Phosphorus Fractions and Wheat Seedlings Growth in Calcareous Soils Amended with P Enriched Compost

Abstract

Phosphorus is placed as second essential nutrient for plant growth. It builds 0.2 % of plant dry matter as constituent of nucleic acids (e.g DNA and RNA), phospholipids (in cell wall) and ATPs as energy car-Abstract | Pretreatment of organic materials with phosphatic fertilizers can alter P fractionations in soil and boost up its availability to plant in calcareous soils. For this purpose, a pot experiment was conducted in the green house of the University of Agriculture Peshawar to assess changes in P fractionations and wheat seedlings growth in two diverse calcareous soils. The pretreated composts were prepared by mixing 0, 2 and 4 % P with FYM on dry weight basis either from RP (rock phosphate) or TSP (triple super phosphate fertilizer). The prepared composts were then applied to pots containing 6 kg of soil @ 160 mg P 2 O 5 kg -1 and data were recorded on phosphorus fractionations at 1st, 5th and 10th week of germination and its correlation with wheat seedlings growth and leaf [P]. Results showed that the labile P fraction initially increased and then decreased and as compared to control and untreated FYM composts, all treated pots maintained higher labile P at all the three sampling times. However, the moderately labile and non-labile fractions showed non-significant changes with time. The Plant height, biomass and total P uptake were found significantly higher in the treatment fertilized with 2 % TSP enriched compost followed by 4 % TSP enriched compost as compared to control. The effect of TSP enrichment was better than RP as well as the enrichment with 2 % was better than 4 % for both sources in both soils. Moreover, only labile P determined at 10 th week of germination and similarly leaf [P] at this stage showed significant correlation with plant growth. These results concluded that enrichment of composting material with P can enhance the bio-available P to plant and cab boost up the plant growth in calcareous soils.