THE INFLUENCE OF VARIETY, SOIL TEMPERATURE, AND PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZER ON YIELD AND PHOSPHORUS UPTAKE BY ALFALFA

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Abstract
Du Puits and Ladak varieties of alfalfa were grown for 10 weeks in the greenhouse on soil-sand media controlled at temperatures of 10°, 18°, and 26 °C. P32-tagged superphosphate was applied at rates of 10 and 80 p.p.m. phosphorus, respectively. Dry matter yields and phosphorus content of the tissue was determined at the end of the growth period. Increasing soil temperature from 10° to 26 °C. caused corresponding increases in total phosphorus uptake as a result of an increase in dry matter yields as well as an increase in the percentage of phosphorus in the plant tissue. Ladak exhibited the higher yield potential although Du Puits was less affected by low soil temperature conditions and appeared capable of making better use of soil phosphorus. With the higher phosphorus application, the root-top ratio for Du Puits was greater than that for Ladak, and the maximum value for this ratio occurred at 18 °C. for each variety. P32 activity measured in the tissue indicated that soil temperature was critical in terms of phosphorus fertilization in the 4- and 6-week stages of growth.