Journal article

Publication year: 1984

Pages: 85-97

Journal: Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science

Volume number: 147

Issue number: 1

ISSN: 0044-3263

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.19841470111

Publisher: Wiley-VCH Verlag

Abstract: 
Root parameters (fresh weight, density, surface, length, cation exchange capacity) and phosphate uptake were studied with rye grass and red clover, grown in the field on a brown podzolic soil. In all root parameters, ryegrass was superior to red clover. Phosphate uptake of ryegrass was higher than that of red clover. The greatest difference between both species was in root length, that of ryegrass being .apprx. 5 times longer than red clover. Ryegrass had longer root hairs than red clover; whereas root diameter of clover was about twice as thick as the average ryegrass. Significant correlations were observed between root parameters and phosphate uptake in the plants studied. The highest correlation coefficients were obtained for the relationship P-uptake vs. root length (clover 0.91***, grass 0.87***) and P-uptake vs. root fresh weight (clover 0.92***, grass 0.88***). The phosphate uptake per unit root parameters was significantly higher in red clover, compared with ryegrass, for the parameters root fresh weight, cation exchangeable capacity and root length. Because of this high P-uptake rate, clover apparently also requires a higher P-concentrations in soil solution as compared with grass. Thus grass may still grow with low P concentrations in the soil solution without P deficiency at which clover cannot grow. It is for this reason that in mixed swards clover is depressed by grass, if the available P in the soil is low.

Harvard Citation style: STEFFENS, D. (1984) ROOT STUDIES AND PHOSPHORUS UPTAKE OF RYE-GRASS AND RED-CLOVER UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS, Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science = Zeitschrift für Pflanzenernährung und Bodenkunde, 147(1), pp. 85-97. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.19841470111

APA Citation style: STEFFENS, D. (1984). ROOT STUDIES AND PHOSPHORUS UPTAKE OF RYE-GRASS AND RED-CLOVER UNDER FIELD CONDITIONS. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science = Zeitschrift für Pflanzenernährung und Bodenkunde. 147(1), 85-97. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.19841470111