Early growth of leucaena at different levels of sulphur and phosphorus application

Abstract

The response of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit cv K8 to four levels of sulphur (S) and six levels of phosphorus (P) application rates was determined. Applying S at 7.5 mg/kg soil increased shoot height by 28% and shoot and root dry weights by 34% and 15%, respectively. The number and dry weights of nodules were increased by two to three and 13 to 25 times, respectively, over the control which received no S and P. Applying P at 7.5 mg/kg soil significantly increased number and dry weight of nodules by 151% and 575%, respectively, and shoot height by 14% over the control, but had no effect on root growth. There were no significant improvements of nodule development for applications of S and P beyond rates of 7.5 mg/kg soil.