Absorption of potassium accumulated in soil by chicory (Cichorium intybus L.)

To solve the salt accumulation problem in cultivation soils, focusing on potassium (K), K absorption ability of two types of chicories (Cichorium intybus L.), witloof and forage, under high K stressful condition, were examined, in comparison with guinea grass (Punicum maximum) (GG). Chicories and GG were cultivated in pot (30.5 cm dia.), supplemented 5 levels of K₂O fertilizer (0, 200, 1,000, 2,000 and 5,000 kg ha^-1) and N; 200 kg ha^-1 and P₂O₅; 100 kg ha^-1. Plant biomass, both top and root, were measured at 9 and 19 weeks for chicories, and at 9 weeks for GG, after transplanting.
As K₂O application increased, the biomass, both top and root, of two types of chicories decreased, however, root biomass of witloof type were always larger than forage type of chicory and GG, and witloof type of chicory showed potential of root development under high K stressful condition.
The concentration of major nutrient elements in dry matter were investigated, and total K amount absorved by plant was calculated.
The total K amount absorption by witloof type of chicory were kept about 46 to 74% comparing to that of GG among K₂O treatments up to 200 kg 
ha^-1. In treatments with less than 2,000 kg ha^-1 of K₂O, after witloof chicory cultivation, soil K₂O concentrations were decreased lower than 30.0 mg 100 g^-1. Those results suggested that witloof chicory can be used to remove the excessive K from salt accumulated soils.

XXIX International Horticultural Congress on Horticulture: Sustaining Lives, Livelihoods and Landscapes (IHC2014): International Symposium on Root and Tuber Crops: Sustaining Lives and Livelihoods into the Future

T. Kunano, H. Araki

chicory, guinea grass, salt accumulation, cleaning crop, potassium absorption

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1118.27