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The Rate of Absorption of Nitrate of Soda by Oats and Cotton When Applied at Different Stages of Plant Growth 1
Author(s) -
Appleton W. H.,
Helms H. B.
Publication year - 1925
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1925.00021962001700100003x
Subject(s) - atlanta , citation , nitrate , agricultural experiment station , library science , horticulture , mathematics , agronomy , geography , agriculture , computer science , biology , archaeology , ecology , metropolitan area
Large amouhts of nitrate of soda are used in the fertilization of the important field crops of the cotton belt. Since this added nitrogen is subject to loss by leaching it is important to study the factors that determine the magnitude of the loss. One of these factors is the rate of absorption of the nitrate by the crop. As nitrate is absorbed by the crop the possible loss by leaching is correspondingly reduced. Only the unabsorbed nitrate is subject to loss by the leaching action of rain. Consequently, it is of fundamental importance to know how rapidly different plants absorb added nitrates. It is also of importance to know what influence the stage of plant growth has on the rate of nitrate absorption. What is the rate of absorption by cotton when the nitrate is applied at planting, or 20, 40, or 60 days after planting ? A solution of these questions would offer a means of improving fertilizer practice and reducing the loss of soluble nitrogenous fertilizer by leaching. The purpose of the present investigation was to study the rate of absorption of nitrate of soda by oats and cotton when applied at different stages of plant growth. There is a large amount of literature on the leaching of nitrates from the soil, but a much smaller amount bears directly on the problem of nitrate absorption by the plant. Burd (~)3, in a study of the rate of absorption of the soil constituents by barley, found that the magnitude and rate of absorption by the plant at all stages of growth was more nearly proportional to the green weight than to the dry weight of the plant. He found that the maximum absorption took place between the third and the ninth week after germination. The amount of nitrogen and potassium absorbed during the first nine weeks and the amount of dry matter in the final yield were found to have a direct relation. Hoagland (2), working with nutrient solutions, also found that barley absorbed nitrogen most rapidly during the first nine weeks of growth, and that as far as yield was concerned no nitrogen was required after this time. Hoagland’s experiments