e x t e n t s t h a n in o t h e r s . F igure 6 s h o w s t h a t t h e b o r o n c o n c e n t r a t i o n s in t h e l e a v e s of beet v a r i e t i e s w a s i n f l u e n c e d d i f f e r e n t i a l l y by s o d i u m a p p l i c a t i o n . The b o r o n c o n c e n t r a t i o n s in D e t r o i t D a r k R e d w e r e h i g h e s t w it ho ut a d ­ d i t i o n a l s o d i u m , but w a s d e p r e s s e d to t h e g r e a t e s t e x t e n t w h e n s o d i u m w a s added, w hich m ig h t in d icate that w id e r b o ro n c o n c e n tr a ti o n s m i g h t b e o b s e r v e d in t h i s v a r i e t y t h a n in t h e o t h e r s . F i g u r e 7 s h o w s t h e b o r o n c o n c e n t r a t i o n s in f o u r v a r i e t i e s o f c e l e r y at tw o s o d i u m a n d t h r e e b o r o n l e v e l s . S u m m e r P a s c a l a n d C o r n e l l 19 w e r e d e p r e s s e d t h e l e a s t , w h i l e U t a h JOB w a s d e p r e s s e d the m ost . TABLE VIII T H E C A L C I U M C O N T E N T O F S E V E R A L V A R I E T I E S WI TH IN V E G E ­ T A B L E CROPS AS I N F L U E N C E D BY p H pH 5.4 6 .0 A vg . ( E x p r e s s e d a s P e r C en t D r y Wei ght ) C elery C o r n e l l 19 E m e rso n Pascal Sum m er Pascal U t a h 10B C arrots G o l d Sp ike S u p r e m e Half L ong Beets D etroit D a rk Red L o n g D a r k Blood L ong R ed Mangel Spinach A m erica B loom sdale T urnips R utabagas Cabbage Red Rock R esistan t D etroit C auliflow er Broccoli Peas Freezonian T h o m a s Laxton S nap B e a n s Top crop Black V alentine L i m a Beans Thorogreen F o r d h o o k 242 M uskm elons H o n ey R o c k R e s i s t a n t #45 Cucum bers M arketer N ational Pickling Squash Blue H u b b a r d Ca s e r t a 0.62 0.65 0 .6 8 0.54 0.64 0.91 0 .8 6 0.97 0.61 0.82 0.52 0.48 0.46 0.42 0.50 1 .40 0.71 0.26 0.26 0.25 0.47 1 .25 1 .34 1 .35 1 .34 2 .76 3.77 2.25 3.14 3.39 2.89 5.77 4.67 6.87 2 .39 2.42 2.36 4.03 5.14 2.92 0.64 0.61 0.78 0.55 0.64 1 .23 1 .09 1.36 0.70 0.92 0.61 0.59 0.47 0.41 0.54 1 .51 0.75 0.27 0.26 0.27 0.48 1 .38 1 .48 1 .52 1 .44 2 .95 3.59 2.82 3 .43 3.77 3,10 6.68 5 .61 7.75 2.70 2.83 2 .57 4 66 5.67 3.65 D e n o t e s s i g n i f i c a n c e at t h e five p e r ce n t l e v e l " ' D e n o t e s s i g n i f i c a n c e at t h e o n e p e r cent l e v e l 0 .63 0.63 0 .73** 0.54 0.64 1 .07 0.97 1 .17** 0.65 0 .8 7 * * 0.58 0.53 0.47 0.42 0.52* * 1 .46 0.73 0.26 0.26 0.26 0.48 1 .32 1 .41 1 44 1 .39 2 .87 3 .4 5* * 2.29 3 .30 3. 6 0 * * 3 .01 6.25 5.16 7 .35 * 2.55 2 63 2.47 4 .34 5.42** 3.29 51 T A B LE IX BORON C O N T E N T OF S E L E C T E D V E G E T A B L E CROPS AS I N ­ F L U E N C E D BY SODIUM APPLICATION Crop P o u n d s S o d iu m A p p l i e d 0 100 P e r Ce nt Change P e r Ce nt G rowth Change ( E x p r e s s e d a s p p m D r y W ei g ht ) Celery 5 8 . 62 48.3 -17.5** 39 C arrots 44.2 45.3 2.5 14 Beet s 86.7 68.1 -2 Spinach 76.8 56.8 -26.0 * 20 T urnips 82.8 85.6 3.4 12 R utabagas 38 .3 39.9 4.2 23 Cabbage 28 .7 27.3 -5.1 7 C auliflow er 25.7 27.1 5.4 11 Broccoli 72.8 67,5 -7.3 4 Peas 106.4 92.2 -13.3"' - 14 Snap B e a n s 114.7 98.5 -13 . 2 * -15 L i m a Beans 68.9 69.2 Cucum bers 119.2 109.4 M uskm elons 158.0 142.5 - 10.8 19 Squash 100.2 98.0 -2 . 2 0 1 .5 V 0 -9 .0 ‘ ^ I n f l u e n c e of s o d i u m on v e g e t a t i v e g r o w t h ^ E a c h v a l u e a n a v e r a g e of at l e a s t 24 d e t e r m i n a t i o n s * D e n o t e s s i g n i f i c a n c e at 5 p e r c e n t l e v e l “ D e n o t e s s i g n i f i c a n c e at 1 p e r c e n t le ve l 31 -6 2 TAB LE X BORON C O N T E N T OF S E L E C T E D V EG E TA B LE CROPS AS I N F L U E N C E D BY BORON APPLICATIONS AT D I F F E R E N T SODIUM L E V E L S P o u n d s Na p e r A c r e 0 Pounds Borax p e r A cre 0 100 10 20 0 10 20 ( E x p r e s s e d a s p p m in t h e D r y W ei g ht ) C elery 42. . 0 Carrot s 1 55 .8 72. 8 40 .2 42 .5 43 1 47 .2 41 . Beets 59 .9 84 .5 109 .0 Spinach 37..9 73 .0 119 .7 T urnips 77 79. 1 92 .4 72 .4 90,.9 93 .5 R utabagas 37. . 2 36 .5 41 32 42 .7 44 .7 Cabbage 28 .6 30 .2 27 .4 25 .3 31 .8 24 C auliflow er 18 .1 28 .0 31 22 .4 28 . 1 30 .9 Broccoli 57 .4 75 .5 85 .5 59 .4 71 .0 72 . 0 Peas 49 .8 97, . 8 171 .5 50 .3 93. . 6 132. . 8 Snap B e a n s 49..3 118..4 176..5 48 .4 .4 144. . 8 L im a Beans 44..3 66 ,0 96 .3 0 93. 4 Cucum bers 62 .4 126 .9 1 6 8 .. 2 58. . 0 121 .0 149. 3 M uskm elons 69..4 168 .9 235 .8 6 6 ,. 2 137. Squash 69 141 . 1 76. 4 1 0 2 .0 6 89. 9 .2 .1 .2 55 . T 1 41 .5 43 .4 58 .2 70 .9 78 , 3: 40 .2 57 73 49 .2 .1 49 102 . 65. ^ E a c h v a l u e a n a v e r a g e of at l e a s t eight d e t e r m i n a t i o n s * D e n o t e s s i g n i f i c a n t i n t e r a c t i o n at 5 p e r c e n t l e v e l : 4D e n o t e s s i g n i f i c a n t i n t e r a c t i o n at 1 p e r ce nt l e v e l 1 2 . 224. .0 .8 0 115. 4 53 o o o o o o o o CM CM G C D 5-1 TD cd Qh co CX ' G O * X *—i BROCCOLI cd DQ CQ O o CQ o lx CX cd G o u o X3 >s X3 CO CD cd 3 o G cd CD > 3 4—' CQ j C G bo "CJ O o o O O o U0 o CO cd CO CL ’53 4—■ O u u CD CO cd CD 4—> cd L -h 3 o cd CD *—> bo L-I 3 O 5 -i CD > cd G cd 4—4 <4-4 O G ■rH O CX G CD _C O G cd CD O 4 -^ o G co O 5h 1 3 O CQ i-O 6 3 CD S-i ’B O 3= CO El* 160 BEETS - BORON CONTENT 120 1. I 1S . I l n R A X V \ DL. T K O I I AITl.lLD +- \ A DAK k k i + ,\A ' )l >D ;d F ig u re 6 . The boron content of beet v a r ie tie s as influenced by boron applications at different sodium le v e ls (each bar an average o f 8 values) . ’ I■ l - L H V IHlrtDN CON T K N T i i Ji> M l \x S 0 9A + S U M M IT PASCAL (I N A + NA C O R N E L L 19 0 NA +NA Utah t on A i’i’i .n - .o 0 NA EMERSON +NA PASCA1 F igu re 7. The boron content of c e le r y v a rieties as influenced by boron applications at different sodium le v e ls (each bar an average of 8 v a lu e s). 55 T h e I n f l u e n c e o f S o d i u m on P o t a s s i u m A b s o r p t i o n : S o d iu m a p p l i c a t i o n e x e r t e d s t r o n g i n f l u e n c e s on t h e p o t a s s i u m a b s o r p t i o n of s e v e r a l c r o p s . T a b l e XI s h o w s t h a t s o d i u m d e c r e a s e d t h e p o t a s s i u m c o n t e n t of c e l e r y , c a r r o t s , b e e ts, b ro c c o li, snap b e an s, lim a beans, c u c u m b e rs , m uskm e l o n s . a n d s q u a s h ; c a r r o t s a n d l i m a b e a n s to a s i g n i f i c a n t ex t e n t . It i n c r e a s e d the p o t a s s i u m content of spinach, tu r n ip s , rutab a g a, cabbage, a n d di d not a f f e c t c a u l i f l o w e r o r p e a s . Significant i n t e r a c t i v e in flu en ces betw een p o ta s s iu m and s o d i u m a p p l i c a t i o n s on t h e p o t a s s i u m c o n t e n t of t u r n i p s a n d s q u a s h w ere observed. In t h e s e c r o p s , s o d i u m d e p r e s s e d t h e p o t a s s i u m co n t en t at low p o t a s s i u m l e v e l s , w h i l e at hi g h l e v e l s , t h e e f fe c t w a s r e v e r s e d . P o t a s s i u m a p p l i c a t i o n s w it h o u t s o d i u m a d d i t i o n s i n c r e a s e d p o t a s s i u m c o n t e n t in b e e t s , but f a i l e d to do so w h e n s o d i u m w a s a p p l i e d . T h e I n f l u e n c e of S o d i u m on C a l c i u m : S o d iu m a l s o e x e r t e d a p r o n o u n c e d e f f e c t on t h e c a l c i u m c o n t e n t of t h e p l a n t . T a b l e XII s h o w s th a t s o d i u m s i g n i ­ f i c a n t l y d e p r e s s e d t h e c a l c i u m c o n t e n t of c e l e r y , a n d s p i n a c h , b e e t s , b r o c c o l i , r u t a b a g a s to l e s s e r e x t e n t s . On t h e o t h e r h an d , s o d i u m s i g n i f i c a n t l y i n ­ c r e a s e d t h e c a l c i u m c o n t e n t of p e a s , snap bean s, lim a b e an s, c u c u m b e r s , and sq u ash . S o d iu m d i f f e r e d s i g n i f i c a n t l y in i t s e f f e c t on c a l c i u m a b s o r p ­ t i o n , at d i f f e r e n t p H l e v e l s , of c a b b a g e , t u r n i p s , s n a p b e a n s , a n d s q u a s h . 56 TABLE XI T H E POTASSIUM C O N T E N T OF S E L E C T E D V EG ET AB LE CROPS AS I N F L U E N C E D BY SODIUM AND POTASSIUM APPLICATIONS L b s Sodium A pplied 0 L b s P o ta s s iu m Applied 0 100 100 Avg 0 100 Avg ( E x p r e s s e d a s P e r Cen t D r y W ei g ht ) C elery 3.44 3.48 3.46 3.20 3.39 3.30 C arrots 3.92 4.60 4.26 3.41 4.39 3.90*” Beets 4.90 5.28 5.09 4.97 4.95 4.96 Spinach 5.84 6.98 6.41 6.33 7.04 6.68 Turnip 6.73 6.56 6.64 6.39 7.14* 6.76 R utabagas 2.95 2.78 2.86 3.07 3.48 3.27 Cabbage 2.70 2.84 2.77 2.68 2.93 2.80 Cauliflow er 3.01 3.30 3.14 2.89 3.38 3.13 Broccoli 2.61 2.96 2.78 2.40 2 .66 2 .53 Peas 2 .07 2.47 2.27 2.11 2 .46 2.28 Snap B e a n s 2.46 3.11 2.78 2.42 2.78 2.60 L im a Beans 2 11 2.09 2.1 0 1 .91 1 .98 1 .94* Cucum bers 3.31 3.38 3.34 3.08 3.22 3 15 M uskm elons 2.87 3.18 3.02 2.81 3.02 2.91 Squash 4.15 3.88 4.01 3.72 4 .07£ 3.89 ^ D e n o t e s s i g n i f i c a n c e at five p e r cent level) F o r th e effect of so di u m o r D e n o t e s s i g n i f i c a n c e at one p e r cent level) so di um by p o t a s s i u m i n t e r a c t i o n s T A B LE XII T H E C A L C IU M C O N T E N T O F S E L E C T E D V EG ET AB LE CROPS AS I N F L U E N C E D BY pH AND SODIUM APPLICATION Pounds Sodium A pplied 0 5 .5 PH 100 .0 6 Avg 5. 