Effects of buckwheat growth on variation of aluminum and major metals in root-zone soil solutions

The variation in and relationships between aluminum and other major metals including Ca, Mg, Mn, and K in root-zone soil solutions were studied by growing buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench. cv. Jiangxi), an Al accumulator, in pots filled with an acid soil amended with CaCO3 and unamended controls with a preinstalled nondestructive soil-solution sampler. Soil solutions were collected every 7 d with a syringe connected to the sampler. The results showed that pH of the soil solution was not the only factor controlling the concentration of Al. Significant positive linear correlations were found between Al and Ca as well as between Al and Mg in soil solutions from the controls. The ratio of base cations (BC, Ca+Mg) to Al might partly explain the high Al resistance of buckwheat. Oxalate secretion from roots significantly activated Al in acid soils, which may be important for changes of Al in soil solutions, but it also caused decreased concentrations of Ca, Mg, and Mn. It is concluded that the variation of metal concentrations including Al, Ca, Mg, and Mn is a holistic effect involving competition for exchange sites among Ca, Mg, H, and Al, the chelation by oxalate secreted from roots, and metal uptake by buckwheat.