The phosphorous requirements of yams (Dioscorea spp.)

Authors

  • P. Vander Zaag Department of Agronomy and Soil Science, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822
  • R.L. Fox Department of Agronomy and Soil Science, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822
  • P.K. Kwakye Soil Research Institute, Kumasi, Ghana
  • G.O. Obigbesan Department of Agronomy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

The external P requirements of yams ranged from 0·005 to 0·02 p.p.m. P in solution. D. alata had the highest P requirement but also gave the highest yields. D. esculenta and D. rotundata which produced lower yield did not respond to applied P. There appeared to be a relationship between yield potential and the external P requirement. Internal P concentration was not a good indicator of whether or not the yields of D. alata and D. esculenta would respond to applied P. All three species of yam efficiently utilized P at low concentrations in the soil solution. Yams appear to depend on an effective mycorrhizal association to meet their P requirement.

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Issue

Volume 57 Number 2

Section

Research Papers