Lethal Concentration of Carbonate OF Ca as a Function of the Osmotic Potential of the Solution in Sunflower (Heliantusannuus L.)

In order to know the effect of CaCO3 in solution, sunflower seedlings cv. Victoria, an experiment was completely randomized, where five concentrations of calcium carbonate were evaluated to determine the lethal concentration (LC50), pH and EC of the solution under laboratory conditions in the Universidad Tecnologica de Tehuacan, to simulate of excess Ca++ in the soils or nutrient solution. The results indicate, the LC50 was 62.8 mg CaCO3 L-1, so maximum values for pH, EC and calcium absorption, They were achieved at concentrations of 120 and 160 mg L-1 of CaCO3. This work can be concluded, Sunflower can absorb the high levels of calcium and used as an alternative, for remediation of agricultural soils affected hard water and Ca++ salts.