Green Global
Foundation   Journal
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EFFECT OF ARSENIC ON THE NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF BARANUNIYA (PORTULACA OLERACEA L.)- A WEED VEGETABLE (Pages : 1 - 8)

The hydroponic baranuniya (Portulaca oleracea L.) was treated with arsenic (As) at the rate of 0, 10, 25 and 50 µM in the greenhouse to investigate the effect of As on its mineral nutrient composition. The plants were harvested on 14 days after treatments (DAT). The leaves and stems were separated from the plant parts. Arsenic limited the concentration of phosphorus (P) at 50 µM level in the leaves and roots, but, P concentration enhanced in stems. Potassium (K) concentration was not affected in leaves, but, enhanced in stems and roots at 25 and 50 µM As levels. Calcium (Ca) concentration enhanced in roots with the applied As. Magnesium (Mg) concentration limited in leaves and stems at 10, 25 and 50 µM As levels. Iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) concentrations augmented in all parts at 25 and 50 µM As levels, but, copper (Cu) concentration augmented only in roots along with As levels. An accumulation of Fe seems to be enhanced marginally in the stems. Manganese, Zn and Cu accumulations limited in leaves at 50 µM As level. Most of the cases, As limited the accumulations of nutrient elements in leaves, stems and roots, which was expected due to the reduction of dry weight (DW). Translocation of P, K, Ca, Mg and Mn seems to be not affected much by As treatments. Translocation of Zn and Cu limited in 50 µM As level, however, Fe translocation enhanced in some cases with the applied As. The result indicated that As showed its toxicity by hampering the nutrients balance in the plant tissues by changing mostly the concentrations and accumulations. Download