Lime-aluminium-phosphorus interactions and the growth of Leucaena leucocephala: II Chemical composition

• Published in: Plant and soil 1990-08, Vol.126 (1), p.9-17
• Main Authors: NAIDU, R., TILLMAN, R.W., SYERS, J.K., KIRKMAN, J.H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acid soils; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Alkaline soils; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical constitution; Economic plant physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Leucaena leucocephala; Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium fertilizations; Orchard soils; Other nutrients. Amendments. Solid and liquid wastes. Sludges and slurries; Phosphorus fertilization; Plant growth; Plant physiology and development; Plant roots; Plants; Soil chemistry; Soil pH; Soil plant interactions; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Tropical soils
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00041364

The effects of lime and P on the chemical composition of the tropical legume Leucaena leucocephala were studied in a controlled climate laboratory experiment using 4 (Koronivia, Nadroloulou, Batiri, and Seqaqa) highly-weathered, acid soils from Fiji. For all soils, changes in the concentration of P in the Leucaena tops followed trends similar to the yield response curve, i.e., the concentration of P was highest at the soil pH at which maximum growth occurred. The concentration of Al in plant tops increased on either side of the pH of maximum growth, but Al uptake by the whole plant (tops plus roots) declined steadily with increasing pH. Although complete major (except P) and minor nutrients were added regularly, there was variation in the uptake of nutrients with pH. Poor growth at low pH values was attributed to an Al-induced P deficiency within the plant and at high pH to a soil P deficiency and, to a smaller extent, to the increased concentration of Al in the plant tops.