Stem tissue phosphorus as an index of the phosphorus status of Banksia ericifolia L. f

• Published in: Plant and soil Vol. 227; no. 1/2; pp. 59 - 65
• Main Authors: Parks, S. E., Haigh, A. M., Cresswell, G. C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Kluwer Academic Publishers 01.01.2000; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agricultural soils; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Banksia; Biological and medical sciences; Economic plant physiology; Fertilizers; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Leaves; Mineral nutrition; Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium fertilizations; Nutrition; Nutrition. Photosynthesis. Respiration. Metabolism; Nutritional deficiencies; Peat; Perlite; Phosphorus; Phosphorus fertilization; Plant growth; Plant nutrition; Plants; Shoots; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Stems; Tissues; Toxicity; Australia; New South Wales; Oceania; Ornamental shrub; Horticulture; Growth; Arboriculture; Ornamental crop; Index; Pot experiments; Phosphorus fertilization; Inorganic element; Stem; Chlorosis; Plant part; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Mathematical model; Banksia ericifolia; Greenhouse study; Nutritional status; Plant tissue; Critical value; Nutrition; Deficiency; Prediction; Proteaceae; Phosphorus; Plant leaf; Experimental study; Symptomatology; Phytotoxicity; Concentration effect; Spermatophyta; Soil plant relation; Shoot; Concentration distribution
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1026563926187

The effects of P fertilizer rate on shoot growth and the total P concentration of the whole shoot, new and mature leaves, symptom leaves and stems of Banksia ericifolia L. f., a P-sensitive species, were investigated in a six month greenhouse pot experiment. Shoot dry weight of plants growing in an Australian sedge peat, coarse sand and perlite potting mix (1:1:1) increased with up to 100 mg P L⁻¹ supplied as a six month controlled release P (0:18:0) fertilizer, but was reduced by toxicity at the highest application rate (200 mg PL⁻¹). Plants receiving this treatment developed chlorotic new and mature leaves. Leaf symptoms observed at rates of 60-100 mg P L⁻¹ were confined to old leaves and were related to the P concentration of the shoot. Growth was not affected at these rates. The P concentration of stems was strongly influenced by P supply. This tissue acted as a sink for excess P, helping to regulate the P concentration of leaves. The approximate range of P concentrations in stem tissue, associated with greater than 90% of maximum shoot dry weight, was 0.5-1.5 g P kg⁻¹ tissue dry weight. This was greater than that calculated for mature leaves (0.5-0.8 g kg⁻¹) or for whole shoots (0.5-1.2 g kg⁻¹). This wider range, and the capacity to store P in excess to requirement, makes the stem a better index tissue for plant P status than either leaves or whole shoots.