5 6 .0 Avg ( E x p r e s s e d a s P e r Cent D r y We ig ht) C elery 0 . 74 0 . 70 0 .72 0 . 53 0 .60 0 . 56" C arrots 0 . 92 1 . 26 1 .09 0 . 93 1 .22 1 .07 Beet s 0 . 63 0 . 75 0 . 69 0 . 60 0 .68 0 .64 Spinach 0 . 49 0 ., 56 0 ,52 0 . 49 0 .40 0 .44* Turnip 1 . 26 1 . 58 1 .42 1 . 56 1 . 46* * 1 .51* Rutabaga 0 . 80 0 ., 77 0 .78 0 . 63 0 .73 0 .68 Cabbage 0 . 27 0 ,. 26 0 ,. 26 0 . 26 0 . 28* 0 .27* C auliflow er 0 . 47 0 . 44 0 .45 0 . 48 0 .55 0 .51 Broccoli 1 . 32 1 . 39 1 .35 1 . 19 1 .39 1 .29 Peas 1 . 23 1 , 48 1 .35 1 . 34 1 .64 1 49 Snap B e a n s 2 . 48 3. 07 2 ., 77 2 . 80 3..15* 2 L im a Beans 2 . 99 3. 34 3..16 3. 38 3. 53 3..45 M uskm elons 6 . 30 5. 57 5 .93 6 . 37 7. 05 6 . 71 C ucum bers 2 . 27 2 . 55 ,. 41 2 . 47 2 .96 2 . 71" Squash 3. 89 4. 20 2 4 .04 4. 15 5. 2 D ., 97** 4 .6 8 " " " D e n o t e s s i g n i f i c a n c e at th e five p e r cent l e v e l ) F o r the effect of so d iu m o r ' " D e n o t e s s i g n i f i c a n c e at th e one p e r cent le vel ) so di um by c a l c i u m i n t e r a c t i o n 58 S o d i u m h a d no i n f l u e n c e on t h e c a l c i u m a b s o r p t i o n of c a b b a g e at low p H , but i n c r e a s e d it at h i g h p H . cabbage. T u r n ip s r e a c te d v e ry differently from At lo w p H , s o d i u m i n c r e a s e d t h e c a l c i u m a b s o r p t i o n , but d e ­ c r e a s e d it at a h i g h p H . In snap b e a n s , sodium ap p lication i n c r e a s e d the ca lc iu m c o n ­ c e n t r a t i o n at t h e l o w pH , but d e c r e a s e d it at t h e hi gh p H l e v e l , w h i l e in s q u a s h , t h e c a l c i u m c o n c e n t r a t i o n w a s i n c r e a s e d t o a g r e a t e r e x t e n t by t h e s o d i u m a p p l i c a t i o n at t h e l o w p H t h a n at t h e h ig h p H . I n f l u e n c e of P o t a s s i u m o n S o d i u m C o n t e n t : S e v e r a l w o r k e r s (74. 17. 47) h a v e r e p o r t e d t h a t p o t a s s i u m i n f l u e n c e s t h e s o d i u m c o n t e n t of c r o p s . T a b l e XIII s h o w s t h e i n f l u e n c e o f p o t a s s i u m a p p l i c a t i o n s on t h e s o d i u m c o n t e n t o f c e l e r y , b e e t s , r u t a b a g a s , a n d p e a s , but d e c r e a s e d t h e c o n t e n t of c a u l i f l o w e r a n d c u c u m b e r s t o a s i g n i f i c a n t e x t e n t , a n d c a r r o t s , t u r n i p s , c a b b a g e , and b r o c c o l i to l e s s e r e x t e n t s . spinach, It di d not i n f l u e n c e t h e s o d i u m c o n t e n t in s n a p b e a n s , l i m a b e a n s , m u s k m e l o n s , a n d s q u a s h . An i n f l u e n c e of b o r o n on t h e a b s o r p t i o n o f c a t i o n s h a s b e e n s u g g e s t e d b y s o m e a u t h o r s ( 6 , 59) . No a p p r e c i a b l e i n f l u e n c e of b o r o n on t h e a b s o r p t i o n o f c a l c i u m , p o t a s s i u m , a n d s o d i u m w a s o b s e r v e d in t h e s e e x ­ perim ents. T h e r e w e r e s i g n i f i c a n t i n f l u e n c e s of p o t a s s i u m a p p l i c a t i o n on calcium absorption. H o w e v e r , t h i s s tu d y w a s not c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e s e e f f e c t s w h i c h h a v e b e e n e x t e n s i v e l y r e p o r t e d in t h e l i t e r a t u r e . 59 TA BLE XIII T H E SODIUM C O N T E N T OF S E L E C T E D V EG E TA B LE CROPS AS I N F L U E N C E D BY POTASSIUM APPLICATION Crop Pounds P o ta s s iu m Applied 0 100 P e r C en t Change ( E x p r e s s e d a s P e r Cent D r y W ei g h t) C elery 0.71 0.74 4.2 C arrots 0.49 0.39 -25.6 Beets 1 . 15 1 .20 4.3 Spinach 0.37 0.29 -27.5 T urnips 0.21 0 .2 0 -5 .0 Rutabaga 0.09 0 .1 0 11.0 Cabbage 0.13 0 .1 2 -8 .3 C auliflow er 0.17 0 Broccoli 0 .12 0.11 -9.1 Peas 0.05 0.06 2 0 .0 Snap B e a n s 0.01 0.01 0 L im a Beans 0.01 0.01 0 M uskm elons 0.04 0.04 0 C ucum bers 0.04 0.03* Squash 0.01 0.01 .13* D e n o t e s s i g n i f i c a n c e at th e five p e r cent level -30.7 -33.3 0 60 G re e n h o u s e Studies T w o v a r i e t i e s o f c e l e r y , U t a h 10B a n d S u m m e r P a s c a l , w e r e g r o w n in a g r e e n h o u s e e x p e r i m e n t in tw o n u t r i e n t m e d i a . One s e r i e s w a s g r o w n in T h o m a s s a n d y l o a m s o i l , a n d t h e o t h e r in a s a n d c u l t u r e a s o u t ­ l i n e d in t h e M e t h o d s a n d M a t e r i a l s . T h e r e s u l t s w e r e s i m i l a r exce pt fo r th e m a g n itu d e of the d i f f e r e n c e s , w h i c h r e s u l t e d in s i g n i f i c a n c e f o r s e v e r a l c o m p a r i s o n s in t h e s a n d c u l t u r e s , w h i c h f a i l e d to r e a c h s i g n i f i c a n c e in s o i l . T h e a n a l y s i s o f v a r i a n c e i s p r e s e n t e d in T a b l e XI V. Yields: T a b l e XV a n d S e c t i o n A of T a b l e XIV s h o w th a t y i e l d s w e r e s i g n i f i c a n t l y i n c r e a s e d b y b o t h e l e m e n t s in t h e s o il e x p e r i m e n t , w h i c h i s d i f f e r e n t t h a n t h e r e s u l t s of t h e f i e l d e x p e r i m e n t , a n d w a s d ue to t h e d i f f e r e n c e s in t h e s o i l s u s e d . T h e g r e e n h o u s e s o il w a s d e f i n i t e l y lo w in a v a i l a b l e b o r o n a s i n d i c a t e d b y t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of c r a c k e d s t e m in a l l lo w b o r o n p o t s in t h e U t a h 10B v a r i e t y , w h e r e a s in t h e f i e l d e x p e r i m e n t s t h e so il a p p a r e n t l y c o n t a i n e d e n o u g h b o r o n f o r n o r m a l p l a n t g r o w t h , a s i n d i c a t e d by t h e c o m p l e t e a b s e n c e o f a n y v i s i b l e b o r o n d e f i c i e n c y s y m p t o m in a n y c r o p , a n d l a c k of p o s i t i v e r e s p o n s e to b o r a x a p p l i c a t i o n . P o tassiu m and boron s i g n i f i c a n t l y i n c r e a s e d y i e l d s in t h e s a n d c u l t u r e s , but s o d i u m f a i l e d to do so b e c a u s e of t h e l a r g e e r r o r v a r i a n c e ( T a b l e XIV) . 61 T A B L E XIV ANALYSIS O F VARIANCE OF G R EEN H OU SE C E L E R Y EXPERIM ENTS ~ Source DF Mean Squares F o r Yield B o r o n C o nt e n t S o d iu m C ont en t A . Soil K Na B NaXB E r r o r "A" Var VarXNa VarXB VarXNaXB E r r o r "B” 2 2 2 4 16 1 2 2 4 18 17523** 5699* * 2598** 232 236 7657* * 469 15 319 396 91 32 3248* * 26 63 1472** 19 112* 15 26 .910 7. 42 0* * . 065 .038 .150 2 790-* 6015 8695 210872* * 1986 3162 20184** 417 11093' 2104 2141 .840"* 2 4 .1 5 0 * * .225* * .120* .025 .310* . 260* .025 . 175* .0 3 0 .050 .042 B. San d K Na B NaXB E r r o r "A” Var X^arXNa V ar X B VarXNaXB E r r o r ’ B" 2 2 2 4 16 1 2 2 4 18 8040* 5372 2118 5* * 1444 1750 7994** 2565* 3551** 2039* 442 D e n o t e s s i g n i f i c a n c e at t h e f iv e p e r ce n t l e v e l d e n o t e s s i g n i f i c a n c e at t h e o n e p e r cent l e v e l .020 .053 62 T A B L E XV T H E Y I E L D , BORON, AND SOD IUM C O N T E N T O F T W O V A R I E T I E S OF C E L E R Y AS I N F L U E N C E D BY D I F F E R E N T SODIUM AND BORON L E V E L S IN SAND AND SOIL C U L T U R E S (Each V alue an A v e r a g e of T h r e e D e te rm in a tio n s ) S od iu m Level Bor on Level _______ L o w ______________ M e d -________________ High___________________ A v g. ioea SP Ave I OB SP Ave 10B SP Ave I OB SP 133 169 157 J53 141 170 169 160 141 166 158 155 119 141 134 132 29 62 77 59 25 19 22 68 66 98 64 115 67 45 62 43 19 39 47 35 20 32 42 31 25 44 57 42 23 22 20 88 54 179 85 76 274 123 1.11 0.61 1.04 0.68 1 .01 0.51 0.60 1 L M H Av g 116 157 134 135 109 112 120 138 L M H Avg 16 36 62 38 110 122 113 124 158 170 159 162 18 30 45 31 17 33 52 34 19 87 164 90 Y i e l d Soil 115 136 149 134 152 172 134 146 181 128 146 167 Y i e l d Sand 17 36 64 39 18 61 114 64 21 75 119 72 Bor o n C o n t e n t ^ Soil L M H Avg 22 35 43 33 26 44 58 43 24 39 50 38 22 29 41 31 27 43 61 44 24 36 51 37 17 33 43 31 22 45 52 40 B or o n C o n te n t Sa n d L M H Av g 10 42 133 62 17 50 236 101 13 46 184 81 21 61 163 82 30 62 297 130 25 61 230 106 32 59 241 111 S o d iu m C o n t e n t 14 117 288 139 Soil L M H Avg 0.41 0.40 0.34 0.38 0. 14 0 . 2 7 0.14 0.27 0.14 0.24 0.14 0.26 0.98 0.85 0.98 0.93 0 . 5 4 0 . 7 6 1 .95 1 .15 0 . 4 8 0 . 6 6 1 . 8 8 1 .42 0 . 3 5 0 . 6 6 1 .7 0 1 . 0 4 0 .4 6 0.69 1.84 1 . 