Experimental Investigations into the Mineral Nutrition of Several Grass Species: Part III. Phosphate Level

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Abstract
The reaction of eight grass species to phosphate concentrations from 2 to 125 ppm. P was studied in sand culture. The species showed different yield reactions. Lolium perenne, Agrostis stolonifera, A. tenuis (normal ecotype) showed marked increase in growth with increase in phosphate, while A. tenuis (lead tolerant ecotype), Cynosurus cristatus, Festuca ovina and Nardus stricta showed little or no increase with the phosphate levels used. Agrostis canina gave an uncertain response. This grouping must be considered to be an oversimplification since there were differences between the reaction of almost all species. These reactions were not necessarily parallel to those shown previously in relation to the variation in calcium level. A comparison of the results with field observations confirms their validity and suggest that soil phosphate level is an important factor in determining the distribution of species.