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Development and functioning of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis in the soil-plant system are required in sustainable agriculture. AM development of maize genotypes and uptake of nutrients as influenced by soil P levels were studied. Several experiments were conducted both in the greenhouse and in the field. / In greenhouse trials, pasteurized substrates were inoculated with Glomus intraradices as mycorrhizal treatments. Mycorrhizal development varied widely among maize hybrids and inbreds. Leafy normal stature (LNS) had the highest root colonization and shoot:root ratio and was the most responsive to AM fungi. Mycorrhizal development was generally reduced at high soil P and micronutrient levels. The percentage of root colonization was correlated with the ratio of plant tissue N/P only when soil N level was intermediate. Mycorrhizal plants increased uptake of Zn and Cu only at low P and low micronutrient levels, but decreased Mn uptake at higher micronutrient level. / In field trials, soil fumigation was used to eliminate AM fungi in control plots. Again LNS was most responsive to indigenous AM fungi, closely followed by Non-leafy normal stature (NLNS). Mycorrhizae increased uptake of K, Ca and Mg only when these nutrients and available P were low in soil. Correlations between extraradicular hyphae and plant concentrations of K, Ca and Mg suggested that uptake of K was more dependent on extraradicular hyphae than uptake of Ca and Mg. Total P uptake was higher in plots where the AM symbiosis was not repressed, but soil available P was not always reduced. / There is potential for development of mycorrhiza efficient maize hybrids performing well under low input management in sustainable agriculture.

Fertilizer P accumulates in soils, with potential for movement to waterways, causing eutrophication. Fertilizer P reactions in monoculture corn (Zea mays L.) production over time will determine environmentally sound soil management practices. Soil P changes over time were determined on a Chicot sandy clay loam (Grey Brown Luvisol) and a Ste. Rosalie clay (Humic Gleysol). Fertilizer P was added at 44 and 132 kg P ha$ sp{-1}$ and to the Chicot soil only, manure containing 60 kg P for the first five years. Mehlich-3 (M3) extraction, soil P fractionation, $ sp{31}$P NMR analysis, P in leaching water, and path analysis were measured. Added P increased M3 P more when manure was also added, and in clay soils. To increase M3 P by 1 kg ha$ sp{-1}$ required from 3.6 to 8.1 kg ha$ sp{-1}$ fertilizer P, and when "net" fertilizer additions were used, fertilizer required was from 1.8 to 5.3 kg P ha$ sp{-1}.$ Moderately labile organic P (Po) decreased at 0 added P. With P at the rate of plant removal, inorganic (Pi) and Po fractions were unchanged. Excess P increased labile P and resistant P through moderately labile Pi. More P remained in labile Pi fractions when manure P was added, or in the soil with the higher clay content. Soil organic P levels increased upon fertilization only in the sandy loam soil. Labile and moderately labile Po could be estimated using monoester phosphate values determined by $ sp{31}$P NMR. Inorganic P values in gravitational water increased above 0.05 mg P L$ sp{-1}$ when soil labile Pi increased above 108 mg kg$ sp{-1}$ in the sandy loam soil and 69 mg L$ sp{-1}$ in the clay soil. Thus soil P movement was related to inorganic P additions. Increased fertilizer P did not increase organic P leaching losses. Fertilizer P in corn production may result in groundwater eutrophication.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1982. / Bibliography: leaves 169-177. / Microfiche. / xvi, 177 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

Typescript. / Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii, 1963. / Bibliography: leaves [127]-138. / xiv, 138 leaves ill., diagrs., tables (2 folded)

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No description available.

