Growth and nutrition of legumes on a high country yellow-brown earth subsoil

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Abstract
The growth and phosphate response patterns of a range of legumes growing on an acid, infertile, high country yellow-brown earth subsoil were compared in 2 pot trials. All species responded strongly to added P, but foliage and soil analyses indicated that Al toxicity as well as P deficiency may have limited the growth of some species. Lupinus pedunculatus, L. corniculatus, the inter-specific lotus hybrid G4712, and Lupinus polyphyllus had low shoot Al concentrations, suggesting tolerance of Al toxicity. T. repens, T. ambiguum, C. varia and A. cicer had high shoot Al concentrations, and the growth of these species may have been affected by Al toxicity. T. repens was lower yielding than L. pedunculatus cultivars at low and high rates of added P. Surface-applied fertilizer P remained close to the soil surface and depressed KCl-exchangeable Al levels in the surface (0-2 cm) horizon, but had no effect on Al levels in the sub-surface horizons. Relative P accumulation rates were higher in species with a strongly developed surface rooting habit than in species that developed a tap root, or had few roots close to the soil surface.

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