2 0 S o d i u m C o nt e n t Sand L M H Avg 0 .2 0 0.21 0 .2 0 0.18 0.17 0.18 0.17 0.17 0.18 0.18 1.29 0.93 1 .06 1 .09 1.19 0.95 0 .2 0 0.19 1 .02 1 .05 1.24 0.94 1 .04 1 .07 2.88 2.87 2.34 2.70 264 125 1 1 1 1 .55 .65 .37 .52 2.46 2.24 2.67 2.55 2.11 2.22 2.77 2.48 * Y i e l d e x p r e s s e d in g r a m s f r e s h w ei gh t p e r pot goron e x p r e s s e d a s p a r t s p e r m illion 2 ^ S o d i u m e x p r e s s e d a s p e r c e n t d r y w eig ht a lOB d e n o t e s U t a h 10B v a r i e t y . SP, S u m m e r P a s c a l 1 .05 .46 1 .33 1.19 1 .33 1 1 1 .29 . 12 1 .11 1 .17 63 V a r i e t i e s r e s p o n d e d qu ite d i f f e r e n t l y with r e s p e c t to the n u t r i e n t s a p p l i e d in t h e s a n d c u l t u r e s . On an a v e r a g e of th e two c u l t u r e s . U t a h 10B r e s p o n d e d to b o r o n to a g r e a t e r e x t e n t t h a n S u m m e r P a s c a l , w i t h a n a v e r a g e i n c r e a s e of 71 p e r c e n t b e t w e e n high a n d low l e v e l s , w h e r e ­ a s , in S u m m e r P a s c a l y i e l d s w e r e i n c r e a s e d by o n ly 39 p e r c e n t in th e sam e com parison. P o t a s s i u m i n c r e a s e d y i e l d s o f b o th v a r i e t i e s to ab ou t t h e s a m e e x t e n t . S o d i u m i n c r e a s e d y i e l d s in S u m m e r P a s c a l to a s i g n i ­ f i c a n t l y g r e a t e r e x t e n t t h a n U t a h 10B, a n d m a y b e r e l a t e d to t h e fact th at th e U t a h 10B y i e l d s w e r e h i g h e r t h a n in S u m m e r P a s c a l w h e n no s o d i u m w a s a p p l i e d . Boron Content: As would be expected, bo ro n applications significantly i n c r e a s e d b o r o n c o n c e n t r a t i o n s in t h e p l a n t t i s s u e in bo th c u l t u r e s . The v a r i e t i e s d i f f e r e d s i g n i f i c a n t l y in t h e i r a b i l i t y to a b s o r b b o r o n , S u m m e r P a s c a l in g e n e r a l c o n t a i n i n g m u c h h i g h e r c o n c e n t r a t i o n at a l l b o r o n l e v e l s t h a n t h e U t a h 10B v a r i e t y . It wi ll b e n o t e d in S e c t i o n B of T a b l e XIV th a t s o d i u m i n ­ c r e a s e d t h e b o r o n c o n t e n t of b o t h v a r i e t i e s in th e s a n d c u l t u r e s , th o ug h t h e d i f f e r e n c e s w e r e not s i g n i f i c a n t Sodium Content: due to a l a r g e e r r o r v a r i a n c e . S o d iu m a p p l i c a t i o n s s i g n i f i c a n t l y i n c r e a s e d i t s c o n c e n ­ t r a t i o n in t h e p l a n t s . U t a h 10B a g a i n a b s o r b i n g s i g n i f i c a n t l y g x e a t e r q u a n t i t i e s in b o th c u l t u r e s t h a n S u m m e r P a s c a l . In g e n e r a l boron reduced t h e s o d i u m c o n c e n t r a t i o n of both v a r i e t i e s in s a n d c u l t u r e s , with t h e effect b e i n g s i g n i f i c a n t l y g r e a t e r at t h e h i g h e r l e v e l of s o d i u m . S u m m a r y of R e s u l t s : - T h e r e s u l t s p r e s e n t e d a b o v e c o v e r o nl y s i g n i f i c a n t e f f e c t s o f t h e v a r i o u s t r e a t m e n t s . T a b l e XVI s h o w s t h e a v e r a g e y i e l d s a n d p l a n t c o m p o s i t i o n of al l t h e c r o p s a n d v a r i e t i e s i n c l u d e d . T h e s e d at a m i g h t be of v a l u e in h e l p i n g to e s t a b l i s h s t a n d a r d v a l u e s of a n a l y s i s f o r t h e v a r i e t i e s and c ro p s studied. per 100 Cation co m p o sitio n is also c a lcu la ted as m illieq u iv alen ts g r a m s d r y t i s s u e to a i d in c o m p a r i n g t h e s e re s u lt s: w it h o t h e r d a t a r e p o r t e d in t h e l i t e r a t u r e , a n d a l s o p r o v i d e s a m o r e d i r e c t c o m p a r i s o n b e ­ t w e e n t h e c a t i o n s a b s o r b e d by c e l e r y g r o w n in t h e g r e e n h o u s e a n d t h a t g r o w n in t h e f i e l d e x p e r i m e n t . C o n s i d e r i n g t h e e x p e r i m e n t a s a w h o le , m o r e t h a n 80 p e r c e n t of t h e o b s e r v a t i o n s did not d i f f e r s i g n i f i c a n t l y due to t r e a t m e n t , e i t h e r b e c a u s e of s m a ll d iffe re n c e s o r l a r g e v aria b ility - S ig n if i ca n t d i f f e r e n c e s in y i e l d r e s u l t e d f r o m e i t h e r s m a l l o r l a r g e d i f f e r e n c e 1 , but l a r g e v a r i a b i l i t y p re v e n te d many tr e a tm e n ts from being significant. T h i s m i g h t i n d i c a t e th at in s o m e c r o p s a n d v a r i e t i e s , f a c t o r s not c o n s i d e r e d in t h e e x p e r i m e n t w e r e quite influential w h e r e a s in o t h e r s a h i g h e r d e g r e e of s t a b i l i t y e x i s t s . 65 03 C O B03 u O (2 r -1 n« Jh 0 CL £ O od 03 ^ 4—' o o 2 2 o3 2 d X Oh 1 C X O ,— d O O CO d d o- T"- O'X f— H ' 1 t" * — H 1 CN 1 — 1 CN l^~ On X nO X X X X CO X Qs X —i vO NOONCOCO COLO cO oO oO C 3 0 - ^ O O CN OO 1 X C3N '— ON CN d o LO CN CN —i X Tf NO Njl CO O co d On lO ID I—I { d CO X d •—H i—H O n d d ON X !>■ CO lO ON CO ON OO ' —I o OO X r—1 < — H CN X 1 d o n lO X O cC U o3 hJ U < o CL £ o O 2 O u P t—4 4-H c cd uo o E 40 03 be 2 0 h w X CN OO X O'o w o >, Li Q o W W £ E >: 2 od ► -• Q X OO CO X X X X CO d X o X X o 1—1 CO X d o O X X O'- X «— H d X o X d d o d X X X X X X d X d X d X d X X X o X o X d X X d X co 0~H X X ON *— o o *“■H X 1— 1 o ON O n X o CN X — 1X o '—i i—i 1 X X o X X X X X X o o o X X X X X d X X d X X X t"- X On o X X X X X X d o o 1 — 1 r- X X X X O'- X X o o X X X X o o •— 1 X X O'- d X r- X o On d X O'- ON ON 0" t". o X X O'- d d — 1 O ON X 1 i— H O o o o X o On o i— H ON X X r- X X X 0- o o o X o o o o X £■“ X o X o ON ON ON On C Q o CN X X X £ X 3 o X 1—< t"- X d d o o X c 0) U L 0) 0h 03 O O 2 U W X X Oh W c >. 0 u as > X g a3 CL O 5 h O o3 o CO cd D h ON '— 1 G O CQ 0 5h G 0 > . 5-i 5-i O 0 C uJ W 3 o X On X X ,—j X X r— H d X cd 0 es o CO cd a Oh 5 h a> CQ o cd B I—* co D M X X ON i—i o 0 £ o TO 5-i T O C O NL 0 0 CQ d X d X o 5h 4“» 0 a 0 cci to G G o O X 0 X i-l 03 O CO X X i— -H TO 0 o to G o n 3 Q cd ^ X 0 9CO X d X X d CL CO 3 c cd CQ £ o o 3 CQ x o o CQ X cd CQ to 0 £ to 0 CL cd cd X X £ X Sh cd X =3 P cd Cd U x 0 X 66 cd Z H cd u x f CO vo in o cn OO CO N CO lO cd O CO xf VO O cn no p, 'Sd cd £ o P £ £ G>> xf o O CN ON t"- NO Xf xf ON ON NO f x oo CN x f o o o o NO f x 1—1 o o LO , LO NO CO i—i '—1 lO 1—( r-H CN ^ CO xf NO CO co o o o o io m ON x f xf Xf fx rx. ^ oo' LO CO LO XT fx nO h OO ■ . x f co oO CN c o CN OO ON rx NO ON O Q 4-— ^ G P U G 0) o. >4 cd U oo xf O CO o o CO o o o o o o o o o o o T— H ON CO r-NO x f CN ON LO On o CO r-> X f CN O CO LO NO x f lO ON CN NO o CN LO CO X f 1—1 oo CO CO LO CN lO CO CO CN CO CO LO f x CN CN <—1 i—l r-H xf CN CO NO CN & ,___ r—H OO NO LO LO h- ON | co CN o NO OO ON CN f x NO NO CN NO ON NO CO nO ON ON NO NO o ON o NO O 1“—1 t — H ON LO r-x CN NO o f—H xf CO ON ON NO ON NO o LO NO r - ' LO *—H x f NO o ON CO o CN LO x f o o NO CN LO o > ON ON NO o CN CO x f '—1 CN T—( CN CO c o CO CN CO CN CN CO co CN CO xf ON OO CN CN OO ON <~H O ON ON OO OO LO CN o CN NO NO LO LO CN xf Xf lO O >—< c o LO x f ON NO CN i H i—i [X-, CN <—I 89 cd r-H Dh fx fp ’—1 Hf co CO CO xf o o o U NO X f NO OO NO 1—1 NO CN CN CO CN CN CO CO . co o ^ c o ’—1 CN o OO ON ix 1—H CO CN CO X f U0 o o o o — h xh CO o o o o o o o o o in xf xf Xf o o o NO rx o xf 83 o ^ 127 7d xf xf x f xf xf Xf f-H CO CO OO NO loo o ’—i O CO — 1 CN c o ON fx Xf o o ON O X f < 1 '“ H o CN LO r*— i— H CN *-H '—i CN <—i ON CO X f *—< CN CN OO CO r-H <-H CN CO CN CN ON ON H^l CO ' 1 00 W i—i Q D H co W ° o' - G cn P o LO CN CN o •“ H ^H fx OO i-H hfx NO P £ G U G P CN CN OO LO 4—• P h P P X p £ o P u l-H po >.. - b Sh *r-i P O J 73 ,— i O -Si LO x f xf CN o oo NO O lO »— H LO NO LO *— H '—1 Xf CN 1—H •--1 *“H OO o xf NO o o r-H NO LO NO xf NO '—1 CO X f CN CO NO o CN r-H NO o OO 1—1 oo X f rx on r- H O' 1—1 CN Xf co »*H r— < fx r- 1“^ xf NO 1-- ( O' co O CO lO nO CO CO f x NO nO NO r-H --H i—H Sh P P p p <+H p > be nhh O S-H *— • no ■§I £ . § c o >> 4—> G •i—< 4—* ’in cd cd > "O G cd • i—4 *3 cd U O P P CO o cd G P CQ O h •£ o N P P G tin cd P co cd £ o hC h* G P P G CL) P h cd o Sh CO -M c u cd P . P P o cd Ph cd G co H CN xf CN O fee O > CQ r-H cd p CO cd Oh G CQ P o G p t< CL) u 1—1 r-H be Oh o G o o O c o CO CN CN NO cu Xcd G Sh G G 1) p £ NO ON CN ON CN >— H ■—( O r—H D O X 2: w w ai O g -P CO o c cd G G P O O CQ -G tQ H CQ cd O G € 3 3 LO ■p P g cd X) P o osJ P G O c cd ■HJ CO CO Sh 0) CO -P p X C4 £ G O G u 3 "cd G O H cd 2 p p CO cd G cf CO : P cd c p cm cd 3 U £ bx 1 G CO P P u hC cd C G O P h G XJ G X) Tu £ P P o Q h g p P h cn £ S-H cd G P CX O CN CO 67 DISCUSSION Y ield and c o m p o sitio n data have been p r e s e n te d for twentyn i n e v a r i e t i e s e m b r a c i n g f i f t e e n v e g e t a b l e c r o p s g r o w n