Interaction Mechanism of Fe, Mg and Mn in Karst Soil-Mango System

Abstract

Manganese (Mn), an essential trace element for plants in which it is involved in redox reactions as a cofactor for many enzymes, represents an important factor in environmental contamination. Excess Mn can lead to toxicity conditions in natural and agricultural sites. Manganese toxicity is one of the most severe growth limiting factors in acid soil, which accounts for 21% of the total arable lands in China. The more significant part of Mn-toxicity is its interactions with other mineral elements, in particular with phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca) and iron (Fe). The application of P or Ca can be beneficial in the detoxification of manganese, whereas Mn seems to interfere with Fe metabolism. Manganese toxicity varies with plant species, nutrients, and the soil environment. Mango is the main economic fruit in the karst area of the subtropical region of China. The karst soil in the mango orchard is characterized by high Fe, Mn and Mg. In order to explore the interaction among Fe, Mg, and Mn in karst soil and mango systems under high Mn conditions, a typical mango orchard in the karst depression landform in Baise in southern China was selected to study the effects of Fe and Mg on the toxic expression of Mn in mango plants and the interaction mechanism of Fe-Mn-Mg in mango plants. The results show that: (1) the mango growth status is closely correlated with Fe2+ (active iron) and Mg under the same soil Mn concentration; (2) The black spots on mango leaves were mainly caused by Fe and Mn. There is a lot of Fe3+ and Mn3+ in the black spots, which accounts for more than 90% of the total; (3) In addition, the studies also showed that the Fe and Mg inhibited the expression of Mn toxicity in mango. Conclusively, the interaction effect of Fe, Mn, and Mg is an important factor that affects mango growth, which can indicate the status of the soil and plants.