Studies on the availability to plants of soil nitrogen in Malaysian tropical oligotrophic peat. II-Effects of N, P, K and Micronutrients

Authors

  • W.Y. Chew Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Peat Research Station, Kelang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • C.N. Williams Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Peat Research Station, Kelang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • K.T. Joseph Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Peat Research Station, Kelang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • K. Ramli Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Peat Research Station, Kelang, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract

The effects of fertilizer N, P, K and micronutrients on the plant availability of peat N were studied using Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) as the test crop. Addition of P, K and micronutrients to limed peat increased the uptake of from the peat but the increment in each case was appreciably less than that following lime only. The beneficial effect of micronutrients on N uptake was enhanced by the addition of P and K and somewhat reduced by liming. Liming also improved the effect of K on dry matter production and depressed the effect of P on N uptake. Application of fertilizer increased the content and uptake of the grass but the recovery of the fertilizer N was low. Response to fertilizer N was, however, dependent on the presence of lime.

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Issue

Volume 53 Number 1

Section

Research Papers