Soil Phosphorus Remediation by Bahia Grass, Common Bermuda Grass, Crab Grass, and Switch Grass

ABSTRACT

Soil phosphorus (P) removal by harvest may be a practical remediation strategy. Small plots of bahia grass (BG) (Paspalum notatum Flügge), common bermuda grass (CB) (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.), crab grass (CG) (Digitaria ciliaris (Retz.) Koel.), and switch grass (SG) (Panicum virgatum L.) were established on a coastal plain soil (Mehlich 3P, 100–500+ mg kg⁻¹) . Yield, tissue P concentration, and uptake P were determined in 2002–2005, and surface (0–15 cm) soil P were determined in 2002 and 2005. The uptake decreased, SG > CG > BG = CB (range 230–90 kg ha⁻¹), paralleling the decrease in surface soil P. Uptake depended on soil P (P < 0.01–0.10), with uptake > surface soil P decrease at low soil P due to uptake from subsoil but decrease > uptake at high soil P due to leaching. Soil P concentration did not affect SG tissue P nor did multiple harvests decrease its relative productivity.

Keywords:

• Pasture grass
• phytoremediation
• soil phosphorus