at v a r y i n g l e v e l s of s o d i u m , b o r o n , p o t a s s i u m , a n d c a l c i u m . Satisfactory r e s i ­ d u a l p o t a s s i u m a n d c a l c i u m l e v e l s in t h e s o il r e s u l t e d in l i t t l e o r no y i e l d r e s p o n s e to a d d i t i o n a l i n c r e m e n t s of t h e s e n u t r i e n t s . Therefore, t h i s w o r k i s m o r e c l o s e l y r e l a t e d to c o n d i t i o n s w h ic h m i g h t be e n c o u n t e r e d in c r o p p r o d u c t i o n t h a n to t h o s e f r e q u e n t l y r e p o r t e d in t h e l i t e r a t u r e w h e r e b o t h p o t a s s i u m a n d c a l c i u m a r e lo w . The crops w ere selected because o f t h e n u m e r o u s r e p o r t s of t h e i r r e s p o n s e to, o r i n j u r y by s o d i u m an d boron. Of t h e c r o p s g r o w n , c e l e r y , c a r r o t s , b e e t s , s p i n a c h , t u r n i p s a n d r u t a b a g a s g a v e m a r k e d o r s i g n i f i c a n t i n c r e a s e s in y i e l d to s o d i u m a p p l i c a t i o n , w h i l e s n a p b e a n s , p e a s , a n d l i m a b e a n s w e r e i n j u r e d by it . R e s p o n s e to s o d i u m h a s b e e n a t t r i b u t e d to e i t h e r a s p e c i f i c n e e d f o r t h e e l e m e n t by s o m e c r o p s , t h e s u b s t i t u t i o n of s o d i u m f o r p a r t of t h e n o n ­ s p e c i f i c f u n c t i o n s of p o t a s s i u m in t h e p l a n t , an i n c r e a s e in t h e e x c h a n g e ­ a b l e p o t a s s i u m of t h e s o il, o r to a d e c r e a s e in t h e c a l c i u m c o n t e n t of t h e p l a n t , r e s u l t i n g in a m o r e f a v o r a b l e c a t i o n b a l a n c e . T h e s e data p r o ­ v i d e c o m p a r i s o n s t h a t m a y s h e d s o m e light on s o m e of th e v a r i o u s p o s s i b l e functions of sodium . 68 D a t a p r e s e n t e d in T a b l e XIII s h o w t h a t of t h e c r o p s a b ­ s o r b i n g a p p r e c i a b l e a m o u n t s of s o d i u m , o n ly t h e s o d i u m c o n t e n t s of c e l e r y a n d b e e t s w e r e i n c r e a s e d by p o t a s s i u m a p p l i c a t i o n s , a n d mi g ht s u g g e s t a s p e c i f i c n e e d f o r s o d i u m in t h e i r m e t a b o l i s m . C o n v e r s e l y , th e s a m e ta b le a lso s u g g e s ts that c a r r o t s , spinach, and tu r n i p s might h a v e b e e n a b l e to s u b s t i t u t e s o d i u m f o r p a r t of t h e n o n - s p e c i f i c f u n c ­ t i o n s of p o t a s s i u m in t h e p l a n t , but w he n p o t a s s i u m b e c a m e a b u n d a n t , the a c c u m u la tio n of sodium w as re d u c e d . I n f l u e n c e of S o d i u m on t h e P o t a s s i u m a n d C a l c i u m R e m o v a l by C r o p s T h e i n f l u e n c e of s o d i u m on t h e p o t a s s i u m a n d c a l c i u m r e ­ m o v a l f r o m t h e s o i l m i g h t a l s o s h e d s o m e light on t h e r o l e of s o d i u m in p l a n t n u t r i t i o n . S e v e r a l w o r k e r s ( 3 2 , 4 7 , 17, 15) h a v e r e p o r t e d a p r o ­ n o u n c e d i n f l u e n c e of s o d i u m on p o t a s s i u m a n d c a l c i u m c o n c e n t r a t i o n s in s e v e r a l c r o p s , but h a v e not r e l a t e d t h e s e e f f e c t s to t h e c h a n g e s in plant grow th re s u ltin g from its application. T a b l e XVII s h o w s t h a t t h o u g h s o d i u m a p p l i c a t i o n r e d u c e d t h e p o t a s s i u m c o n c e n t r a t i o n found in 10 of t h e 15 c r o p s , i n c r e a s e in p la nt g r o w t h a s a r e s u l t of s o d i u m a p p l i c a t i o n b r o u g h t abou t a h i g h e r tot al p o t a s s i u m a c c u m u l a t i o n in f o u r of t h e m - - c e l e r y m uskm elons . carrots beets H o w e v e r , i n c r e a s e s in p l a n t g r o w t h of t h e s e c r o p s an d TA B LE XVII T H E I N F L U E N C E OF SODIUM APPLICATIONS ON T H E POTASSIUM R E M O V E D FRO M T H E SOIL ~ , P e r Cent L b s Sodium Applied - g K G m s K Removed^ m -------- g------------- j g g - P e r Cen t E ff ec t change Qf Na on G ro wt ( A v e r a g e of 24 to 96 C o m p a r i s o n s ) 3 .36 3 .30 17 .59 -23 .37 Celery 33 39 7 14 C arrots 4 .26 3 .90 13 .22 14 .21 Beets 5 .09 4 .96 21 .4 9 26 .12 22 28 Spinach 6 .41 6 .68 13 .17 16 .98 29 20 T urnip 6 .67 6 .76 42 .70 48 .8 0 14 12 R utabaga 2 .86 3 .24 18 .83 26 .18 39 23 Cabbage 2 .8 0 34..58 39..28 14 7 Cauliflow er 3 .15 3 .13 43 .76 48 . 31 10 11 Broccoli 2 .78 2 .53 46..44 43 .87 -6 4 Peas 2 .27 2 .28 6 . 15 5..38 -13 -15 Snap B e a n s 2 . 78 2 . 60 9. 72 7. 91 -19 -15 L im a Beans 2 .10 1 . . 34 9. 78 -14 -7 Muslcmelons 3. 02 2 . 91 9. 32 . 70 15 18 C ucum bers 3. 34 3. 15 17. 74 17. 59 -1 4 Squash 4. 3. 89 50. 61 48. 56 -4 0 .77 01 2 94 11 1 0 ^ G r a m s p e r 6 feet of ro w in v e g e ta ti v e gro w th ^ E ff e ct of s o d iu m on v e g e t a t i v e gro wth in p e r cent 70 f r o m s o d i u m a p p l i c a t i o n e x c e e d e d t h e i n c r e a s e s in p o t a s s i u m r e m o v a l i n d i c a t i n g t h a t t h e e f f e c t of t h e s o d i u m c o u l d not be e n t i r e l y a c c o u n t e d f o r by i t s i n f l u e n c e on p o t a s s i u m a b s o r p t i o n . c r e a s e d the p o ta s s iu m c o n c e n tra tio n , Of t h e c r o p s in w hic h s o d i u m i n ­ spinach turnips, r u ta b a g a s , and c a b b a g e , t h e p o t a s s i u m r e m o v a l by t h e p l a n t e x c e e d e d t h e i n c r e a s e in g r o w t h , w h i c h m i g h t i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e b e n e f i t d e r i v e d by t h e s e c r o p s w a s due to an i n c r e a s e d a v a i l a b l e p o t a s s i u m c o n c e n t r a t i o n in t h e p la n t . It i s i n t e r e s t i n g to no te t h e i n f l u e n c e of s o d i u m a p p l i c a ­ t i o n s on t h e p o t a s s i u m r e m o v a l by t h e s o d i u m s e n s i t i v e c r o p s , p a r t i ­ cularly p eas snap beans, and lim a b e a n s. G a u c h a n d W a d l e i g h (36) a n d L e o n a r d a n d T o t h (51) h a v e s h o w n t h a t e v e n th o u g h s o d i u m i s l a r g e l y e x c l u d e d f r o m t h e l e a v e s of s o m e of t h e s e c r o p s , i t s c o n c e n ­ t r a t i o n s a r e h i g h e r in t h e r o o t s . It mig ht s e e m r e a s o n a b l e th a t one e f f e c t of s o d i u m on s u c h p l a n t s w o u l d b e to c o m p e t e with p o t a s s i u m f o r e x c h a n g e s i t e s in t h e r o o t p r o t o p l a s m . , t h e r e b y r e d u c i n g t h e p o t a s s i u m a b s o r p t i o n to t h e d e t r i m e n t of t h e p l a n t . S u m m a r i z i n g t h e i n f l u e n c e of s o d i u m on t h e p o t a s s i u m s t a t u s in t h e p l a n t , it w o u l d a p p e a r a d v i s a b l e to r e l a t e it both to t o t a l r e m o v a l a nd t o i t s e f f e c t on p l a n t g r o w t h . W h e n t h i s i s done, t h r e e c l a s s e s of effec t a r e o b s e r v e d ; a r e d u c e d p o t a s s i u m c o n c e n t r a t i o n a s s o c i a t e d with an i n c r e a s e d 71 a c c u m u l a t i o n , du e to a l a r g e r i n c r e a s e in p l a n t g r o w t h ; a n i n c r e a s e d p o t a s s i u m c o n c e n t r a t i o n a s s o c i a t e d w i t h a l a r g e r i n c r e a s e in a c c u m u ­ l a t i o n t h a n in p l a n t g r o w t h ; a n d a d e c r e a s e in p o t a s s i u m c o n c e n t r a t i o n a s s o c i a t e d w i t h b o t h a d e c r e a s e in t o t a l p o t a s s i u m a c c u m u l a t i o n a n d in plant grow th. In no i n s t a n c e w a s a n i n c r e a s e in p o t a s s i u m c o n c e n t r a ­ t i o n a s a r e s u l t of s o d i u m a p p l i c a t i o n c a u s e d by o r a s s o c i a t e d w it h a r e d u c t i o n in p l a n t g r o w t h . W h e n t h e c a l c i u m c o m p o s i t i o n d a t a a r e r e l a t e d to a c c u m u ­ l a t i o n a n d c r o p y i e l d a s w a s do n e w i t h t h e p o t a s s i u m d a t a , it i s o b s e r v e d t h a t s o d i u m h a s a l e s s p r o n o u n c e d i n f l u e n c e on c a l c i u m t h a n on p o t a s s i u m accum ulation. W i th t h e e x c e p t i o n of s p i n a c h , t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f s o d i u m f a i l e d to a p p r e c i a b l y r e d u c e t h e t o t a l a m o u n t of c a l c i u m a c c u m u l a t e d by the c ro p (Table XVIII). T h e e f f e c t o f s o d i u m on c a l c i u m a c c u m u l a t i o n d i f f e r s f r o m i t s e f f e c t on p o t a s s i u m . In s o m e c r o p s in w h ic h th e p o t a s s i u m a c c u m u l ­ a t i o n w a s d e c r e a s e d by s o d i u m a p p l i c a t i o n , f o r e x a m p l e in s n ap b e a n s by 22 p e r ce n t t h e c a l c i u m a c c u m u l a t i o n r e m a i n s r e l a t i v e l y u n c h a n g e d , an d in c u c u m b e r s w h e r e s o d i u m h a d l i t t l e ef f ec t on t h e a c c u m u l a t i o n of p o t a s ­ s i u m , it i n c r e a s e d t h e c a l c i u m a c c u m u l a t i o n by 22 p e r ce n t . T h e d i f f e r ­ e n c e in t h e e f f e c t of s o d i u m on t h e a b s o r p t i o n of p o t a s s i u m a n d c a l c i u m 72 T A B LE XVIII T H E I N F L U E N C E OF SODIUM APPLICATIONS ON T H E CALCIUM R E M O V E D FRO M T H E SOIL ~ ^ r , _ F ^ r _ O e n L^ a _ L b s Sodium Applied 0 100 G m s Ca R e m o v e d ^ P e r C e m Effe ct Qf 0 100 change Na Qn ________ Growth^ ( A v e r a g e o f 24 to 96 C o m p a r i s o n s ) Celery 0 .71 0 .5 6 3 .61 3 .96 10 39 C arrots 1 .08 1 .07 3 .43 3 .91 14 14 Beets 0 .68 0 .63 2 . 