Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-t6hkb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-10T12:11:05.574Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A study of the effects of potassium fertilizer with special reference to wheat on boulder-clay soils

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

R. L. Ralph  and
W. J. Ridgman
R. L. Ralph
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Biology, Pembroke Street, Cambridge
W. J. Ridgman
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Biology, Pembroke Street, Cambridge
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

A long-term rotation experiment testing the effects of applying K fertilizer in combination with N fertilizer and cropping treatments, and two experiments comparing the effects of residual and freshly-applied K together with N treatments over 3 years, all on boulder-clay soils, together with two detailed studies of the effect of K on the growth of wheat on a chalk soil very deficient in K, are described and the results discussed.

Restricting the K supply had little effect on the growth of wheat until stem elongation began, but from then the growth of almost all organs was affected. It is concluded that there is no one mechanism by which lack of K in the soil restricts yield. It can decrease the area of the upper leaves, the dry matter produced in the upper internodes and ears, reduce the number of grains per unit area and the size of grain, but which of these is most important in a particular crop will depend on other cultural and environmental conditions.

It is argued that boulder-clay soils should not be considered as a single class when giving advice on K manuring; more experiments are required to make practical recommendations more precise.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 97 , Issue 2 , October 1981 , pp. 261 - 296
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1981

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Addiscott, T. M. (1974). Potassium in relation to transport of carbohydrate and ions in plants. Proceedings of the Idth Congress of the International Potash Institute, Budapest, pp. 205–220.Google Scholar
Beveridge, J. L., Jarvis, R. H. & Ridgman, W. J. (1965). Studies on the nitrogenous manuring of winter wheat. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 65, 379–387.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chambers, W. E. (1953). Nutrient composition of the produce of the Broadbalk Continuous Wheat Experiment. II. Changes occurring during one season's growth. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 43, 479–484.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cooke, G. W. (1971). Value and valuation of fertilizer residues. Technical Bulletin, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 20, 296–317.Google Scholar
Cooke, G. W. (1979). Some priorities for British soil science. Journal of Soil Science 30, 187–213.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Corbett, W. M. & Tatler, W. (1970). Soils in Norfolk: Sheet TM 49 (Becolea North). Soil Survey Record No. 1, pp. 38–44.Google Scholar
Evans, H. J. & Wildes, R. A. (1971). Potassium and its role in enzyme activation. Proceedings of the 8th Colloquium of the International Potash Institute, Uppsala, pp. 13–39.Google Scholar
Gregory, P. J., Crawford, D. V. & McGowan, M. (1979). Nutrient relations of winter wheat. 1. Accumulation and distribution of Na, K, Ca, Mg, P, S and N. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 93, 485–494.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Halliday, D. J., Harris, D. G. & Hills, M. G. (1971). Types of fertilizers used on farm crops in England and Wales, 1962–70. Agricultural Development and Advisory Service Quarterly Review N 8, 164–176.Google Scholar
Hodge, C. A. H. (1972). The soils at Saxmundham Experimental Station. Report of Rothamsted Experimental Station for 1971, Part 2, pp. 143–148.Google Scholar
Hodge, C. A. H. & Seale, R. S. (1966). The soils of the district around Cambridge. Memorandum of the Soil Survey of Cheat Britain, pp. 52–57.Google Scholar
Johnston, A. E., Warren, R. G. & Penny, A. (1970). The value of residues from long-period manuring at Rothamsted and Woburn. V. The value to arable orops of residues accumulated from potassium fertilisers. Report of Rothamsted Experimental Station for 1969, Part 2, pp. 69–90.Google Scholar
Knowles, F. & Watkin, J. E. (1931). The assimilation and translocation of plant nutrients in wheat during growth. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 21, 612–637.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Large, E. C. (1954). Growth stages in cereals. Illustration of the Feekes scale. Plant Pathology 3, 128–129.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Matthews, G. A., Rowell, J. G. & Beedon, P. (1972). Yield and plant development of reduced cotton stands in Malawi. Experimental Agriculture 8, 33–48.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1973). The analysis of agricultural materials. Technical Bulletin, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food No. 27.Google Scholar
Mitchell, K. J. (1953). Influence of light and temperature on the growth of ryegrass (Lolium spp.). In patterns of vegetative development. Physiohgia Plantarum 6, 21–46.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nitsos, R. E. & Evans, H. J. (1962). Effects of univalent oations on the activity of participate starch synthesis. Plant Physiology, Lancaster 44, 1260–1266.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Perrin, R. M. S., Davies, H. & Fysh, M. D. (1973). Lithology of the Chalky Boulder Clay. Nature Physical Science 245, 101–104.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Perrin, R. M. S., Davies, H. & Fysh, M. D. (1974). Distribution of late Pleistocene aeolian deposits in eastern and southern England. Nature, London 248, 320–324.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ralph, R. L. (1976). A study of potassium responses in winter wheat with particular reference to Chalky Boulder Clay Soils. Ph.D. thesis, University of Cambridge.Google Scholar
Ridgman, W. J. (1976). Experimentation in Biology. Glasgow and London: Blackie.Google Scholar
Sturdy, R. G. (1971). Soils in Essex I: Sheet TQ 59 (Harrold Hill). Soil Survey Record No. 7, pp. 36–40.Google Scholar
Thomasson, A. J. (1969). Soils of the Saffron Walden district. Special survey. Soil Survey of Great Britain No. 2, pp. 13–17.Google Scholar
Thomasson, A. J. (1971). Soils of Melton Mowbray district. Memorandum of the Soil Survey of Great Britain, pp. 20–24.Google Scholar
Watson, D. J. (1947). Comparative physiological studies on the growth of field orops. I. Variation on net assimilation rate and leaf area between species and varieties and within and between years. Annals of Botany (New Series) 11, 41–76.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Widdowson, F. V., Penny, A. & Williams, R. J. B. (1963). Experiments comparing yield and residual effects on winter wheat, of 1-year clover, ryegrass and clover-ryegrass leys. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 61, 397–408.CrossRefGoogle Scholar