Some effects of soil waterlogging on the cobalt and copper status of pasture plants grown in pots

Abstract

Glass-house experiments were made to measure the effect of soil waterlogging on the cobalt and copper status of subterranean clover and ryegrass. The cobalt content of the plants was much increased by soil waterlogging. Very high plant cobalt contents were obtained when soil was waterlogged for 2 months at room temperature, or for shorter periods at higher temperatures, before planting; or when it was waterlogged while the plants were growing rapidly. The effect of waterlogging on the cobalt content persisted when soils were stored air-dry. Soil waterlogging raised the copper content of the plants much less than it did the cobalt. The copper content was significantly increased only when plants had been severely stunted by waterlogging. Waterlogging raised the plant cobalt content more than it reduced the yield. Thus the total uptake of cobalt, but not of copper, from the soil was increased by waterlogging.