The effects of aluminium and pH on the growth of a range of temperate grass species and cultivars

Abstract

Information is given on the effects of solution Al concentration activity (Al 3+) and solution pH on the growth of tops and roots of 37 cultivars of 13 common temperate grasses raised in solution culture at low ionic strength (2740 micro M). Data on chemical concentration of tops grown in the absence of Al at pH 4.6 are also given. It was found in general that (1) economically important temperate grasses are sensitive to Al at concentrations of 4.5, (2) roots are more sensitive than shoots to Al, but top and root yields show similar rankings of sensitivity, (3) the highest yield of tops was produced by Agrostis tenuis [A. capillaris] (2254 mg/pot) and Bromus wildenowii [ B. catharticus ] cv. Grasslands Matua (1817 mg/pot), (4) Festuca rubra gave the highest relative top yield in the field throughout the Al concentration range, and (5) Dactylis glomerata and Lolium cultivars most tolerant of Al are of Australian and European origin.