Discipline: Chemistry and Chemical Sciences
Subcategory: Plant Research
Cares Bailey - Mississippi Valley State University
Co-Author(s): Mudlagiri B. Goli, Manju Pande, and Yasmine Stanley, Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, MS
The objective of this research was to determine the effects of soil applications of five compounds (Mn, Cu, Zn, Mo and B) with a chelating agent, citric acid (CA), on soybean leaves and seeds. Macro and micro- elements may travel in to leaves and later seeds at different rates. It is hypothesized that CA by itself or in combination with these five chemical applications ( e.g. Zn + CA) can either aid in the uptake or decrease the mineral content depending upon ease of its mobility of these elements and complexes in soybean seeds. Six seeds of soybean cultivar (Bolivar with maturity group V) were planted in each pot. They were grown in a repeated greenhouse experiment in a randomized complete block design. The chemical applications were applied either separately or in a combined combination of the compounds with chelating agent CA (example, Mn + CA) to three-week-old soybean plants two times, (one week apart) at the vegetative (V3) stage, and one chemical application before R3 (beginning of seed pod initiation) stage. After application the plants were allowed to grow until harvest maturity under greenhouse conditions. The mature, dried soybean seeds were analyzed for a total of thirteen elements, seven micro and six macro elements.
Half of the plants during the vegetative stage after two treatments were pulled out and were analyzed for macro and trace elements. The Mn, Cu, Zn, Mo, CA and most combo treatments of these metals with CA increased calcium (Ca) content by 19-36%, while the same treatments decreased potassium (K) by 7.6 to 12.54%. Similarly these treatments decreased the magnesium (Mg) by 4.8 to 12%, except Zn and CA treatments. Similarly, most of these treatments decreased the phosphorous (P) by 13- 12 %, except Mo, Zn and B. Mo and B treatments increased the B and rest decreased the B. All treatments increased copper drastically 20-80%, except Zn. Most of the treatments decreased the iron (Fe) 135-10% except Mo treatment. These treatments increased Mn by 6 to 61%. The Mo and Mo + CA treatments increased Mo by 180 and 464% respectively. Zn, Mo, B and CA treatments increased the Zn by 13 to 3 %. In the soybean seeds, Cu, Zn, B, CA had influence in increasing the various elements. Cu increased Cu by +55.1% and Mn by +28.8%. Zn increased Zn and Mn by +8.2 and +21.1 %. B increased B by +28.6 %. CA increased B and Cu by +11.6 and +15.9%. Cu + CA increased Na by +23.5%. Mo + CA increased Cu by +42.9%. There were few applications that were decreasing the mineral content in soybean seeds. Mn decreased Na and Fe by -39.0 and -7.5%. Cu decreased Na by -25.5%. B decreased Na and Cu by -32.7 and -29.8%. These eleven applications have some minor effects for macro elements in soybean seeds. B treatment increased K, Mg, N and S by + 7.4%, +16.0%, +8.3% and +11.8%. Cu treatment increased Mg, P, N and S by +8.0%, +10.1%., +7.8 and 11.8 %. Mo increased Mg and S by +8.0% and +5.9%. Zn + CA and B + CA applications decreased Ca by -9.7%. Mo + CA decreased K by -6.9%.
A possible compound that can alter seed composition may exist and can be used to select the desirable seed and leaf composition constituents. In future research, one may use minerals such as Fe and Ca. These two minerals are needed in the human body and if we find a way to transmit the minerals into the soybean seed and leaf and make sure it’s edible for digestion, it can help people who have low Fe and Ca.
Not SubmittedFunder Acknowledgement(s): HBCU-UP II
Faculty Advisor: Rachel Beecham, rvbeecham@yahoo.com