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Effect of Dry Season Drought on Uptake of Radioactive Phosphorus by Surface Roots of the Oil Palm ( Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) 1
Author(s) -
Forde St. C. M.
Publication year - 1972
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/agronj1972.00021962006400050022x
Subject(s) - elaeis guineensis , dry season , irrigation , agronomy , phosphorus , palm oil , growing season , biology , horticulture , chemistry , agroforestry , ecology , organic chemistry
The hypothesis that the feeding roots of the oil palm ( Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) die back because of the effects of pronounced dry season drought in Nigeria was tested using radioactive 32 P as a tracer to study P uptake as influenced by different levels of soil moisture. Two trials were carried out in 1964 and 1965, respectively, with the three treatments being: (A) no irrigation during the dry season and 32 P applied in solution to the soil; (B) one irrigation of 50.8 mm of water shortly before application of 32 P; and (C) irrigation at the rate of 50.8 mm of water per palm per week throughout the dry season and 32 P applied to the soil. Leaf samples were taken and the activity of 32 P was determined. In both trials the uptake of 32 P in treatment C was significantly higher than either treatment A or B and supported the hypothesis that the lower activity was caused by the dieback of the absorbing roots during the dry season drought.