Calcium Effects on Acetic Acid Toxicity in Rice

Recent soil-management practices such as no-tillage and minimal tillage, when applied to the irrigated rice crop, promote changes in soil composition as a result of anaerobic degradation of organic matter. Several short-chain organic acids are formed, such as acetic acid. The objective of this work was to determine the effect of calcium (Ca) on plant development under stress by acetic acid toxicity. The experiment was conducted in hydroponics by testing different Ca (0.2, 1.0, and 5.0mmolL-1) and acetic acid (0 and 2.5mmolL-1) concentrations. The variables evaluated were the root system morphological parameters (total length, radius, area, dry-matter weight, and main root growth), shoot parameters (shoot dry matter, plant height), and concentration and total accumulated nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), Ca, and magnesium (Mg) in the plants. The growth of the root system and the shoots of rice plants were not affected by the addition of Ca to the treatments containing acetic acid.