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Varietal differences in uptake of 32 P labelled phosphate in clover plus ryegrass swards and monocultures
Author(s) -
GOODMAN P. J.,
COLLISON M.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1982.tb01423.x
Subject(s) - monoculture , lolium perenne , trifolium repens , biology , agronomy , lolium multiflorum , lolium , perennial plant , poaceae
SUMMARY Lolium perenne cv. S.23, L. multiflorum cv. RvP, and Trifolium repens cvs S.184 and Olwen, were grown in mixed sward and monoculture during 1979. Whereas in mixtures grass roots absorbed more 32 P than clover roots, in monoculture clover generally absorbed more 32 P than grass roots. This showed that grass was a very strong competitor for uptake in mixed swards. Clover and grass monocultures absorbed most 32 P from 10 or 15 cm depth in the soil, while grass in mixtures absorbed most 32 P at 22.5 cm depth. Comparing varieties, in monocultures in June, Olwen was most active in absorbing 32 P at 15 cm. In August, Olwen absorbed more at 15 cm and 22.5 cm than S.184 or the grass varieties. Differences in absorption depth between varieties were less in mixtures than in monocultures. S.23 absorbed more 32 P in the late season than RvP, both in monoculture and in mixtures. Thus Olwen differed from S. 184 in depth and timing of uptake, whilst S.23 differed from RvP in time of uptake. Such varietal differences could be exploited by manipulation of depth and timing of fertiliser application to increase the precision of sward management.