Effects of acidity on growth, structure and physiology of plants with special reference to root cells.
Institution: | McGill University |
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Department: | Department of Botany. |
Degree: | PhD |
Year: | 1941 |
Keywords: | Plant morphology.; Roots (Botany); Growth (Plants) |
Record ID: | 1556290 |
Full text PDF: | http://digitool.library.mcgill.ca/thesisfile129889.pdf |
In the past 25 years considerable controversy has taken place over the effect of Hydrogen-ion concentration on plant growth. In 1931 Hoagland (37) expressed the following: "I recall some early experiments with, barley seedlings in California. With considerable surprise it was noted that the plants made better development in a definitely acid solution than in a slightly alkaline one. The impression gained from the literature of that time was to the • effect that most agricultural plants round their most favourable environment in a slightly alkaline medium and were injured by acidity". Following the discrediting by various investigators of this early ·belief of the harmful effects of acidity there was a tendency to treat the Hydrogen-ion concentration of the soils as the prime factor controlling the growth and distribution of plants. [...]