Phosphorus uptake parameters of alfalfa and corn as influenced by P and Ph.

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Abstract
The effects of growth medium P and pH on growth, phosphorus uptake, transport and Influx kinetics in alfalfa and corn were studied. Increasing P from 100 to 1000 μM and Increasing pH from 5.5 to 6.5 reduced growth and rate of growth of shoot and root in corn. Overall growth of alfalfa was unchanged due to varying P and pH levels. In both crops, greater root length was recorded for low P levels. Alfalfa recorded lower P influx (In) and root absorption power (α) than corn. In corn, In and α slightly declined with increasing pH; however, in alfalfa at high P, In and α increased with increasing pH. Higher In and lower α were recorded at higher P. In both crops, higher P transport (Ts) were recorded at higher P level. With the exception of alfalfa at lower P level, increasing pH increased Ts. In both crops, Imax reduced with increasing pretreatment P. The Imax in alfalfa increased with increasing pH and in corn it decreased with increasing pH. The Km in both crops followed similar trends as that of Imax.