Phosphorus Availability, Uptake and Dry Matter Yield of Indian Spinach (<i>Basella alba</i> L.) to Lime and Phosphorus Fertilization in an Acidic Soil

Abstract

A pot experiment was carried out to investigate the yield of Indian spinach ( Basella alba L.) and their uptake and availability of phosphorus from lime and phosphorus amended acidic soil. Four rates of lime (L) equivalent to 0, 500, 1000 and 2000 kg CaCO 3 ha -1 and four rates of phosphorus (P) equivalent to 0, 50, 100, and 150 kg · P · ha -1 of TSP were applied in combinations as treatments. Dry matter yield, P concentrations in shoot and root and P uptake by Indian spinach were determined after harvesting 10 weeks old plant and soil samples were collected from each pot to measure available P by Olsen method. Both L and P and their combinations had significant ( P < 0.001) effects on shoot and root biomass, shoot and root P concentrations, P uptake by Indian spinach and P availability. Although lime and P increased biomass production, P concentrations of shoot and root, and its uptake by Indian spinach and available P, this effect was boosted by combining L with P applied. 1000 kg lime plus 100 kg P were adequate for plant growth. Available P was strongly and positively correlated (R 2 = 0.909, P = 0.000) with P uptake by plant. Results of the present study indicated that lime and phosphorus could be used in combination to enhance plant growth.