Adaptive attributes of tropical forage species to acid soils. IV. Differences in shoot and root growth responses to inorganic and organic phosphorus sources

Abstract

In highly weathered acid soils, low supply of phosphorus (P), a major plant nutrient, severely limits pasture establishment and production. Previous research indicated that inherent differences in efficiencies of P acquisition and use exist between tropical forage grasses and legumes when grown in acid soils. These differences in P acquisition between grasses and legumes may result from their ability to use sources of less available P from infertile acid soils. We tested this hypothesis by conducting a greenhouse study. The main objective was to determine differences in shoot and root growth responses between the grass Brachiaria dictyoneura CIAT 6133 and the legume Arachis pintoi CIAT 17434 when grown under monoculture or in grass+legume association with different sources of inorganic and organic P. Two acid soils of contrasting texture (sandy or clay loam) were amended with different sources of P: di‐calcium phosphate (Ca‐P), aluminum phosphate (Al‐P),phyticacid(organic‐P), and cow manure (dung‐P). Except for A1‐P, which was applied at two rates (20 and 100 kg P ha⁻¹), the sources were applied at 20 kg P ha⁻¹. After 75 days of growth, shoot, and root biomass production, dry matter partitioning, leaf area production, total chlorophyll content in leaves, soluble protein in leaves, total root length, and proportion of legume roots in grass+legume association were determined. Greater differences for shoot and root growth characteristics were found between the grass and legume than between the two types of acid soil. Shoot biomass production per unit soil surface area of both species was higher with Ca‐P than with Al‐P, organic‐P, or dung‐P. With Ca‐P, the grass produced twice as much shoot and root biomass than did the legume. But, the legume responded to the sources of less available inorganic and organic P by extending its leaf area. Therefore, not only do wide differences exist between the grass and legume in their ability to grow on infertile acid soils amended with sources of relatively less available inorganic and organic P, but also the legume is better adapted to such soil conditions.

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