Soil Conditions for Plants

Why Some Soils Show Deficiency in IronIt is most typically seen in the Bay Area when temperatures are down as in November, December and January. Sensitivity to iron deficiency varies with plant species, but soil conditions are very important.Soil conditions that are known to cause Fe (iron) deficiency in plants are:1. Limited Supply of Oxygen. The apparent reason for simultaneous occurrence of lime and poor aeration is that they are both associated with limited pore space in the soil. The mechanism by which an oxygen-deficit affects Fe uptake is not well understood, but there is reason to believe
�that' reduced, root development is involved. The evidence is that iron is released to plants from mineral forms in neutral or alkaline soils by chemical processes occurring at root surfaces. Since Fe, like all other plant nutrients depends on a quantitative relation between the rate of supply and the plant needs, any factor that reduces Fe uptake may cause deficiency. 2. Soil Temperature. In temperate climates the soil temperatures during the cooler parts of the year sometimes reduce Fe uptake to the point where deficiency occurs particularly when day time air temperatures are favorable to growth of the above-ground portions.3. Soil Salinity. Salinity depresses root growth. Furthermore, it has been observed that both citrus and avocados show a reduction in Fe chlorosis following a winter of high rainfall.4. Excessive Soil Moisture (during the growing season). The principal mechanism seems to be limited aeration. A drastic reduction of soil water content, however, may also reduce the demand for Fe by limiting, growth. The best solution is to regulate frequency and duration of irrigations to achieve maximum root development, particularly in that part of the soil profile best suited to root growth.Soil Conditions for Plants

View this post on my blog: http://livingstyle.info/soil-conditions-for-plants