Phosphorus Uptake and Utilization by Tree Seedlings

1977 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 571 ◽  
Author(s):  
NJ Barrow

Seedlings of five native forest species and of Pinus radiata D. Don were grown in pots in a forest soil at a range of levels of added phosphate for up to 20 weeks. At intervals of 3 weeks, roots were examined for root hairs and mycorrhizas and the weights of plant parts and their phosphorus contents were measured. Components of growth and response were calculated from three-dimensional surfaces which had level of phosphate and time as the independent variables. Except for Banksia grandis Willd., the species responded to phosphate but the time at which the response appeared was affected by seed reserves of phosphorus. Thus response appeared much earlier for the small-seeded Eucalyptus divevsicolor F. Muell. and Acacia pulchella R. Br. than for the large-seeded Eucalyptus calophylla R. Br. and Eucalyptus marginata Donn. ex Sm. The absence of a response by the banksia seemed to arise because of a large seed reserve of phosphorus, a low relative growth rate and a very low concentration of phosphorus in the leaves for maximum photosynthesis. The rates of uptake of phosphorus per unit weight of roots were generally low but increased at a time coincident with the development of mycorrhizas. Relative growth rates and the net assimilation rates were also low and reached maximum values at low concentrations of phosphorus in the leaf. The outcome was that the level of applied phosphate needed for good early growth did not differ greatly from that of Trifolium subterraneum L.

2001 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 211-219
Author(s):  
S. Szlovák ◽  
Z. Almási

A two-year pot experiment was carried out in a green-house to investigate the dry matter (DM) accumulation, distribution and redistribution in maize, the transpiration intensity/leaf area and the dry leaf weight. The uptake, distribution and redistribution of phosphorus was also studied. The total dry matter weight (DMW) of aerial plant parts increased up to 108 days after emergence (DAE) and then, with the exception of the grain, decreased to the final harvest. Averaged over two years, the most DM was transported to the grain from the stalk (69.41%) and the least from the leaf-sheath (1.69%). The lowest transpiration intensity calculated per dm 2 hour -1 was 0.41 g and the highest 1.35 g. The transpiration intensity calculated per unit weight of dry leaf blades was 0.62 and 2.80 g. In both years the total phosphorus uptake increased in all aboveground plant parts up to the 80 th day after emergence and then, with the exception of the grain, decreased to the final harvest. At the end of the growing season the grain stored most (84.85%) of the absorbed phosphorus, averaged over two years.


2001 ◽  
Vol 44 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 61-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
S-Y. Kim ◽  
P.M. Geary

Two species of macrophytes, Baumea articulata and Schoenoplectus mucronatus, were examined for their capacity to remove phosphorus under nutrient-rich conditions. Forty large bucket systems with the two different species growing in two types of substrate received artificial wastewaters for nine months, simulating a constructed wetland (CW) under high loading conditions. Half of the plants growing in the topsoil and gravel substrates were periodically harvested whereas the other half remained intact. Plant tissue and substrate samples were regularly analysed to determine their phosphorus concentrations. With respect to phosphorus uptake and removal, the Schoenoplectus in the topsoil medium performed better than the Baumea. Biomass harvesting enhanced P uptake in the Schoenoplectus, however the effect was not significant enough to make an improvement on the overall P removal, due to the slow recovery of plants and regrowth of biomass after harvesting. From P partitioning, it was found that the topsoil medium was the major P pool, storing most of total P present in the system. Plant parts contributed only minor storage with approximately half of that P stored below ground in the plant roots. The overall net effect of harvesting plant biomass was to only remove less than 5% of total phosphorus present in the system.


1973 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 353-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Scaife ◽  
R. Smith

SummaryA dynamic model is presented in which the problem of predicting P response is broken down into various components, such as:(a) Weight and P content of emerging seedling.(b) Normal growth curve of the fully nourished plant.(c) A ‘deficiency-tolerance’ factor relating depression of relative growth rate to plant P concentration.(d) An ‘affinity’ term relating sink concentration to P status of plant.(e) A perirhizal resistance term for diffusive transport to roots.(f) Capacity and intensity of P supply from the soil. Mass flow supply via the transpiration stream is also included.By changing parameter values one may attempt to simulate the effect of any of these factors on the shape of the P response curve and any other part of the system throughout crop life. At present the model over-estimates growth at low levels of P supply, but predicted plant P concentrations agree reasonably well with observed data.


