Aluminum toxicity in soils is considered one of the major limitations to crop production. However, some plants are able to tolerate high aluminum concentrations due to its complexation with root organic acids exudates. The simultaneous effect of pH ranges and aluminum concentration in soil solution on soybean seedlings root development was studied in a Rhodic Paleudult soil solution under natural grasses vegetation. Soybean seedlings were grown in growth chamber for three days in aerated test tubes containing 40ml soil solution (4.2µmol Al L-1), submmited to four aluminum concentrations (0.0, 0.3, 0.6 and 1.2mmol L-1) and three pH levels (4.0, 5.0 and 6.0). Root and aerial growth decreased under more acidic conditions (pH 4.0). Root growth was less affected by rhyzotoxic aluminum species at pH 5.0, even when submitted to high concentration of aluminum to the soil solution.
chemical speciation; soluble organic carbon; soil solution pH
