Shoot growth and herbage element concentrations of 'Grasslands Puna' chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) under varying soil pH

Abstract

In the glasshouse chicory (Cichon'um intybus L.) shoot growth was not influenced by variations in soil pH from 4 to 6. The concentration in shoot dry matter of aluminium, cadmium, iron, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, tin and strontium was not affected by pH. Zinc, boron, manganese, potassium and sulphur all decreased significantly with increasing pH while calcium increased. Eight elements (arsenic, cobalt, chromium, molybdenum, nickel, lead, selenium, silicon) were below the limits of measurement. The concentrations of major elements in field grown chicory were similar to those in the glasshouse plants. Potassium, sodium, calcium, sulphur, boron, manganese and zinc in chicory were at levels higher than those normally found in ryegrass and white clover. The results co&m that chicory may supply grazing animals with some minerals at relatively high concentrations. Keywords chicory, Cichorium intybus, element composition, soil pH, pH requirement