Metal interactions in bush bean plants grown in a glasshouse in amended serpentine soils from California

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Abstract
Bush beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L cv. Improved Tendergreen) were grown with amendments in a glasshouse in 2 different serpentine soils from California [USA]. These serpentine soils are not high in Ni and Cr as in other areas of the world; the purpose of the study was to define the reasons for low plant yields in these 2 soils. The 2 soils behaved differently. One seemed to have simple P deficiency and a mild imbalance of Ca-Mg. The other soil apparently had a severe Ca deficiency, the correction of which tended to increase Mg uptake also, but with improved yields. Zn, Cu, Al and Ni toxicities were observed even though the levels of each were not high by leaf analysis tests. Stepwise regression for plants from one of the soils indicated that Cu concentration in leaves accounted for 60% of the yield variation (negative correlation); Ca accounted for 9% more of it and P accounted for 13% more for a total of 82%. In the presence of low levels of Ca, some of the trace metals, Cu, e.g., were toxic.

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