Nutrient content in pigeonpea seedlings from seeds soaked in an aluminum solution

Abstract

The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of aluminum on nutrient contents in seedlings of two cultivars of pigeonpea Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. arising from seeds which were previously soaked in an aluminum solution. The seeds were made to germinate in paper substratum soaked in aluminum sulphate solutions with concentrations of 0.0; 0.5; 5.0, and 0.0 mmol L-. The germination was carried out in a germination chamber at 25 °C ±°C, and full light. After four days, five germinated seeds were seeded in plastic boxes filled with 2.000 cm3 of soil, which was aluminum-free due to its being previously treated with limestone. The experiment was conducted under a complete randomized design in a factorial arrangement 2x4, with three replications. After 20 days in a growth chamber under a photoperiod of 2 hours and room temperature the N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn contents in the leaves and stems were dertermined. The aluminum doses reduced calcium content in both cultivars, and decreased magnesium and sulphur content of the cv. IAC Fava Larga. The decrease of these nutrients showed that cv. IAC Fava Larga and cv. IAPAR 43-Aratã were not tolerant to aluminum, although IAC Fava Larga presented higher nutrient contents.Additional keywords: Cajanus cajan; mineral nutrition; toxicity; aluminum sulphate.