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Cation exchange properties of plant root surfaces

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Summary

Plant roots show the “suspension effect” and interact with neutral salts with the development of exchange acidity, thus indicating the existence of a cation double layer associated with root surface. Plant root surfaces possess cation exchange capacities which may be measured by the adsorption and release of various cations. H-ions are associated with root surfaces in exchangeable form, and may be replaced by other cations.

These phenomena do not depend directly upon root metabolism, since the same results are obtained at 0°C and 25°C, with living roots and with ether-killed roots.

Entry of cations into the root double layer follows the type of lyotropic series observed with many inorganic and organic exchange materials. The lyotropic series, in decreasing order of replacing ability is:

$$H^ + > Ba^{ + + } > Ca^{ + + } > Mg^{ + + } > Cs^ + > Rb^ + > NH_4 ^ + > K^ + > Na^ + > Li^ + .$$

Root tips and root hair zones are the most active root portions insofar as surface exchange properties are concerned.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Soils, University of California, USA

    D. E. Williams & N. T. Coleman

Authors
  1. D. E. Williams
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  2. N. T. Coleman
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Additional information

Assistant Soil Chemist, A. E. C. Research Fellow, respectively. Assistance of T. R. Nielsen with many of the analyses is acknowledged.

The authors are indebted to Professor Hans Jenny for initiating this study and for his interest and advice throughout the investigation.

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Williams, D.E., Coleman, N.T. Cation exchange properties of plant root surfaces. Plant Soil 2, 243–256 (1950). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01852352

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01852352

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