Influence of gyttja on shoot growth and shoot concentrations of zinc and boron of wheat cultivars grown on zinc-deficient and boron-toxic soil

Greenhouse experiments were carried out to study the influence of gyttja, a sedimentary peat, on the shoot dry weight and shoot concentrations of zinc (Zn). and boron (B) in one bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Bezostaja) and one durum wheat (Triticum durum L., cv. Kiziltan) cultivar. Plants were grown in a Zn-deficient (DTPA-Zn: 0.09 mg kg(-1) soil) and B-toxic soil (CaCl2/mannitol-extractable B: 10.5 mg kg(-1) soil) with (+Zn = 5 mg Zn kg(-1) soil) and without (-Zn = 0) Zn supply for 55 days. Gyttja containing 545 g kg(-1) organic matter was applied to the soil at the rates of 0, 1, 2.5, 5, and 10% (w/w). When Zn and gyttja were not added, plants showed leaf symptoms of Zn deficiency and B toxicity, and had a reduced growth. With increased rates of gyttja application, shoot growth of both cultivars was significantly enhanced under Zn deficiency, but not at sufficient supply of Zn. The adverse effects of Zn deficiency and B toxicity on shoot dry matter production became very minimal at the highest rate of gyttja application. Increases in gyttja application significantly enhanced shoot concentrations of Zn in plants grown without addition of inorganic Zn. In Zn-sufficient plants, the gyttja application up to 5% (w/w) did not affect Zn concentration in shoots, but at the highest rate of gyttja application there was a clear decrease in shoot Zn concentration. Irrespective of Zn supply, the gyttja application strongly decreased shoot concentration of B in plants, particularly in durum wheat. For example, in Zn-deficient Kiziltan shoot concentration of B was reduced from 385 mg kg(-1) to 214 mg kg(-1) with an increased gyttja application. The results obtained indicate that gyttja is a useful organic material improving Zn nutrition of plants in Zn-deficient soils and alleviating adverse. effects of B toxicity on plant growth. The beneficial effects of gyttja on plant growth in the Zn-deficient;and B-toxic soil were discussed in terms of increases in plant available concentration of Zn in soil and reduction of B uptake due to formation of tightly bound complexes of B with gyttja.