Date of Award:

5-1955

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Plants, Soils, and Climate

Department name when degree awarded

Soil Science

Committee Chair(s)

H. B. Peterson

Committee

H. B. Peterson

Abstract

Phosphorus is one of the major plant nutrients secured from the soil. The object of many investigations has been to discover the nature of the processes by which the soil supplies phosphorus to plants, and to determine the influence of soil factors upon these processes. Although much knowledge has been gained, these processes and the effects of soil factors upon them are still not clearly defined.

One factor which profoundly affects plant growth is the amount and relative availability of soil moisture. The results of some investigations have suggested that this factor may also have considerable influence on the absorption of phosphorus by plants.

The purpose of this investigation was to study the influence of soil moisture condition on the absorption of phosphorus by plants from calcareous soils. Information pointing toward answers to the following questions was sought.

(1) Can plant roots penetrate into soil having a moisture content of permanent wilting percentage or less and absorb phosphorus from applied fertilizer?

(2) Is plant absorption of phosphorus from applied fertilizer influenced, in any consistent manner, by the moisture condition of the soil?

Checksum

b01fee0a3d7751cb76bdb4fea9d484e1

Download

Included in

Soil Science Commons

Share

COinS

Copyright for this work is retained by the student. If you have any questions regarding the inclusion of this work in the Digital Commons, please email us at .