Concentrations of some inorganic plant nutrients in saline lakes on the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia

Abstract

The concentrations of major ions (Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl^-, SO₄^2- and HCO₃^- + CO₃^2-) and minor ions (NO₂, NO₃^-, NH₄ and PO₄^3-) were determined in 10 saline and mostly ephemeral lakes on the Yorke Peninsula, S.A., over a range of salinity (27-250 g/l). The major ion dominances were similar to those of saline lakes elsewhere in southern Australia: Na⁺> Mg²⁺ > Ca²⁺ > K⁺ : Cl^- > SO₄^2- > HCO₃^- + CO₃^2-. Concentration ranges of minor ions were wide; individual concentrations of ions were not correlated with salinity, but in the least-saline lakes (salinity < 150 g/l) phosphorus appears to be the most likely limiting plant nutrient, whereas in the more saline lakes (>150 g/l) nitrogen appears to be so.