Summary
An experiment was conducted from March , 19th to April , 20th , 2008 in order to assess the effect of soil type (sandy or clay) and 3 concentrations of the nutrient solution Unigreen (i.e. 0.5 , 1 and 2) ml / l on the growth and some nutrients status (N,P and K) of maize plants.
A completely randomized design (C.R.D.)with three replicates was adopted .Data were statistically analyzed and means were compared using (L.S.D.) at 5% probability level .
Results could be summarized as follow :
1- The soil type had a significant effect on some parameters where clay soil gave higher values of plant height , leaf area . and absolute growth rate of fresh plants . Meanwhile , plants grown in a sandy soil gave higher values of root’s size , diameter and fresh weight .
2- Plants grown with the nutrient solution of (1 ml / l) gave a significant increase of plant height , shoot dry weight absolute and relative growth rates of fresh plants .
3- The interaction between soil type and nutrient solution was significant on leaf area and relative growth rate of dry plants .
4- Nitrogen and phosphorus concs. were markedly increased in root and shoot of plants grown in sandy soil .On the other hand , K conc. and content in the shoot as wall as its rates of transport and absorption were significantly higher in plants grown in a clay soil .
5- The highest nutrient solution conc. gave a pronounced increase of N conc. in roots and shoots as well as its rate of transport .
6- The interaction between the soil type and the nutrient solution significantly affected the nutritional status .
Higher rate of transport of N was obtained from plants grown in the clay soil and 2 ml / l of the nutrient solution . The same was occurred with K rates of transport and absorption . The highest conc. of K in the shoots was associated with plants grown in the clay soil treated with 1 ml /l nutrient solution .Higher concs. and content of P in the shoots were obtained from plants grown in the sandy soil treated with 2 ml /l nutrient solution .
