Manganese uptake by tobacco and bean plants grown on soils of the Mareeba-Dimbulah Irrigation Area, north Queensland

Abstract

The manganese content of flue cured tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum) grown on a range of soils from the Mareeba-Dimbulah area was determined. Seven of the soils produced plants containing more than 600 p.p.m. manganese, a level above which quality may be adversely affected. Manganese toxicity symptoms were observed on bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and tobacco plants growing in one of the soils. The effect of air drying and pH on exchangeable and easily reducible manganese is demonstrated.