Abstract
A greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine P uptake at different growth stages by cotton plants from upper and lower 30 cm layers of 60 cm deep uniform soil columns. A radioisotope tracer technique was used to separate uptake from the two soil layers. Root lengths were measured in both layers at each growth stage. P fluxes were calculated for each layer.
Root length increased significantly with time from square formation through peak flowering. At all growth stages, total P uptake from the upper soil layer was greater than that from the lower soil layer. P flux from either layer was greater during early growth stages than during later stages. A significant decrease in P flux occurred when plants reached the flowering stage. The flux from the upper layer was about twice that from the lower layer at square forming stage but the difference decreased as the plants matured. Both layers showed similar P fluxes at the first open boll stage.
Our data indicate that roots located 30 to 60 cm below the surface are less effective per unit root length than those located at 0 to 30 cm depth when all roots are in the same soil environmental conditions. However, the effectiveness of P absorption from different soil depths under field conditions may depend on the environmental conditions that exist in each soil depth.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brewster J L and Tinker P B H 1972 Nutrient flow rates into roots. Soil Ferts. 35, 355–359.
Chapman H D and Pratt P F 1961 Methods of analysis for soils, plants and water. University of California, Davis.
Claassen N and Barber S A 1976 Simulation model for nutrient uptake from soil by a growing plant root system. Agron. J. 68, 961–964.
Crowther F 1934 Studies in growth analysis of the cotton plant under irrigation in Sudan. Annals Bot. 48, 877–913.
Gardner W R 1983 Soil properties and efficient water use.In Limitation to Efficient Water Use in Crop Production. Eds. H M Taylor, W R Jordon and T R Sinclair. pp 45–64. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA. Madison, WI, USA.
Georgen P G 1986 Root growth and water uptake patterns of cotton, sunflower and kochia, and their relationship to caliche. M.S. Thesis, Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX.
Hanson W C 1950 The photometric determination of phosphorous in fertilizers using the phosphovanatomolybdate complex. J. Sci. Food Agric. 1, 172–173.
Khasawneh F E and Copeland J T 1973 Cotton root growth and uptake of nutrients: Relation of P uptake to quantity, intensity and buffering capacity. Soil Sci. Am. proe. 37, 250–254.
Mengel D B and Barber S A 1974 Rate of nutrient uptake per unit corn root under field conditions. Agron. J. 66, 399–403.
Nye P H and Tinker P B 1969 The concept of a root demand coefficient. J. Appl. Ecol. 6, 290–300.
Simpson J R and Lipsett J 1973 Effects of surface moisture supply on the subsoil nutritional requirements of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.). Aust. J. Agric. Res. 24, 199–209.
Taylor H M and Klepper B 1974 Water relations of cotton. 1. Root growth and water use as related to top growth and soil water content. Agron. J. 66, 584–588.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nayakekorala, H., Taylor, H.M. Phosphorus uptake rates of cotton roots at different growth stages from different soil layers. Plant Soil 122, 105–110 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02851916
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02851916