87 3 .31 15 28 Spinach 0 .52 0 .42 1 .13 1 .07 -5 20 Turnips 1 .41 1 .51 9 .02 10 .89 21 12 R utabagas 0 .78 0 ,. 6 8 5 .13 5 .49 Cabbage 0 . 26 0 .26 3..24 3 .64 12 C auliflow er 0 ..45 7..87 26 11 Broccoli 1 . .35 1 . ,. 37 -1 4 Peas 1 . .27 1 . Snap B e a n s 2 . 63 3. L im a Beans 0 ,. 51 6 . 25 29 2 2 . 55 2 2 7 23 7 .55 3..45 3.. 6 6 6 -15 11 9. 19 9. 46 3 -15 3. 18 3. 42 17. 18 17. 23 0 -7 M uskm elons 6 . 20 6 .2 0 19. 14 2 2 . 80 19 18 Cucum bers 2 . 36 2 . 74 1 2 . 54 15. 30 22 4 Squa sh 4. 50. 48 58 . 67 16 0 00 4 . 70 ^ G r a m s p e r 6 feet of ro w found in ve g e ta ti v e growth ^E ffe ct of s o d iu m on v e g e t a t i v e gr ow th in p e r cent b y c u c u m b e r s a n d s n a p b e a n s i s f u r t h e r e v i d e n c e t h a t c r o p s d i f f e r in b i o c h e m i c a l o r b i o p h y s i c a l m e c h a n i s m s w h i c h g r e a t l y i n f l u e n c e and a l t e r t h e i r r e s p o n s e s to s o d i u m a p p l i c a t i o n . T h i s m i g h t s u g g e s t t h a t s o d i u m a p p l i c a t i o n r e s u l t s in d i f f e r e n c e s in c a l c i u m - p o t a s s i u m b a l a n c e s in p l a n t s w h i c h in s o m e c a s e s m i g h t b e b e n e f i c i a l a n d in o t h e r s d e t r i m e n t a l . L e h r (48) an d L a n c a s t e r et_ a T (46) h a v e s u g g e s t e d t h a t s o d i u m a d d i t i o n s m a y p r o d u c e m o r e f a v o r a b l e c a l c i u m - p o t a s s i u m b a l a n c e s in s o m e c r o p s . study, In t h i s s i m i l a r t r e n d s a r e i n d i c a t e d in s o m e c r o p s , w h il e in o t h e r s t h e c r e a t i o n of a n u n f a v o r a b l e b a l a n c e i s s u g g e s t e d . R e l a t i o n of Bor on R e s p o n s e to Bor on A c c u m u l a t i o n T h e r e s u l t s s u g g e s t t h a t t h e r e s p o n s e of v a r i o u s c r o p s to b o r o n i s i n v e r s e l y r e l a t e d to t h e i r a b i l i t y to a b s o r b t h i s e l e m e n t f r o m t h e so il . A v e r a g e c o n c e n t r a t i o n s of b o r o n v a r i e d m o r e a m o n g t h e c r o p s a n d w e r e w i d e r t h a n f o r a n y o t h e r t r e a t m e n t . O t h e r s oi l t r e a t m e n t s i n ­ f l u e n c e d t h e b o r o n c o n c e n t r a t i o n l e s s th a n t h e c r o p i t s e l f . These d i f f e r e n c e s p r o b a b l y a c c o u n t f o r t h e c o m p a r a t i v e r e s p o n s e in s o i l s low in a v a i l a b l e b o r o n of c e l e r y , b e e t s a n d c a u l i f l o w e r , w hic h a b s o r b r e l a t i v e l y s m a l l a m o u n t s of b o r o n w hen b o r o n is not a p p l i e d , an d a r e f r e q u e n t l y t r o u b l e d by b o r o n d e f i c i e n c y . C o n t r a s t e d with t h e s e c r o p s a r e s e n s i t i v e 74 crops, s u c h a s s n a p b e a n s a n d p e a s , w h i c h m a k e e x c e l l e n t g r o w t h on s o i l s low in b o r o n ( a b s o r b m u c h l a r g e r q u a n t i t i e s of b o r o n , e s p e c i a l l y w h e r e b o r a x i s a d d e d ) a n d a r e q u i t e s e n s i t i v e to high soil b o r o n c o n centrat io n s . In t h e c r u c i f e r c r o p s , t h e r e w a s a g r e a t r a n g e in b o r o n c o n c e n t r a t i o n w h e n b o r o n w a s r e l a t i v e l y low in t h e soil, f r o m in c a u l i f l o w e r to 75 p p m in t u r n i p s . However f r e q u e n t l y r e s p o n d to b o r o n t r e a t m e n t , a r e concerned 20 ppm b o th of t h e s e c r o p s i n d i c a t i n g th a t so f a r a s c r u c i f e r s t h e r e is a w i d e r a n g e in t h e i r b o r o n r e q u i r e m e n t . C a b b a g e , a c r o p s e l d o m r e p o r t e d a s b e i n g t r o u b l e d by b o r o n d e f i c i e n c y s h o w s o n ly a s l i g h t i n c r e a s e in c o n c e n t r a t i o n f o r b o r o n a d d i ti o n , w h il e in th e o t h e r f o u r c r o p s - - t u r n i p s , r u t a b a g a s cauliflow er , and broccoli -- b o r o n a d d i t i o n s h a v e r e s u l t e d in i n c r e a s e d b o r o n c o n c e n t r a t i o n s of f r o m 20 to 50 p e r c e n t . T h e p h y l l o g e n e t i c d e v e l o p m e n t of c r o p s h a s p r o b a b l y m o d i ­ f i e d t h e i r a b i l i t y to a b s o r b b o r o n T h o s e c r o p s w h ic h d e v e l o p e d in s o i l s w it h r e l a t i v e l y high b o r o n c o n c e n t r a t i o n s on t i d a l f l a t s o r s e m i - a r i d l a n d s - - p r o b a b l y did not d e v e l o p t h e a b i l i t y to a c c u m u l a t e b o r o n to s u c h an e x t e n t a s c r o p s w hi ch d e v e l o p e d u n d e r w e l l - d r a i n e d m e : o p h y ti c c o n ­ ditions w h e re boron c o n c e n tra tio n s a r e usually much lower . A c o m ­ p a r i s o n of s n a p b e a n s with l i m a b e a n s p r o b a b l y p r o v i d e s an e x a m p l e of 75 such c r o p s within a fa m ily . L i m a b e a n s w e r e p r o b a b l y d e v e l o p e d by t h e I n c a a n d M a y a n I n d i a n s in t h e d r y e r r e g i o n s of South a n d C e n t r a l A m e r i c a , w h i l e s n a p b e a n s h a v e b e e n d e v e l o p e d to a l a r g e e x t e n t in t h e hu m id r e g io n s of E u ro p e and N orth A m e r ic a . L i m a b e a n s w e r e found t o b e m u c h m o r e t o l e r a n t t o b o r o n t h a n s n a p b e a n s , a n d w e r e shown t o a b s o r b m u c h l e s s b o r o n at hig h s o i l c o n c e n t r a t i o n s . Squash was p r o b a b l y d e v e l o p e d in t h e s a m e r e g i o n a s t h e l i m a b e a n , w h e r e a s c u c u m b e r s a n d m u s k m e l o n s o r i g i n a t e d in t h e m o r e h u m i d r e g i o n s of A s i a , w h i c h c o u l d a c c o u n t f o r t h e d i f f e r e n c e s in t h e i r t e n d e n c i e s with r e s p e c t to b o r o n a c c u m u l a t i o n . V a r i e t i e s of l e g u m e c r o p s m i g h t a l s o p r o v i d e a s i m i l a r com parison. F i g u r e 4 s h o w s th a t t h e v a r i e t y of e a c h c r o p in t h i s f a m i l y w i t h t h e l o w e r c o n c e n t r a t i o n of b o r o n f r o m u n t r e a t e d p l o t s c o n t a i n e d t h e l a r g e r c o n c e n t r a t i o n at t h e high r a t e of a p p l i c a t i o n . T h e v a r i e t i e s a b s o r b i n g l e s s at h ig h c o n c e n t r a t i o n s w ould a p p e a r to b e b e t t e r a d a p t e d t o a b s o r b t h e e l e m e n t w hen it w a s l e s s p l e n t i f u l in the s o i l . 76 Sodium -Boron R elationships T hough sodium ap p lic a tio n s significantly re d u c e d the boron c o n c e n t r a t i o n s f o u n d in t h e l e a f t i s s u e of s e v e r a l c r o p s ( T a b l e VIII. an d F i g u r e 5), T a b l e XIX s h o w s th a t t h i s i n f l u e n c e i s m o d i f i e d w hen t h e i n ­ fluence of sodium on grow th is c o n s id e r e d . Of t h e s o d i u m r e s p o n s i v e c ro p s , c e le ry , c a r r o t s , tu rn ip s, and ru ta b a g a s rem o v e d g r e a te r am ounts of b o ro n when sodium w a s ap p lied . H o w e v e r , t h e i n c r e a s e did not e qu al t h e i n c r e a s e in g r o w t h in c e l e r y , w h i l e in c a r r o t s , t u r n i p s , a n d r u t a ­ b a g a s . t h e s l i g h t i n c r e a s e in b o r o n c o n c e n t r a t i o n s due to s o d i u m w a s a c c e n t u a t e d w h e n t h e i n f l u e n c e of s o d i u m on g r o w t h w a s c o n s i d e r e d . In b o t h b e e t s a n d s p i n a c h , t h e d e c r e a s e in b o r o n c o n c e n t r a t i o n due to s o d i u m a p p l i c a t i o n w a s g r e a t e r t h a n t h e i n c r e a s e in g r o w t h , r e s u l t i n g in t h e r e m o v a l o f s l i g h t l y l e s s b o r o n f r o m t h e s o il w he n s o d i u m w a s applied. T a b l e XIX a l s o o f f e r s an e x p l a n a t i o n of t h e i n t e r a c t i v e i n ­ f l u e n c e o f s o d i u m a n d b o r o n on t h e y i e l d s of l e g u m e c r o p s a s p r e v i o u s l y s h o w n in F i g u r e 3. B o r o n a c c u m u l a t i o n i s r e d u c e d to a m u c h g r e a t e r e x t e n t t h a n y i e l d in p e a s a n d s n a p b e a n s , w h e r e a s in l i m a b e a n s b o r o n a c c u m u l a t i o n a n d g r o w t h w e r e r e d u c e d t h e s a m e by s o d i u m t r e a t m e n t . It w o u l d fo ll o w t h a t t h e r e d u c t i o n in t h e i n j u r i o u s e f f e c t s of b o r o n on y i e l d by s o d i u m in s n a p b e a n s a n d p e a s w a s a r e s u l t of t h e r e d u c t i o n in th e t o x i c c o n c e n t r a t i o n s of b o r o n in t h e p l a n t s . 