Mineral-Deficiency Symptoms Displayed by Rice Plants Grown Under Controlled Conditions in the Greenhouse

Abstract

Deficiency symptoms were induced by the omission of macro- and micronutrient elements on rice plants of the Sinaloa variety grown in solution culture in the greenhouse. The elements included in the study were N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn and B. The omission of N, K and Fe from the nutrient medium resulted in the poorest top growth of plants. The lowest values of either fresh or dry weight of roots were caused by lack of K. Omission of Ca, S, Mg, B and Mn treatments also caused the development of poor root systems. Lack of P was the least detrimental. Except for S and Fe, the concentration of the particular missing element in the leaf tissues was lower in plants from each deficiency treatment than in the control plants. Leaf analysis indicates that the absence of one element from the nutrient medium could cause either a reduction or an increase of other related elements in the leaf tissue.