Impacts of root sulfate deprivation on growth and elements concentration of globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa L.) under hydroponic condition

Abstract

Sulfur (S) regarded as the fourth key element is mainly taken by the plant roots. However, some plants can also absorb atmospheric sulfides, which may be of great importance for ameliorating the environment and for farming as a green organic S fertilizer used to balance insufficient soil S content for intensive cultivation in China; H2S and mainly SO2 are emitted to air as a result of the rapid industrialized and economic development. Globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa L.) might be one of the plants that can use atmospheric sulfides for its growth. Therefore the effects of sulfate deprivation from root on its growth, S status and other elements concentration under hydroponic culture were explored firstly. Based on measurements of plant growth, biomass, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), S, iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), and molybdenum (Mo) concentration, the results showed that S concentration in flower, shoot and root of plant without root sulfate supplied was increased with plant growth and development, symptoms of S deficiency disappeared and other elements concentration in plant tended to be nearly the same as the root sulfate-supplied plants. The interesting results might imply that globe amaranth may be able to live on the atmospheric sulfides as sulfur source.