77 T A B LE XIX T H E I N F L U E N C E OF SODIUM APPLICATIONS ON T H E BORON R E M O V E D FR O M T H E SOIL T.bs S o d i u m A p p li e d Ppm 0 M g m B R e m o v e d ^ P e r Cent E ff ec t C h a n g e of Na on 0 100 Growth^ B 100 ( A v e r a g e of 24 to 96 C o m p a r i s o n s ) C elery 58. 6 48 . 3 29..80 34. . 2 1 15 39 C arrots 44 .. 2 45. 3 14 .05 16 .57 18 14 Beets 8 6 .1 36..60 35. . 8 6 -2 28 Spinach 76. . 8 56. . 8 16..73 14 .44 14 20 Turnips 82. . 8 00 .6 53, , 0 0 61 ,. 79 17 12 Rutabagas 38..3 39..9 25. , 2 1 32,.24 28 23 Cabbage 28..7 27..3 35..83 38..30 7 7 C auliflow er 25.,7 27. 35..70 41 .83 17 Broccoli 72. . 8 67.,5 .63 117..06 -4 4 .7 6 8 LO 1 121 11 Peas 106..4 92. 2 28 .98 21 .76 -25 -15 Snap B e a n s 114 7 98..5 40. . 1 0 29..96 -25 -15 69 .2 37,.23 34,.87 -6 -7 L im a Beans 6 8 ,. 9 M uskm elons 158. . 0 142 .5 48 .77 52 .40 7 18 Cucum bers 119 .2 109 .4 63 .32 61 .09 -4 4 Squash 1 0 0 .2 98, . 0 126 .46 .35 -3 0 ^ M i l l i g r a m s b o r o n p e r 6 feet of row ^E ffe ct of s o d i u m on v e g e t a t i v e gro w th 122 T h e d i f f e r e n t v a r i e t a l r e s p o n s e s of b e e t s to b o r o n at different sodium lev els (F ig u re 2 ) i n d i c a t e s an i n t e r e s t i n g r e l a t i o n ­ sh ip . W i t h o u t a d d i t i o n a l s o d i u m , b o r o n w a s d e t r i m e n t a l to t h e y i e l d s of D e t r o i t D a r k R e d b e e t s , e s p e c i a l l y at t h e m e d i u m l e v e l s of b o r o n application. S o d i u m by i t s e l f w a s b e n e f i c i a l only to t h e L o n g D a r k Blood v a r i e t y , bu t w h e n b o t h s o d i u m a n d b o r o n w e r e a d d e d , t h e b e n e ­ f i c i a l e f f e c t s o f b o r o n on y i e l d b e c a m e o p e r a t i v e . T h e ef f ec t of s o d i u m o n b o r o n i n t h e b e e t m i g h t p o s s i b l y be o n e of i n c r e a s i n g t h e m o b i l i t y of the b o ra te ion. S o d i u m h a s b e e n s ho w n to d e c r e a s e t h e t o x i c e f f e c t s of c a l c i u m in t h e b e e t (48). a n d c a l c i u m h a s b e e n s how n to i n c r e a s e t h e b o r o n r e q u i r e m e n t s o f p l a n t s ( 2 0 , 4 3 ) . p o s s i b l y by f o r m i n g r e l a t i v e l y insoluble b o r a te s . T h e r e l a t i o n of s o d i u m to b o r o n in b e e t s m i g h t be an i n d i r e c t o n e in w h i c h s o d i u m d e c r e a s e d t h e c a l c i u m c o n t e n t o f t h e c r o p , t h e r e b y m a k i n g t h e b o r a t e ion m u c h m o r e m o b i l e . T h e g r e a t e s t effect w o u l d t h e n b e r e a l i z e d in t h e v a r i e t y w it h t h e h i g h e s t c a l c i u m c o n t e n t, D etroit D a rk Red. A s i m i l a r r e l a t i o n m i g h t b e t h e c a u s e of d i f f e r e n t i a l r e s p o n s e by s q u a s h a n d m u s k m e l o n v a r i e t i e s to p o t a s s i u m at d i f f e r e n t b o r o n l e v e l s ( T a b l e IV). R e e v e a n d S hi v e (67) h av e s ho wn th a t p o t a s s i u m i n c r e a s e d t h e s e n s i t i v e n e s s of t o m a t o p l a n t s to hi gh b o r o n c o n c e n t r a t i o n s t h r o u g h i t s e f f e c t on t h e c a l c i u m c o n t e n t of t h e p l a n t s . 79 T h e d a t a o f t h e g r e e n h o u s e s t u d i e s po int to yet a n o t h e r i n f l u e n c e of s o d i u m o n b o r o n , t h a t of s o d i u m d i r e c t l y i n c r e a s i n g t h e a b s o r p t i o n o f b o r o n , a n d of i n c r e a s i n g i t s m o b i l i t y in t h e p l a n t , e s p e c i ­ ally w hen th e soil b o ro n l e v e ls a r e low. T h is could p o ssib ly com e a b o u t by d i f f e r e n t m a n n e r s . S o d i u m m i g h t i n c r e a s e t h e p e r m e a b i l i t y of the p r o t o p l a s m of the root h a i r s , th u s m a k in g for a m o r e rap id a b s o r p t i o n of t h e b o r a t e i o n . As m e n tio n e d p r e v i o u s l y , sodium might i n c r e a s e t h e m o b i l i t y of t h e b o r a t e ion by f o r m i n g m o r e s o l u b l e c o m ­ p o u n d s in t h e p l a n t , in o p p o s i t i o n to c a l c i u m w h i c h i s tho ugh t to f o r m r a t h e r i n s o l u b l e s a l t s in t h e p l a n t . A n o t h e r in f l u e n c e o f s o d i u m on b o r o n m i g h t e x i s t in t h e so il t h r o u g h t h e f o r m a t i o n of m o r e s o l u b l e borate m in erals, s u c h a s r a s o r i t e i n s t e a d of c o l e m a n i t e . V a r i e t a l D i f f e r e n c e s in Ion A c c u m u l a t i o n A s p o i n t e d out in t h e l i t e r a t u r e r e v i e w , a n d a s s how n in t h e r e s u l t s , m a n y v a r i e t i e s v a r y in t h e i r s e l e c t i v e a b s o r p t i o n of s p e c i f i c ions. H a a s (30). C o o p e r et_al_.( 16), a n d Smith_et a h (72) h a v e s ho wn that c i t r u s v a r i e t i e s d i f f e r e n t i a l l y a b s o r b i o n s to a c o n s i d e r a b l e d e g r e e . Pope a n d M u n g e r (64. 65) s h o w e d t h a t c e l e r y v a r i e t i e s d i f f e r e d g e n e t i c a l l y with r e s p e c t to t h e i r m a g n e s i u m a n d b o r o n r e q u i r e m e n t s . It w o ul d follow t h e n , t h a t v a r i e t i e s o f m a n y c r o p s w o ul d a c c u m u l a t e d i f f e r e n t i o n s to 80 d i f f e r e n t d e g r e e s , d e p e n d i n g on t h e i r g e n e t i c c a p a b i l i t i e s . These g e n e t i c c a p a b i l i t i e s a r e p r o b a b l y g e n e t i c t r a i t s c a r r i e d a l o n g in t h e p r o c e s s of i n t e n s i v e s e l e c t i o n p r a c t i c e d f o r s o m e o t h e r c h a r a c t e r , s u c h a s a l a r g e r r o o t s y s t e m , s o il a d a p t a b i l i t y , d r o u g h t r e s i s t a n c e , o r o t h e r f a c t o r s w h i c h a r e r e c e i v i n g t h e a t t e n t i o n of p l a n t b r e e d e r s today. In m o v i n g p l a n t s f r o m t h e i r n a t i v e e c o l o g i c a l h a b i t a t s m a n h a s n a t u r a lly s e le c te d th o s e individuals that could best adjust to t h e n e w e c o l o g i c a l s i t u a t i o n s . He r e p e a t s t h i s p r o c e s s in th e new h a b i t a t u n t i l he h a s f i x e d t h o s e g e n e t i c c h a r a c t e r s to a c o n s i d e r a b l e d e g r e e . W i t h t h e m o d e r n i m p e t u s of i n b r e e d i n g , h y b r i d i z a t i o n , i n t r o ­ d u c t i o n of w i l d t y p e g e n e s , a n d o t h e r s i m i l a r t e c h n i q u e s , o t h e r c h a r ­ a c t e r i s t i c s s u c h a s d i f f e r e n t i a l a b i l i t y to a c c u m u l a t e s p e c i f i c i o n s a r e c a r r i e d a l o n g , t h u s e n a b l i n g o n e v a r i e t y o r v a r i e t a l t y p e to a b s o r b d i f f e r e n t a m o u n t s of t h e e l e m e n t w h i c h m a y o r m a y not aff ec t g r o w t h . T h e w o u l d c e r t a i n l y s e e m to b e t h e c a s e in c e l e r y , w h e r e C o r n e l l 19 a b ­ s o r b e d a s i g n i f i c a n t l y g r e a t e r a m o u n t of s o d i u m w hic h w a s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h i t s s i g n i f i c a n t l y g r e a t e r y i e l d r e s p o n s e to t h i s ion t h a n U ta h 10B. T h e w o r k of H a r m e r et a l . (34). who n o te d th at w h i t e v a r i e t i e s a b s o r b e d a n d r e s p o n d e d to s o d i u m to m u c h g T e a t e r e x t e n t s t h a n S u m m e r P a s c a l , w a s a l s o i n d i c a t e d in t h e v a r i e t i e s c o m p a r e d in t h i s s tu d y . C e l e r y v a r i e t i e s p r o v i d e a n o t h e r d i f f e r e n c e in a c c u m u l a t i o n o f s p e c i f i c i o n s w h i c h i s r e f l e c t e d in t h e i r f ie l d p e r f o r m a n c e . Utah 10B a b s o r b e d t h e l e a s t , a n d S u m m e r P a s c a l th e m o s t b o r o n of t h e f o u r v a r i e ­ t i e s t e s t e d , w h i c h a g r e e s w i t h t h e o b s e r v a t i o n of Y a m i g u c h i et a l . (80) a n d o t h e r s w ho f o u n d t h a t U ta h 10B w a s m u c h m o r e s u s c e p t i b l e to b o r o n deficiency than S u m m e r P a sc a l. H o w e v e r , P o pe