The Influence of Soil Moisture Condition on the Uptake of Phosphorus from Calcareous Soils by Sugar Beets

• Published in: Soil Science Society of America Journal
• Main Author: Haddock, Jay L.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1952
• Subjects: Soil Science; Carbonic acid
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1952.03615995001600030002x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.2136%2Fsssaj1952.03615995001600030002x; http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/wol1/doi/10.2136/sssaj1952.03615995001600030002x/fullpdf

Abstract Field experiments were conducted during 4 years on irrigated calcareous soils in Utah, from which data on the soluble phosphorus content of sugar beet petioles were related to soil moisture condition and fertilizer application. In addition, during 1950, the relationships between fertilizer placement and soil moisture condition upon phosphorus uptake were determined using P 32 ‐tagged superphosphate. On August 20, 1947 sugar beet petioles obtained from beets growing on soils indicating about 1,000, 10,000, and 100,000 ohms resistance contained approximately 13,000, 900, and 500 ppm of phosphorus, respectively. Phosphorus fertilizer placed in bands 6 inches below the soil surface and 4 inches to the side of beets was more readily available to sugar beet plants than broadcast phosphorus at all soil moisture conditions studied, early in the season. High concentration of available soil nitrogen and high soil moisture tension are conditions hindering the uptake of soil phosphorus. It is not clear from the data obtained why low soil moisture tension influences phosphorus uptake by sugar beets favorably. It is probable that indirect effects of soil temperature and carbonic acid concentration in the soil solution of moist soil may promote phosphorus uptake.