ABSTRACT
Edaphic environmental stresses impose a constant constraint on stable plant production worldwide. Plant adaptability and productivity to a large extent are governed by response plasticity to short-and long-term multiple abiotic stresses. The plant response problem is complicated by the interaction of and simultaneous exposure to multiple stresses, such as acidity and drought, Al-Mn phytotoxicities, and Ca-Mg-P-K-Mo deficiencies, soil acidity and biotic agents (insects, diseases), soil acidity constraints, and plant genetic traits. Examples of the latter erratic constraints include compacted layers or high bulk density soils versus genetically controlled plant rooting volume and density; phytotoxic availability of specific ions in the soil versus plant nutrient uptake efficiencies for deficient elements, and tolerance to toxic levels of certain elements. Plant response, or plasticity, to constantly changing environmental conditions (wet ↔ dry, cold ↔ hot) in stressful environments ultimately governs productivity and persistence over time.