a n d M u n g e r (65) i n d i ­ c a t e d t h a t t h e y f ou nd ’’c r a c k e d - s t e m s u s c e p t i b i l i t y " to be a s in g le " n o r m a l " d o m i n a n t g e n e f o r b o r o n a c c u m u l a t i o n in bo th v a r i e t i e s in w o r k th a t w a s c o n d u c t e d in n u t r i e n t s o l u t i o n s . F i e l d p e r f o r m a n c e wo uld be u n d o u b t e d l y m o d i f i e d by o t h e r f a c t o r s w h i c h i n f l u e n c e n u t r i e n t a b s o r p t i o n . Single gene d iffe re n c e s might have fa r re a c h in g influences o n n u t r i e n t a b s o r p t i o n , w h i c h m a y o r m a y not i n f l u e n c e t h e s u b s e q u e n t p e r f o r m a n c e o f t h e p l a n t , d e p e n d i n g on t h e n u t r i e n t l e v e l s e x i s t i n g in t h e s o i l , a s i s i n d i c a t e d in t h e p e r f o r m a n c e of t h e be et v a r i e t i e s wit h a n d w it h o u t t h e a d d i t i o n of s o d i u m a n d b o r a x to t h e s o i l . A s w a s i n d i c a t e d in t h e s a n d c u l t u r e of th e g r e e n h o u s e s t u d i e s s o d i u m m i g h t i n f l u e n c e t h e b o r o n a b s o r p t i o n of s o m e v a r i e t i e s of s o m e c r o p s w h i c h m a y in p a r t be t h e c a u s e of i n c r e a s e d y i e l d . Sand c u l t u r e s a p p e a r to a c c e n t u a t e s i t u a t i o n s t h a t a r e u s u a l l y m a s k e d in t h e m o r e c o m p l e x n u t r i e n t s i t u a t i o n s found in t h e f i e l d . T h e c o m p l e x i t y of n u t r i e n t s t a t u s of n o r m a l f i e l d s o i l s m a y a c t a s a b u f f e r to p r e v e n t t h e e x p r e s s i o n o f n o r m a l g e n e t i c d i f f e r e n c e s in t h e n u t r i e n t a b s o r p t i o n a b i l i t i e s of various cro p s. T h i s is a fo rtu n ate situation which g e n e ra lly e lim in a te s t h e n e c e s s i t y f o r " p r e s c r i p t i o n " f e r t i l i z e r s f o r e a c h v a r i e t y a n d s oi l e x c e p t w h e r e t h e s e f a c t o r s p l a y a n e x t r e m e l y d o m i n a n t r o l e in s o m e few cro p v a r i e t i e s . T h e p o s s ib ili ty c e r ta in l y e x ists, of studying the nutrient a c c u m u l a t i o n c a p a b i l i t i e s of g e n e t i c l i n e s . W hile such a study might not b e o f o u t s t a n d i n g s i g n i f i c a n c e in c o m p a r i n g c r o p s on n o r m a l s o i l s , it m i g h t b e v e r y i m p o r t a n t on s o i l s of l o w f e r t i l i t y , o r on s o i l s w h ic h h av e b e e n f e r t i l i z e d with the highly p u r if i e d c h e m ic a l s a l t s . Inasm uch a s t h e u s e o f m o r e h i g h l y r e f i n e d f e r t i l i z e r s in t i m e m a y r e s u l t in s o i l s b e c o m i n g m o r e c o m p a r a b l e to s a n d c u l t u r e s , such studies can q u i t e c o n c e i v a b l y b e c o m e of c o n s i d e r a b l e i m p o r t a n c e in t h e f u t u r e . T h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f u s i n g s t u d i e s of t h i s t y p e in i d e n t i f y i n g g e n e t i c l i n e s o r v a r i e t i e s w i t h v a r i a b l e b e h a v i o r to d i f f e r e n t n u t r i e n t s a n d on d i f f e r e n t s o i l s w il l by n e c e s s i t y p r o b a b l y be g i v e n m u c h m o r e a t t e n t i o n by p l a n t n u t r i t i o n i s t s a n d p l a n t b r e e d e r s in t h e f u t u r e . SUMMARY T w e n ty -n in e v a r ie t ie s e m b r a c i n g fifteen vegetable c ro p s w e r e g r o w n in a f a c t o r i a l l y d e s i g n e d f i e l d e x p e r i m e n t in w hic h two l e v e l s o f e a c h of c a l c i u m , p o t a s s i u m a n d s o d i u m , a n d t h r e e l e v e l s of b o r o n w e r e a t t a i n e d by t h e u s e of l i m e , p o t a s s i u m a n d s o d i u m c h l o r i d e , a n d b o r a x t o t h e s o il . A s t h e c r o p s r e a c h e d m a t u r i t y , t h e t o t a l y i e l d s w e r e r e c o r d e d a n d l e a f t i s s u e s a m p l e s w e r e t a k e n f r o m p l a n t s of e a c h of t h e t r e a t m e n t s f o r t h e c h e m i c a l a n a l y s e s of t h e n u t r i e n t s i n v o l v e d . G r e e n h o u s e e x p e r i m e n t s w i t h c e l e r y w e r e c a r r i e d out in a s i m i l a r m anner. C h e m i c a l d e t e r m i n a t i o n s of t h e a s h of t h e d r i e d t i s s u e w e r e m a d e , b o ro n bein g d e t e r m i n e d by the c a r m i n e m ethod, and the t h r e e ca tio n s by fla m e s p e c tr o p h o t o m e t r y . T he re s u lts w ere analyzed s ta t is ­ t i c a l l y in o r d e r to d e t e r m i n e t h e d i f f e r e n t i a l r e s p o n s e a n d a b s o r p t i o n by t h e v a r i o u s v a r i e t i e s a n d c r o p s . S e v e n of t h e c r o p s g a v e m a r k e d o r s i g n i f i c a n t l y i n c r e a s e d y i e l d s in r e s p o n s e to s o d i u m a p p l i c a t i o n s , t h e o r d e r of i n c r e a s e b e i n g celery beets, spinach m uskm elons, r u t a b a g a ;, c a r r o t s , an d t u r n i p s . Snap b e a n . p e a . a n d l i m a b e a n y i e l d s w e r e r e d u c e d by t h e s a m e t r e a t ­ m e n t s . D i f f e r e n t i a l v a r i e t a l r e s p o n s e to s o d i u m w e r e n o te d in c e l e r y b e e ts, and spinach Y i e l d r e s p o n s e s to b o r o n w e r e s m a l l , e x c e p t f o r s n ap b e a n s w hich w e re significantly red u ced S o m e i n t e r a c t i v e e f f e c t s o f t h e a p p l i e d n u t r i e n t s w e r e n o te d . C e l e r y v a r i e t i e s r e s p o n d e d d i f f e r e n t l y to s o d i u m d e p e n d i n g on t h e so il pH level. Beet v a r i e t i e s r e s p o n d e d d i f f e r e n t i a l l y to b o r o n , d e p e n d i n g on t h e s o d i u m l e v e l of t h e s o il . Snap b e a n a n d p e a y i e l d s w e r e not d e p r e s s e d to s u c h an e x t e n t w h e n b o t h s o d i u m a n d b o r o n w e r e a p p l i e d t o g e t h e r a s w h en th e s e e le m e n ts w e re applied s e p a ra te ly R e s p o n s e to c a l c i u m a n d p o t a s s i u m w e r e v a r i a b l e , a n d no s i g n i f i c a n t i n f l u e n c e s on y i e l d s c o u l d be d e t e r m i n e d . S o d iu m w a s t h e m o s t v a r i a b l e e l e m e n t d e t e r m i n e d , t h e c o n ­ centrations varying from 0 01 p e r c e n t in s n a p b e a n s , l i m a b e a n s , a n d s q u a s h to \ .11 p e r ce n t in b e e t s . Sodium ap p lic a tio n s significantly i n ­ c r e a s e d t h e s o d i u m c o n t e n t in al l c r o p s e x c e p t t h e t h r e e c r o p s w it h t h e l o w e s t c o n t e n t . V a r i e t i e s of c e l e r y , c a r r o t s b e e ts, spinach, cabbage p e a s , a n d m u s k m e l o n s d i f f e r e d s i g n i f i c a n t l y in t h e i r a b i l i t y to a c c u m u ­ late sodium L a r g e d i f f e r e n c e s w e r e found a m o n g t h e v a r i o u s c r o p s in t h e i r a b i l i t y to a c c u m u l a t e b o r o n . Boron c o n t e n t s v a r i e d f r o m an a v e r a g e o f 26 p p m in c a u l i f l o w e r to 150 p p m in m u s k n t e l o n V a r i e t i e s of c e l e r y . beets, spinach, snap b e a n s , m u s k m e lo n s and squash differed signifi­ c a n t l y in t h e i r a b i l i t y to a c c u m u l a t e b o r o n . V e g e t a b l e v a r i e t i e s a l s o d i f f e r e d in t h e i r a b i l i t y to a c c u m u ­ l a t e p o t a s s i u m a n d c a l c i u m . S ig n if i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e s in t h e p o t a s s i u m c o n c e n t r a t i o n a m o n g t h e v a r i e t i e s of b e e t s , c a b b a g e , p e a s , sna p b e a n s , l i m a b e a n s , c u c u m b e r s , m u s k m e l o n s a n d s q u a s h w e r e f oun d. v a r i e t i e s of c a r r o t s , b e e t s , s p i n a c h , The s n ap b e a n s , l i m a b e a n s , m u s k ­ m e l o n s a n d s q u a s h d i f f e r e d in t h e i r c a l c i u m co n t en t . Of t h e f o u r n u t r i e n t s a p p l i e d , s o d i u m e x e r t e d t h e g r e a t e s t i n f l u e n c e on t h e a b s o r p t i o n of o t h e r i o n s . c o n c e n t r a t i o n of b o r o n in c e l e r y , b e e t s , It s i g n i f i c a n t l y r e d u c e d t h e s p i n a c h , p e a s , a n d sn ap b e a n s . Sodium a p p lic a tio n s also significantly re d u c e d the p o ta ss iu m c o n c e n ­ t r a t i o n s in c a r r o t s a n d l i m a b e a n s , a n d in c e l e r y , c a r r o t s - , b e e t s , broccoli, s n a p b e a n s , lim a bean s, m u sk m e lo n s. c u c u m b e rs , and s q u a s h to l e s s e r e x t e n t s . S o d iu m a l s o s i g n i f i c a n t l y d e c r e a s e d t h e c a l c i u m c o n c e n t r