Factors Affecting Absorption and Translocation of Foliar Applied Phosphorus.

Phosphorus is known to be exported from leaves of apple (8, 9, 10), bean (4, 6, 11, 12, 13), chrysanthemum (1, 2), corn (11, 12), tomato (12) and squash (71). The present work with bean plants compares export following application by spray, leaf vein injection (4) and droplet (13) methods. Other factors investigated which affect absorption and subsequent translocation of the spray-applied phosphorus include: 1) wetting agents, 2) phosphorus concentration of the spray, 3) leaf surface (upper vs lower surface), 4) different phosphorus compounds (pH and cation), 5) time, 6) hygroscopic agent, 7) size of area sprayed, 8) age and position of sprayed leaf, and 9) phosphorus level of the plant.