The effect of phosphorus and mulching on the efficiency of phosphorus use and productivity of wheat grown on a mountain Alfisol in the Western Himalayas

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted over two years in one of the mountain Alfisols of the Western Himalayas to study the effects of phosphorus and mulching on phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) and productivity of wheat (CV S-308) at difference growth stages. The source of phosphorus was single superphosphate at 0,26,52 and 78 kg P/ha whereas the sources of mulching materials were pine needles (Pinus longtjika), lantana weed (Lantana camara) at 8 t/ha and transparent polyethylene sheet compared with no mulch.The phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) at tillering, flowering and harvesting was greatest at the lowest dose of P and decreased as the P levels were increased. However, the increased levels of P up to 78 kg/ha, significantly improved the dry matter yield at tillering stage (30%) and flowering stage (93%) and also the grain yield (139%) and straw yield (148%) at the harvest stage. The application of mulching materials in general, and polyethylene in particular, significantly increased the phosphorus use efficiency and the productivity ofwheat by 27% at tillering stage; 17% at flowering stage, and by 98 and llOo/o in the case of grain and straw yield at harvest stage.Although the polyethylene mulch effect was physically superior to the other materials, the latter gave greater financial returns. Consequently, the economic optimum application of P in association with 8 t/ha of lantana mulch was found to be 53 kg/ha over two years, whereas, in the absence of mulching, it was 58 kg/ha.

Influence of Phosphorus Levels and Phosphorus Solubilizing Fungi on Yield and Nutrient Uptake by Wheat under Sub-Humid Region of Rajasthan, India

“…Besides, phosphorus being the component of ATP-the energy currency in the metabolic activities-might have directly contributed to a larger photosynthetic and luxuriant vegetative growth. These observations confirm the findings of Lu and Barber [13] and Sharma and Parmar [14]. Further a large canopy development under the increased levels of phosphorus seems to have a greater absorption and utilization of radiant energy resulting in high dry matter accumulation by crop plants.…”

Nitrogen and Phosphorus Uptake and Partitioning in Finger Millet as Influenced by Phosphorus Fertilization

“…Phosphorus leads to elongation of meristematic tissues and since it is a major constituent of ADP and ATP-the energy currency in metabolic activities in plants, it led to greater photosynthetic rates which increased dry matter production that accumulated more nitrogen. These observations conforms to findings by Sharma and Parmar [29]. The highest phosphorus level did have the highest N uptake in all the plant parts during the long rains season while the 25 kg ha -1 P 2 O 5 treatment had the highest in the roots and grains during the short rains season.…”

Agronomic and Economic Evaluation of Mulching in Rainfed Maize—Wheat Cropping System in the Western Himalayan Region of India

“…The net B:C ratio of the maize-wheat cropping system was the highest when mulching was done at 60 days with Peuraria, closely followed by that with Leucaena. Lantana mulching gave greater financial returns and P-use efficiency than polythene mulching in wheat (Sharma & Parmar 1998). Mulching technology has been found to be profitable, both financially and socially, in the eastern Amazon region of Brazil because it was able to produce yields that were high enough to offset the costs (Mburu et al 2007).…”