Phosphate Nutrition and Defoliation Effects on Growth and Root Physiology of Alfalfa

Qamar, Synan F. Abu; Cunningham, Suzanne M.; Volenec, Jeffrey J.

doi:10.1080/01904160600830191

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Malhi et al [27] reported that the alfalfa forage yield increased with P application, but its magnitude of response to added P was lower at Botha than at Lacombe, and the residual effect of large single P application on forage yield lasted at least for five years. However, the addition of P to P-deficient plants stimulated the growth of shoots but not roots [34]. In our study, proper application of P fertilizer increased alfalfa forage yield, and the effects of applying P fertilizer on alfalfa forage yield were significantly different at the two sites.…”

Section: Application Of P Fertilizer Affects Alfalfa Yield and Yield ...contrasting

confidence: 54%

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Winter Survival, Yield and Yield Components of Alfalfa as Affected by Phosphorus Supply in Two Alkaline Soils

et al. 2023

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Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is an important forage for the development of herbivorous animal husbandry, which is widely planted in the cold climate areas of northern China, where there is low overwintering and forage yield in production, and fertilization is a vital production strategy. A field study was conducted to determine the response of alfalfa’s winter survival rate, yield, and yield components to different gradients of phosphate (P) fertilizer (0, 45, 90, and 135 kg P2O5 ha−1) in two types of low-phosphorus alkaline soils. The results show that the winter survival rates and forage yield increased at first and then decreased with the increase of P application; the greater winter survival rates were achieved at 45~90 kg ha−1 of P fertilizer applied, while the greater forage yield were achieved at 90 kg ha−1 in the two sites, and the suitable P fertilizer application rates for greater winter survival were less than those for greater forage yield; plant height and shoot mass made a greater contribution to forage yield than other yield components. To pursue greater forage yield, the suitable P fertilization rates for aeolian sandy soil and silt loam soil are 108.1 and 78.3 kg ha−1, respectively, based on the regression equations. Therefore, in cold winter and soil P deficiency areas, applying P fertilizer can be used as an effective strategy to improve alfalfa’s forage yield and persistence, and the most appropriate amount of fertilizer should be determined according to climate and soil conditions.

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Section: Application Of P Fertilizer Affects Alfalfa Yield and Yield ...contrasting

confidence: 54%

“…P is a crucial element for alfalfa growth and agronomic performance [34]. When soil P is limited, plants tend to show a positive growth response to P addition [35].…”

Section: Application Of P Fertilizer Affects Alfalfa Yield and Yield ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Winter Survival, Yield and Yield Components of Alfalfa as Affected by Phosphorus Supply in Two Alkaline Soils

et al. 2023

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“…This may suggest that the semi-arid steppes examined in this study could only be lightly grazed (light to medium defoliation) to avoid affecting the productivity of certain plant species. Bobbink and Willems (1991) reported a reduction in shoot formation as a result of a reduction in root soluble carbohydrates and the study by Abu Qamar et al (2006) also showed that soluble carbohydrate concentration in taproots of alfalfa was significantly reduced in defoliated plants. Responses of P and N concentrations in plant roots and rhizomes differed with root diameter.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

The effects of defoliation on plant community, root biomass and nutrient allocation and soil chemical properties on semi-arid steppes in northern China

Guo

Han

et al. 2012

Journal of Arid Environments

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“…In addition, soil nutrient deficiency can affect alfalfa growth and yield. For example, P deficiency caused leaf senescence in alfalfa, which decreased its growth and yield [34]. Nutrient resorption can alleviate nutrient deficiency, making the plant less reliant on soil nutrients [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Resorption Responses of Alfalfa to Increasing Soil Water and P Availability in a Semi-Arid Environment

et al. 2020

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In semi-arid areas, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is widely grown, but its growth is often restricted due to limited rainfall and soil nutrients, particularly phosphorus (P). Nutrient resorption is an effective strategy for dealing with nutrient shortages. Alleviation of these limited resources using film mulch and P fertilization—which are common practices in semi-arid areas—can affect the internal recycling of such nutrients. Little is known about such effects in alfalfa and the relationship between resorption efficiency and forage yield. We conducted a two-year field experiment in the semi-arid Loess Plateau of China using film mulch and P fertilization to investigate the response to long-term increasing soil water and P availability on leaf nitrogen (N), P, and potassium (K) concentrations and nutrient resorption characteristics in alfalfa. In green leaves, mulching significantly increased P concentration by an average of 5.5% but it had no significant effect on N concentration over two years, and it decreased K concentration by 16.1% in 2017. P fertilization significantly increased N concentrations to a greater degree in 2018 (8.1%) than 2017 (1.6%). P fertilization also significantly increased P concentrations by an average of 34.1% over two years. In contrast, P fertilization significantly decreased K concentration in the mulched treatment by an average of 17.3% in 2017 and 21.8% in 2018, but it had no effect in the no-mulch treatment. In senescent leaves, mulching significantly increased N concentration by an average of 3.9% and P concentration by an average of 16.7%, but it had no significant effect on K concentration over two years, while P fertilization significantly decreased N and K concentrations over two years by an average of 7.5%, and 32.8%, respectively. P fertilization significantly increased senesced P concentration by an average of 11.9% in 2017 and 17.5% in 2018; and year × mulching × P fertilization had a significant interaction on senesced leaf P concentration. For resorption efficiency, mulching decreased P resorption efficiency by an average of 3.0%, but it had no impact on N or K resorption efficiency, while P fertilization increased the N, P, and K resorption efficiencies in alfalfa by an average of 6.8%, 6.2%, and 76.4% over two years, respectively. Interactive effects of mulching and P fertilization were found on P and K resorption efficiencies over time. In addition, N and K resorption efficiencies were significantly higher in 2018 than in 2017. The application of P fertilizer without mulching resulted in positive correlations between forage yield and N, P, and K resorption efficiencies, but no correlations were observed under film mulch. That is, mulching changed the relationship between forage yield and N, P, and K resorption efficiencies in alfalfa, suggesting that N, P, and K resorption efficiencies may not be related to high yield. Our results provide new insights into the role of nutrient resorption in alfalfa in response to increasing soil water and P availability and the relationship between resorption efficiency and forage yield, which will help us to improve alfalfa yield in semi-arid regions.

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Phosphate Nutrition and Defoliation Effects on Growth and Root Physiology of Alfalfa

Cited by 7 publications

References 30 publications

Winter Survival, Yield and Yield Components of Alfalfa as Affected by Phosphorus Supply in Two Alkaline Soils

Winter Survival, Yield and Yield Components of Alfalfa as Affected by Phosphorus Supply in Two Alkaline Soils

The effects of defoliation on plant community, root biomass and nutrient allocation and soil chemical properties on semi-arid steppes in northern China

Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Resorption Responses of Alfalfa to Increasing Soil Water and P Availability in a Semi-Arid Environment

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