a t i o n s f o u n d in c e l e r y a n d s p i n a c h . P otassium applications in ­ c r e a s e d t h e s o d i u m c o n c e n t r a t i o n s fou nd in c e l e r y , b e e t s , r u t a b a g a s , and peas but d e c r e a s e d t h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n s found in c a u l i f l o w e r an d cucum bers. B o r o n did not a l t e r t h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n s of s o d i u m , p o t a s s i u m , o r c a l c i u m in a n y c r o p g r o w n in t h e f i e l d . R e l a t i n g t h e e ff e c t of s o d i u m on t h e c a t i o n c o n c e n t r a t i o n s f o u n d in t h e v a r i o u s c r o p s to t h e i n f l u e n c e of s o d i u m on p l a n t g r o w th i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h i s e l e m e n t m i g h t c r e a t e d e t r i m e n t a l a s w el l a s m o r e f a v o r a b l e c a l c i u m - p o t a s s i u m b a l a n c e s in p l a n t s w h ic h m a y b e r e f l e c t e d in p l a n t y i e l d . T h e i n h e r e n t a b i l i t y of a c r o p s e e m s to d e t e r m i n e to a l a r g e e x t e n t i t s r e l a t i v e r e s p o n s e to b o r o n . C r o p s w h ic h a b s o r b only s m a l l a m o u n t s o f b o r o n h a v e p r e v i o u s l y b e e n fou nd to b e v e r y r e s p o n s i v e to b o r a x a p p l i c a t i o n s on s o i l s low in b o r o n , a n d t h o s e a b s o r b i n g l a r g e q u a n t i t i e s a n d m a k i n g go o d g r o w t h on s o i l s lo w in b o r o n a r e f r e q u e n t l y in j u r e d by b o r a x a p p lic a tio n s . T h e p h y l l o g e n e t i c d e v e l o p m e n t of p l a n t s h a s p r o b a b l y m o d i f i e d t h e a b i l i t y of v a r i o u s c r o p s to a b s o r b t h i s e l e m e n t . T h o u g h s o d i u m r e d u c e d t h e b o r o n c o n c e n t r a t i o n s found in s e v e r a l c r o p s , i n c r e a s e d g r o w t h r e s p o n s e due to t h e a p p l i c a t i o n of s o d i u m r e s u l t e d in i n c r e a s e d a b s o r p t i o n of t h i s e l e m e n t by s e v e r a l o f the sodium re sp o n siv e c ro p s . S o d iu m m a y m a k e b o r o n m o r e p h y s i o l o ­ g i c a l l y a c t i v e b y d e c r e a s i n g t h e c a l c i u m co nt ent . G r e e n h o u s e s t u d i e s i n s a n d c u l t u r e s s h o w e d t r e n d s w h ic h i n d i c a t e d th at s o d i u m m i g h t i n ­ c r e a s e t h e b o r o n c o n t e n t d i r e c t l y in s o m e i n s t a n c e s . T h e d i f f e r e n t i a l a b s o r p t i o n o f s p e c i f i c io n s by c r o p v a r i e ­ t i e s i s p r o b a b l y d u e to d i f f e r e n c e s in t h e i r g e n e t i c c a p a b i l i t i e s o r c h a r a c t e r s c a r r i e d a l o n g in t h e p r o c e s s of b r e e d i n g f o r s o m e o t h e r property. T h e e x p r e s s i o n of t h e s e c h a r a c t e r s i s u s u a l l y m a s k e d b y t h e c o m p l e x n u t r i e n t s i t u a t i o n s f ou nd in n o r m a l f ie l d s o i l s . c o n t i n u e d u s e of m o r e h i g h l y r e f i n e d f e r t i l i z e r s , The e s p e c i a l l y on s o i l s o f lo w f e r t i l i t y m a y i n c r e a s e t h e i m p o r t a n c e of s u c h g e n e t i c c h a r ­ a c t e r s in t h e f u t u r e , a n d s h o u l d b e g i v e n m o r e a t t e n t i o n in t h e f u t u r e by p la n t n u tr i t i o n i s t s and plant b r e e d e r s a lik e . 88 LITERA TU R E CITED 1. A y r e s . A . D . C H W a d l e i g h , a n d L . B e r n s t e i n . 1951 . Salt t o l e r a n c e of s i x v a r i e t i e s of l e t t u c e . P r o c . A m e r . Soc . H o r t . S c i . 57: 2 3 1 - 2 3 6 . 2. B e a r , F . E . . a n d A . 1L. P r i n c e . 1 945 . C a t i o n e q u i v a l e n t c o n s t a n c y in a l f a l f a . J o u r A m e r . S o c . A g r o n . 37: 2 1 7 - 2 2 2 . 3. B e c k e n b a c h . J. R . 1 9 44 . F u n c t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s b e t w e e n b o r o n a n d v a r i o u s a n i o n s in t h e n u t r i t i o n of t h e t o m a t o . U n i v . F l a . A g r . E x p . Sta . T e c h . Bui. 3 9 5 . 4. B e r g e r . K . C . , a n d E . T r u o g . 1 9 39 . B o r on d e t e r m i n a t i o n in s o i l s a n d p l a n t t i s s u e . I n d . E n g . C h e m . A n a l . E d . 11: 54 0 . 5. . 6 7. . 8 9. 1 0 . 1 1. B e r n s t e i n , L . , a n d A . D . A y r e s . 1 9 5 1 . Salt t o l e r a n c e of s i x v a r i e t i e s of g r e e n b e a n s . P r o c . A m e r . S o c . H o r t . S c i . 57: 2 4 3 - 2 4 8 . B r e n c h l e y . W . E . . a n d K. W a r i n g t o n . 1 9 27 . T h e r o l e o f b o r o n t h e g r o w t h o f p l a n t s . A n n . B o t . 41: 1 6 7 - 8 7 . B r o w n . J. S . , on t h e u s e potassium , H o r t. Sci, in O. L ille la n d , and R . K. Ja ck so n . 1950. F u r t h e r n o te s of f l a m e m e t h o d s f o r a n a l y s i s of p l a n t m a t e r i a l f o r c a lc iu m , m a g n e s i u m , and s o d iu m . P r o c . A m e r . Soc. 56: 1 2 - 2 2 . C a m p b e l l , J. D. 19 53 . D i f f e r e n t i a l c a t i o n a b s o r p t i o n a n d y i e l d r e s p o n s e b y v e g e t a b l e c r o p s g r o w n at v a r i o u s l e v e l s of ca lc iu m ,, p o t a s s i u m , a n d s o d i u m . U n p u b l i s h e d Ph . D . T h e s i s , M i c h i g a n S t a t e C o l l e g e . C a r o l u s . R . L . 1949 . C a l c i u m a n d p o t a s s i u m r e l a t i o n s h i p s in t o m a t o e s a n d s p i n a c h . P r o c . A m e r . S o c . H o r t . S c i. 54: 2 8 1 - 2 8 5 . . 1 933 . T o m a t o f e r t i l i z a t i o n . II T h e e f f e c t of d i f f e r e n t f e r t i l i z e r r a t i o s on t h e c h e m i c a l c o m p o s i t i o n of t o m a t o e s . Va . T r u c k E x p . Sta . Bui . 8 1 . C h a n d l e r , F . B . 1 9 41 . M i n e r a l n u t r i t i o n of t h e g e n u s B r a s s i c a wi th p a r t i c u l a r r e f e r e n c e to b o r o n . M a i n e A g r . Ex p . Sta . Bui . 104 . 89 12. C o l l a n d e r , R . 1941 . S e l e c t i v e a b s o r p t i o n o f c a t i o n s by h i g h e r p l a n t s . Plant P h y s . 1 6 : 6 9 1 - 7 2 0 . 13 . C o o k , R . L , . . a n d C . E . M i l l a r . 1939 . F a c t o r s a f f e c t i n g b o r o n a v a i l a b i l i t y . P r o c Soil S c i . S o c . A m e r . 4: 2 9 7 - 3 0 1 . 14. _______________ a n d _______________ . 19 4 0 . T h e e f f e c t o f b o r a x on t h e y i e l d , a p p e a r a n c e , a n d m i n e r a l c o m p o s i t i o n of s p i n a c h a n d s u g a r b e e t s . P r o c . Soil S c i . S o c . A m e r , 3: 2 2 7 - 2 3 4 . 15. C o o p er. H. P . . W . R. P aden, and M . M P h illip p e. 1953. E f f e c ts of a p p l i c a t i o n s o f s o d i u m in f e r t i l i z e r on y i e l d s a n d c o m p o s i t i o n of t h e c o t t o n p l a n t . Soil S c i . 76: 1 9 - 2 8 . 16. C o o p e r . W . C . , B. S. G o r t o n , a n d E O . O l s o n . 1 95 2. I o n i c a c c u m u l a t i o n in c i t r u s b y r o o t s t o c k a n d s c i o n a n d c o n c e n t r a t i o n of s a l t s a n d b o r o n in t h e s u b s t r a t e . P la n t P h y s . 27: 1 9 1 - 2 0 3 . 17. C o p e , J. T . J r . , R . B r a d f i e l d , a n d M . P e e c h . 1 9 5 3 . E f f e c t of s o d i u m f e r t i l i z a t i o n on y i e l d a n d c a t i o n c o n t e n t of s o m e f i e l d c r o p s . Soil S c i . 76: 6 5 - 7 4 . 18. D e T u r k , E . E . . J. R . H o l b e r f . a n d B . W . H o u k . 1 9 3 3 . C h e m i c a l t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s of p h o s p h o r u s in t h e g r o w i n g c o r n p l a n t w i t h r e s u l t s on tw o f i r s t g e n e r a t i o n c r o s s e s . 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E f f e c t s of a p p l y i n g c o m m o n s a l t to a m u c k so il on t h e yi e ld , c o m p o s i t i o n a n d q u a l it y of c e r t a i n v e g e t a b l e c r o p s a n d on t h e c o m p o s i t i o n of t h e so il p r o ­ d u c i n g t h e m . J o u r . A m e r . S o c . A g r o n . 33: 9 5 2 - 9 7 9 . 33 nutrient. 34 . 19 45 . B o r o n c o n t e n t of c i t r u s t r e e s g r o w n on v a r i o u s Soil S c i . 59: 4 6 5 - 4 7 9 . and Soil S c i . 60: 1 3 7 - 1 4 8 . . 1945. Sod ium a s a c r o p . W. M. Laughlin. and C ornelia K e y . 19 53 . F a c t o r s a f f e c t i n g c r o p r e s p o n s e to s o d i u m a p p l i e d a s c o m m o n s a l t on M i c h i g a n m u c k s o i l . Soil S ci . 76: 1 - 1 7 . 91 35. H a r t w e l l , B. L . , a n d S . C . D a m o n . 1 9 19 . T h e v a l u e of s o d i u m w h e n p o t a s s i u m i s I n s u f f i c i e n t . R . I . A g r . E x p . S t a . Bui. 177. 36. H a r v e y , P a u l H . 1 939 . 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