1983 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 615 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Dell ◽  
JR Bartle ◽  
WH Tacey

The role of root channels in the occupation of deep soil profiles by jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata Sm.) forest in south-western Australia was explored by coring and excavation. In profiles derived from granite, major descending roots are confined to channels that extend vertically from fissures and conduits in the shallow subsurface caprock layer deep in the clay subsoil. The channels are permanent features of the profile and are occupied by successive generations of trees. The channels have a diameter of 1-300 mm, abundance of 3 5 m-2 (all channels) or 1 m-2 (large channels), and occupy 1% of a horizontal surface at 6 m. Each forest tree has potential access to 100-200 channels. Large roots, fine roots with root hairs, and decaying root remains occur in the channels. Only fine roots (less than Imm diam.) penetrate the clay matrix and occupy the entire profile down to basement at depths of up to 40 m. In profiles derived from dolerite, occupation of the deep clay by large and fine roots is diffuse and root channels are absent. The dissimilar mode of root occupation of the two profile types may be explained by the difference in bulk density. In providing avenues for access by large roots as well as preferential wetting, the root channels may play a dominant role in the water and salt balance of jarrah forests on the granitic profile.


Soil Research ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 735 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Summers ◽  
Martin Clarke ◽  
Tim Pope ◽  
Tim O'Dea

Bauxite residue from alumina refining was used to coat granules of single superphosphate to reduce the leaching of phosphorus in coarse, sandy soils for pastures in high rainfall areas of south-western Australia (>800 mm annual average). The impact of coating the superphosphate on the leaching of phosphorus was measured in a glasshouse experiment and the effectiveness of the fertiliser using dry herbage yield of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) was measured in a field experiment. The glasshouse experiment measured the effect of coating the superphosphate with bauxite residue at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40% by weight. A coating of 25% (by weight) was chosen for the field experiment. In the glasshouse experiment, the coated granules were applied to columns of soil, where subterranean clover was grown under leaching conditions. A coating of 30%, by weight, reduced leaching of single superphosphate by about half. Increasing the coating of bauxite residue also increased the phosphorus uptake and increased the plant growth. In the field trial, the effectiveness of single superphosphate with a bauxite residue coating of 25% by weight was increased on average by 100% in Year 1, 303% in Year 2, and 158% in Year 3, relative to freshly applied single superphosphate. The bauxite residue coating also increased the phosphorus content of the herbage in a similar manner to the increases in yield. Limited soil phosphorus tests showed only minor increases in the residues of phosphorus where the superphosphate had been coated with bauxite residue.


1980 ◽  
Vol 20 (106) ◽  
pp. 568 ◽  
Author(s):  
KD McLachlan

A study was made of the role of superphosphate and lime on subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) production on an infertile acid soil in pot culture. Both fertilizers increased the exchangeable calcium in this deficient soil. Lime and superphosphate were involved in nodulation of the clover plants. There was no evidence of the direct involvement of either of them in the nitrogen fixation process, but they did increase nitrogen uptake by the plants. Once the legume functioned adequately, full expression of the yield response to phosphorus on this deficient soil followed. Most efficient phosphorus use occurred at the lime 1255, superphosphate 2000 kg ha-1 level (lime 1/2, P 16). Heavy lime dressing reduced exchangeable magnesium and the phosphorus available to the plant. Aluminium and pH were involved in the effects observed. Lime reduced CaCl2-extractable aluminium and the titratable acidity in the soil. Phosphate increased the CaCl2-extractable aluminium and apparently reduced the titratable aluminium. The combined treatments reduced these three attributes and promoted increased plant growth. Increased plant growth was associated with increased aluminium uptake by the plants, which suggests that the real effect of aluminium may have been on the calcium and phosphorus uptake by the plants, rather than on the toxic nature of the element itself.


