Experiments on the Basis of the Principle of the “Balance of Ionic Environment’“

Abstract

The author previously developed a new approach to the problem of plant growth under saline conditions (Heimann, 1959). Soil reaction, salts, and mineral nutrition are all put together under a common heading, i.e. that of the ionic environment. Healthy plants and good crops can only be obtained if the ionic environment is physiologically well balanced. When soil or water are saline, the preponderance of the sodium cation is the chief feature. This excess of sodium has to be counteracted by other cations. Since long, the view was held that calcium will best perform this function. Though this may be right in respect to the physical properties of the soil, it is not so in respect to what is going on within the living plant. Starting from field observations, facts incidentally reported in literature, and considerations based on a general cellular physiology, potassium was claimed to be the natural antagonist of sodium. Replacing the plant nutrition concept by that of the balanced ionic environment, a new role was assigned to the potassium ion and its bearers, viz. the protection of plants against excessive concentrations of sodium.

The research work presented in this paper was carried out at the Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa and supported by UNESCO.