Response of Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.) to Phosphorus Application

Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted to study the e}ect of phosphorus "P# on the vegetative and reproductive growth of black nightshade "Solanum ni`rum L[#[ Single superphosphate was applied at 9\ 9[04\ 9[29\ 9[34\ 9[59 and 9[64 g P:pot containing 2[4 kg of soil[ Seeds were sown directly in pots and plant samples were taken at fortnightly intervals for recording growth and yield par! ameters[ In addition\ the solasodine content in fruit and N\ P and K levels in leaves were also estimated[ Most parameters were signi_cantly in~uenced by P\ with 9[34 g:pot generally proving optimal[ The data also estab! lished that the berries should be harvested between 059 and 089 days "days after sowing#\ preferably at 064 days for maximum fruit yield and solasodine production[ Most parameters showed consistent and positive correlations with leaf P content[ Interestingly\ the correlation between leaf P content at 39 days and solasodine yield at 064 days was highly signi_cant "r 9[777#\ implying that the former is predictive of the latter[ Thus\ if low leaf P content was noted at 39 days corrective measures like foliar application or top dressing may be adopted to increase the leaf P content to ensure maximum solasodine at harvest[

Promotive effects of phosphorus on crop productivity, enzyme activities, anthraquinone and sennoside content inCassia toraL. – a medicinal herb

“…Furthermore, the increased uptake of other nutrients with increasing levels of phosphorus could presumably be attributed to the beneficial effect of phosphorus on overall growth of the plant owing to the balanced plant nutrition that accordingly resulted into a better crop yield. Enhancement in leaf-NPK and Ca contents by phosphorus application has been reported by several researchers (Akhtar et al 1987;Khan et al 2000;Siddiqui 2005).…”

“…Thus, on the basis of the metabolic roles influenced by phosphorus, an increase in plant fresh and dry weights, number of leaves and leaf-area could be expected as a result of phosphorus application. The ameliorative effect of phosphorus on growth attributes has been reported in many medicinal plants (Khan et al 2000;Samiullah and Khan 2003;Khan and Mohammad 2006). Figure 2.…”

Modulation of alkaloid content, growth and productivity of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. using irradiated sodium alginate in combination with soil applied phosphorus

“…The increase in the concentration of other nutrients due to phosphorus application might be attributed to the beneficial effects of the phosphorus on overall growth of the plant owing to the balanced plant nutrition that might result in better crop growth and yield. Enhancement in leaf −N, −P and −K content by phosphorus application has also been recorded in the studies on different medicinal crops (Khan et al, 2000;Khan, 2005, 2009;Naeem et al, 2009a,b). Factually, there are limited reports regarding the effect of ISA on leaf −N, −P and −K contents .…”

Phosphorus ameliorates crop productivity, photosynthesis, nitrate reductase activity and nutrient accumulation in coffee senna (Senna occidentalisL.) under phosphorus-deficient soil

“…Thus, on the basis of the metabolic roles played by phosphorus, such an increase in plant fresh and dry weights could be expected as a result of phosphorus application. The pronounced effect of phosphorus on growth attributes has been recorded in many medicinal plants (Khan et al 2000;Samiullah and Khan 2003;Naeem and Khan 2005;Khan and Mohammad 2006).…”