Low availability of soil phosphorus (P) caused by strong sorption of P is a major constraint to agricultural production in most South African soils, particularly those from the high rainfall areas. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate whether combined addition of goat manure with inorganic P fertilizers could enhance P availability in some P fixing soils of the Transkei region, South Africa. The study addressed the following specific objectives (i) to assess P sorption capacities and requirements of selected soils and their relationship with selected soil properties and single point sorption test, (ii) to assess the effects of goat manure and lime addition on P sorption properties of selected P fixing soils (iii) to assess the temporal changes in concentration of inorganic and microbial biomass P fractions following application of inorganic fertilizer P with goat manure in a laboratory incubation experiment, and, (iv) to assess the effects of goat manure application with inorganic phosphate on inorganic and microbial biomass P fractions, P uptake and dry matter yield of maize. Sorption maxima (Smax) of seven soils examined ranged from 192.3 to 909.1 (mg P kg-1) and were highly and positively correlated with sorption affinity constant (r = 0.93, p = 0.01) and organic C (r = 0.71, p = 0.01). The amount of P required for maintaining a soil solution concentration of 0.2 mg P l-1 ranged from 2.1 to 123.5 mg P kg-1 soil. Soils collected from Qweqwe (a Cambisol), Qunu (an Acrisol), Ncihane (a Luvisol) and Bethania (a Ferralsol) had lower external P requirement values and were classified as lower sorbers, whereas soils from Ntlonyana (a Planosol), Chevy Chase (a Ferralsol) and Flagstaff (a Ferralsol) were classified as moderate sorbers. The results suggested that P availability could be compromised in 43 percent iii of the soils studied and that measures to mitigate the adverse effects of P sorption were needed to ensure that P is not a limiting factor to crop production, where such soils are found. Goat manure addition at varying rates (5, 10 and 20 tha-1 dry weight basis) to two of the moderately P fixing soils from Chevy Chase and Flagstaff, reduced P sorption maxima (Smax) compared to the control treatment. Phosphate sorption decreased with increasing amounts of goat manure in both soils but the extent of reduction was greater on Chevy Chase soil than on Flagstaff soil. The relative liming effects of the different rates of goat manure followed the order 20 t GM ha-1 > 10 t GM ha-1 > 5 t GM ha-1. In a separate experiment, addition of inorganic P at varying rates (0, 90, 180, and 360 kg P ha-1) to Flagstaff soil increased labile P fractions (resin P, biomass P and NaHCO3-Pi) and the increases were greater when goat manure was co-applied. The control treatments contained only 17.2 and 27.5 mg P kg-1 of resin extractable P in the un-amended and manure amended treatments, respectively which increased to 118.2 and 122.7 mg P kg-1 on day 28 of incubation. Biomass P concentration was increased from 16.8 to 43.9 mg P kg-1 in P alone treatments but the fraction was greatly enhanced with manure addition, increasing it from 32.6 to 97.7 mg P kg-1. NaOH-Pi was the largest extractable Pi fraction and ranged from 144.3 to 250.6 mg P kg-1 and 107.5 to 213.2 mg P kg-1 in the unamended and manure amended treatments, respectively. Dry matter yield and P uptake by maize grown in the glasshouse were highly and significantly (p = 0.05) correlated with the different P fractions in the soil. The correlations followed the order resin P (r = 0.85) > NaOH-Pi (r = 0.85) > NaHCO3-Pi (r = 0.84) >> biomass P (r = 0.56) for dry matter yield at 6 weeks after planting. At 12 weeks after planting, goat manure had iv highly significant effects on resin P and biomass P but had no effect on NaHCO3-Pi and NaOH–Pi. The combination of biomass P, resin P and NaHCO3-Pi explained 75.8 percent of the variation in dry matter yield of which 63.0 percent of the variation was explained by biomass P alone. The greatest increase in biomass P occurred when added P was co-applied with 5 or 10 tha-1 goat manure. The predictive equation for maize dry matter yield (DM) was: DM (g) = 1.897 biomass P + 0.645 resin P (r = 0.73). Resin P was the fraction that was most depleted due to plant uptake and decreased by 56 to 68 percent between the 6th week and the 12th week of sampling indicating that it played a greater role in supplying plant available P. The results therefore suggested that the use of goat manure may allow resource poor farmers to use lower levels of commercial phosphate fertilizers because of its effect to reduce soil P sorption. In addition, higher increases in biomass P due to manure addition observed at lower rates of added P indicated that goat manure has potential for enhancing bioavailability and fertilizer use efficiency of small inorganic P applications.

The objectives of the investigation were to relate yield and P uptake of orchard grass grown on Davidson clay loam to P fertilization and to determine the fate and availability of applied and native P in this soil. A further aim of the investigation was to elucidate mechanisms controlling the availability of P to plants in Davidson clay loam that was limed to several pH values. These objectives were accomplished by a study of orchard grass yield data obtained during a long term field investigation and by performance of greenhouse and laboratory experiments. Annual surface application of 21 lb P/A increased orchard grass yield during the initial phase of the field experiment, from 1948 to 1957. Thereafter, from 1958 to 1962, continued application of 21 lb P/A no longer increased yield. Lack of yield response to P application was attributed to plant uptake of residual P. The conclusion was supported by data from a greenhouse study. In the study, P application did not significantly affect yield or P uptake of alfalfa grown on Davidson clay loam that had received annual application of 21 lb P/A for 15 years. Total inorganic P analysis indicated that the major portion of surface applied P remained in the 0-2 inch soil layer. However, statistical analysis of the total inorganic P data showed a significant downward movement of P into the 4-6 inch soil layer. Fractionation analysis indicated the applied and native P was present in Davidson clay loam predominantly as Fe-P. Iron-P made up greater than 70% of the total inorganic P at the 0-2, 2-4, 4-6 and 6-12 inch soil depths. High accumulation of applied P as Fe-P in Davidson clay loam was explained on the basis of the high free Fe oxide content of the soil. Application of either lime or P increased yield and P uptake of alfalfa grown on Davidson clay loam which received annual application of 0 or 10.5 lb P/A for 15 years. From these results it was concluded that liming increased the availability of native and residual P in the soil. Fractionation analysis indicated that the Fe-P fraction decreased to a greater extent than Al-P or Ca-P during growth of alfalfa on the limed soil. These data indicated that liming increased the availability of the Fe-P. Iron P decreased to a greater extent than Al-P or Ca-P during growth of alfalfa on Davidson clay loam that received annual application of O, 10.5 and 21 lb P/A for 15 years. Coefficients of simple correlation for the data, showed a higher correlation between Fe-P than Al-P or Ca-P with P uptake by alfalfa plants. From these data it was concluded that Fe-P was more important than Al-P or Ca-P in supplying P to plants grown on Davidson clay loam. Higher uptake of P from Fe-P rather than from Al-P or Ca-P was explained on the basis of the greater amount of Fe-P in Davidson clay loam. It is suggested that a large percentage of the Fe-P fraction in the soil consists of relatively soluble amorphous compounds. The presence of relatively soluble amorphous Fe-P as well as the high percentage of this compound in the soil then may account for Fe-P being more available than was anticipated. / Ph. D.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1938 R62