GROWTH AND NUTRIENT UPTAKE BY FLOODED GUM SEEDLINGS SUBJECTED TO VARIOUS PHOSPHORUS SUPPLIES

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Abstract
In a study of the mineral nutrition of flooded gum E. grandis Hill ex Maiden in a controlled environment, it was noted that anthocyanin colouration of the upper leaf surface resulted from phosphorus deficiency. Increase in phosphorus supply with other nutrient elements supplied at constant levels resulted in (1) an increase in seedling dry-weight and stem-leaf ratio, and a decrease in root-shoot ratio, and (2) a general increase in tissue concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, a general decrease in tissue concentration of calcium, but no change in tissue concentration of magnesium. A foliage phosphorus concentration of 0.11 per cent was found to be the critical level for near-optimal seedling dry-weight production. The levels of various nutrient elements, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium, differed with respect to the tissues (foliage, stem or roots) in which they were most concentrated.