Effects of aluminium on growth and nutrition in birch seedlings under magnesium- or calcium-limiting growth conditions

Growth and nutrition of birch seedlings (Betula pendula Roth) with and without 0.5 mM Al3+ were studied. The seedlings were cultivated at growth-limiting Mg- or Ca-conditions by adding one of these elements at relative addition rates (R-Mg, R-Ca) of 0.15 day(-1). The concentration of Ca2+ in the Mg-limited treatments was 0.01, 0.1 or 1 mM and Mg2+ was given in equal molarities in the Ca-limited treatments. The relative growth rates, R-G, of the plants and plant parts attained values close to R-Mg or R-Ca and were not affected by the concentration of Ca2+, Mg2+ or Al3+ in the culture solution. Uptake of Ca, at Ca-limitation, increased significantly in the roots after addition of Al, and decreased in all plant parts when the Mg concentration of the culture solution was raised. Less clear effects were found on Mg uptake at Mg-limitation. The inhibitory effect of Al on Mg uptake decreased with time as a result of the growth technique. The root mass fraction was significantly larger in plants limited in Ca (24%) than in plants limited in Mg (20%). The usefulness in using the balance between Ca and Al or ratios between Ca,Mg,K and Al as diagnostic tools for assessing the nutritional status of trees is discussed.