1981 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 257 ◽  
Author(s):  
DJ Reuter ◽  
AD Robson ◽  
JF Loneragan ◽  
DJ Tranthim-Fryer

Effects of severe and moderate copper deficiency on the development of leaves and lateral branches, on the distribution of dry weight within the plant, and on seed yield of Seaton Park subterranean clover were assessed as part of three glasshouse experiments. Copper deficiency markedly depressed top and root growth without producing any distinctive symptoms. It retarded phasic development by delaying development of leaves and lateral branches, senescence of plant parts, and flowering: it also depressed the proportion of stem plus petiole in plant tops and decreased internode elongation, pollen fertility and the number of burrs and seeds formed. As a result of its effect in delaying flowering, copper deficiency would depress seed production particularly strongly when low soil water supply shortens the growing season. The need for suitable procedures for diagnosing copper deficiency is emphasized by the lack of specific plant symptoms in this species.


1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (71) ◽  
pp. 749 ◽  
Author(s):  
PG Ozanne ◽  
KMW Howes

The effects of four common fertilizers containing calcium on seed production in subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) were measured at six locations over five years in a total of fifteen field experiments. Calcium as a sulphate, carbonate or phosphate salt was applied to subterranean clover pastures either at the start of the growing season (autumn) or at flowering (spring). Gypsum, plaster of Paris, or lime gave large increases in seed yield per unit area and also per unit weight of tops. Spring applications of superphosphate increased seed yields in only two out of four experiments. Gypsum applied in spring at 200-500 kg ha-1 was as effective as 2,000 kg ha-1 of lime applied in autumn. Applications of lime in spring were much less effective. Increased seed yields were due to increases in burr yield, seed number per burr, and mean weight per seed. They were usually accompanied by increases in calcium concentration in the seed. Responses in seed production to calcium applications were obtained in all three sub-species of Trifolium subterraneum. In two experiments, newly sown on a soil type on which subterranean clover regeneration and persistence is commonly very poor, applied calcium doubled or quadrupled seed set. In 13 experiments using soils on which subterranean clover had persisted as the major component of the pasture for several years, calcium in the year of application increased the total seed bank by 6 to 31 per cent, and the current seed set by a greater amount.


1994 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 1629-1635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Jobidon

Light threshold is suggested as a method for quantifying brush competition in black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P) plantations and predicting losses in tree growth as measured by the relative growth rate (RGR). The severity of the competing vegetation (expressed in terms of density and height) around 300 planted tree seedlings, and the growth status of the seedlings (expressed in terms of total height and current height growth increment), were analyzed simultaneously with multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), with one level of light quantity (photosynthetically active radiation) reaching the upper one-half of the tree seedlings as the predictor variable. This study showed that it is possible to establish a competitive status based on light interception, thus allowing a grouping of seedlings with similar growth characteristics and severity of competition. Canonical analysis showed that 60% of full sunlight reaching the upper one half of spruce seedlings can be defined as a threshold to significantly discriminate between stressed and unstressed tree seedlings, based on the above-mentioned variables and also based on spruce basal stem diameter. For spruce total height, current height increment, and basal stem diameter, significant differences were found between plots above and below this threshold, averaging 18.5, 44.7, and 23.2%, respectively. Measuring the intensity of light reaching the upper one half of the spruce seedlings also significantly explains spruce relative growth rates, expressed in terms of height growth increment and basal stem diameter growth increment over the following two growing seasons. The light threshold used in the MANOVA and the ANOVA showed significant differences between plots above and below the threshold, averaging 70 and 58% for spruce height and basal stem diameter RGRs, respectively. Instead of measuring competing vegetation variables and relative height of a crop species to infer light interception, this study demonstrated that a direct measure of light attenuation at the tree seedling level can be used to assess the competitive status and predict losses in tree growth for the period of time required by the seedlings to emerge from the vegetation cover. Moreover, this study demonstrated that canonical relations, rather than linear relations, explain the pattern of competition for light between young spruce seedlings and brushlike vegetation. The light threshold suggested in this study has potential for assessing interspecific competition problems in young black spruce plantations and is proposed as a tool to support a containment strategy of vegetation management.


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