PLANT AND SOIL STUDIES WITH RADIOACTIVE MANGANESE

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Abstract
Greenhouse soil studies with Mn54 indicate that mature leaves of buckwheat, soybeans and sunflower accumulate more of the radioelement than young leaves. Autoradiographs showed Mn54 concentrated in tips of alfalfa leaves and in marginal and interveinal tissue of soybean and tomato leaves. Islands of Mn54 were found in mature soybean and tomato leaves. Foliar applied Mns4 absorbed through leaf, petiole and stem of plants and translocated mostly upward not downward indicating necessity of complete plant coverage with Mn to overcome Mn chlorosis. Alfalfa absorbed more Mn from applied MnSO4 on Sassafras than Norton soil. Less than 5% applied MnSO4 utilized by 2 cuttings of alfalfa. About 60% of the applied Mn was retained by Norton soil in available form and only 40% by Sassafras soil. Remainder Mn in both soils converted to unavailable forms.