Effect of inorganic and organic copper fertilizers on copper nutrition in Spinacia oleracea and on labile copper in soil

J Agric Food Chem. 2013 May 22;61(20):4692-701. doi: 10.1021/jf305473f. Epub 2013 May 13.

Abstract

To ensure an optimal concentration of Cu in food crops, the effectiveness of eight liquid Cu fertilizers was studied in a spinach ( Spinacia oleracea L.) crop grown on Cu-deficient soil under greenhouse conditions. Plant dry matter yields, Cu concentrations in spinach plants (total and morpholino acid (MES)- and ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS)-extractable), and Cu uptakes were studied. The behavior of Cu in soil was evaluated by both single and sequential extraction procedures. The highest quantities of Cu in labile forms in the soil, total uptakes, and Cu concentrations in the plants were associated with the application of the two sources that contained Cu chelated by EDTA and/or DTPA. The fertilizers containing these Cu chelates represent a promising approach to achieve high levels of agronomic biofortification. The stronger correlations obtained between low-molecular-weight organic acid-extractable Cu in soil and the Cu concentrations and Cu uptakes by the plants show the suitability of this soil extraction method for predicting Cu available to spinach plants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Copper / administration & dosage*
  • Copper / analysis
  • Copper / metabolism
  • Edetic Acid / administration & dosage
  • Fertilizers*
  • Pentetic Acid
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry
  • Soil / chemistry*
  • Spinacia oleracea / chemistry
  • Spinacia oleracea / growth & development
  • Spinacia oleracea / metabolism*

Substances

  • Fertilizers
  • Soil
  • Copper
  • Pentetic Acid
  • Edetic Acid