EFFECT OF PHOSPHORUS ON GROWTH AND IRON NUTRITION OF MILLET AND SORGHUM

Seedlings of millet (Pennisetum americanum (L) K. Schum var. Tift 23 DA × Tift 18 DB) and guineacorn (Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench var. RS' 702) were employed in growth chamber studies to evaluate the effects of various phosphorus (P) levels on their growth and nutrient composition. The growth medium was Hoagland solution containing 0.0, 0.1, 1.0 and 2.5 m M P and 2.2 m M ferrous sulphate-tartate solution. At the end of twenty-four days, two plants from each treatment were supplied with 0.31 μci/ml of radioactive iron (55Fe) (with the same P levels used to grow them) and then allowed to absorb the55Fe for 3 hours after which they were harvested, separated into roots and shoots. The two components were wet-ashed separately, and assayed for55Fe. The rest of the plants in Hoagland solution were also harvested, separately into roots and shoots. The components parts were also wet-ashed separately and assayed for iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and phosphorous (P). High P concentration in the growth medium inhibited55Fe absorption and translocation in both millet and sorghum but millet was more tolerant of P-induced Fe deficiency than sorghum. Millet and sorghum grew best at 1.0 and 0.1 m M P, respectively. Fe concentrations in plant declined as P levels increased; while Mn increased in both millet and sorghum with increasing P levels. Millet, however, maintained higher concentrations of Fe and Mn. The distribution patter of55Fe, regardless of P levels could be summarized as follows: Roots>Vascular tissue>leaf-sheaths>leaf blade. Less55Fe was absorbed and translocated to shoots at 2.5 m M P, in millet and sorghum. © 1979 Martinus Nijhoff.