Cation?anion balance in lime?induced chlorosis

Abstract

Lime‐induced chlorosis in plants is characterized by some phenomena which fit into a simple hypothesis that internal pH balance is upset due to shifts in cation‐anion balances. These pH changes result in precipitation of Fe in plants and fit our previous hypothesis of competitive dictation as an explanation of the multiple causes of lime‐induced chlorosis. The oft‐times higher concentrations of Fe in chlorotic leaves compared with green leaves can be explained, at least in part, by the tendency of Fe‐deficient plants to take up Fe at a more rapid rate when it becomes available than do Fe‐sufficient plants. This is a result of cation‐anion balance. Part of the Fe‐efficient nature of the Hawkeye soybean (Glycine max L.) may be explained by its ability to take up Cl^‐ which improves the internal cation‐anion balance. Hawkeye soybeans, when Fe‐deficient, assimilated much more ^l4C from bicarbonate than did Fe‐deficient PI54619–5–1 soybeans.