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Effect of supplementing rainfall on the uptake of phosphorus from superphosphate by potatoes
Author(s) -
Simpson K.
Publication year - 1960
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740110202
Subject(s) - irrigation , phosphorus , acre , shoot , agronomy , moisture , zoology , horticulture , biology , chemistry , organic chemistry
Abstract Superphosphate was applied to potatoes at five rates ranging from 0 to 2·0 cwt. of P 2 O 5 per acre. Half of the plots in each block were irrigated for the first 3 months of growth at rates equivalent to 1 in. of rain per month. All rates of application of superphosphate delayed emergence of the plants and irrigation reduced this effect to some extent. The effects of delayed emergence were detected for 90 days in both shoot and root. Tuber development was also delayed in the early stages by added superphosphate. The uptake of fertiliser phosphorus was doubled at the 6‐week stage of growth by increasing the soil moisture content by irrigation. This increase was maintained at the lowest rate of application for more than 90 days.