THE EFFECT OF VARYING THE TREATMENTS OF
NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS AND POTASSIUM ALONE
AND IN' COMBINATION ON CERTAIN CHARACTERISTICS
OF A DWARF GRAIN SORGHUM.’

By
HENRY LANKFORD DUNTOIT

A m s IS
Subm itted to th e School of G raduate S tu d ie s o f
M ichigan S ta te C ollege o f A g ric u ltu re and A pplied Science
i n p a r t i a l f u lf i l l m e n t of th e requirem ents f o r
th e degree of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Department o f S o il Science

THE EFFECT OF VARYING THE TREATMENTS OF
NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS AND POTASSIUM ALONE
AND IN COMBINATION ON CERTAIN CHARACTERISTICS
.. OF A DWARF GRAEN SORGHUM.

T h e s i s f o r t h e D e g r e e o f P h . D.
MICHIGAN STATE COLLEGE
H en ry L a n k fo r d D u n ton
1949

ACKNOY/LEDGEMENT

The w r i t e r w ishes to ex p ress h i s a p p re c ia tio n to
D r. G . E . M illa r and D r. L. M. Turk f o r th e v a lu a b le
a s s is ta n c e and encouragement given th ro u g h o u t t h i s
in v e s tig a tio n .

The a u th o r i s a lso in d eb ted to D r. Boyd

H arsh b arg er, V ir g in ia A g r ic u ltu r a l Experim ent S ta tio n
f o r h i s h e lp in th e s t a t i s t i c a l a n a ly s is o f th e d a ta .

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
I.

INTRODUCTION

1

II.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

3

III.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION

4

IV.

PLAN' OF EXPERIMENT.

5

A.

L o catio n and D e s c rip tio n of A rea S elected

5

B.

Chemical P r o p e rtie s o f th e S o il

6

C.

F e r t i l i z e r Treatm ents and P lo t Design

6

D.

Land P re p a ra tio n and Method of F e r t i l i z e r A ppli­
c a tio n

S

P la n tin g , C u ltiv a tin g and Thinning

9

E.
V.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
A.

.

10

The E f f e c t o f F e r t i l i z a t i o n on th e H eight of th e
P la n t

10

B.

Ih e E f f e c t o f F e r t i l i z a t i o n on S uckering, Heading
and th e P e rcen t M oisture in th e Seed a t H arv est 13

C.

The E f f e c t of F e r t i l i z a t i o n on th e Average h e ig h t
o f Head, Weight o f Seed p e r Head, Weight o f Seed
P e r Sucker Head, Weight of One Hundred Seed From
R eg u lar and Sucker Heads, P e rc e n t G em in atio n
and th e R e la tio n o f th e Weight of th e Head to
th e Weight of th e Seed
19

D.

Ih e E f f e c t of F e r t i l i z a t i o n on th e Browning of
th e L eaves, Amount of D isease and Y ield

24

E.

The E f f e c t o f F e r t i l i z a t i o n on th e N itro g e n , Phos­
phorus and P otassium C ontent of th e Seed 30

F.

The E f f e c t o f F e r t i l i z a t i o n

on th e F o lia g e C olor

G.

The E f f e c t o f F e r t i l i z a t i o n
Seed.

on th e C olor o f th e

36
39

TABLE OF CONTENTS -

C o n tin u e d

Page
V I.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS.

..

41

A.

TheE f f e c t o f N .

41

B.

TheE f f e c t o f P

C.

TheE f f e c t o f K

D.

TheE f f e c t o f Treatm ents on P la n t C h a ra c te r- ;
i s t i c s (T able)
45

•

'4 2
43

V II. FIC-URES SHOfTNG EFFECTOF TREATiaENTS ON PLANT
. CKiuRACTSRISTICS
V I I I . ; LITERATURE CITED

46
~

66

INTRODUCTION

In g e n e ra l, th e g e n e tic com position of any p la n t s p e c ie s d e te r ­
mines i t s chem ical com position and p la n t c h a r a c te r is ti c s #

However,

th e chem ical co m p o sitio n -an d -p lan t c h a r a c t e r is t i c s may "be m odified t o
a c e r t a i n e x te n t by v a r i a t io n s i n such environm ental f a c to r s as
c lim a te a n d s o i l , e s p e c ia lly th e n u t r ie n t supply#
Many in v e s tig a tio n s have shown th e e f f e c t o f a p p lic a tio n s o f
n itro g e n , phosphdrus and p o tassiu m t o th e s o i l on p la n t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s
such as h e ig h t o f grow th, m a tu rity , c o lo r and com p o sitio n .

These r e ­

v e a l th e f a c t t h a t v a r i a t io n s i n a p p lic a tio n o f n itr o g e n , phosphorus
and p o tassium may a f f e c t th e p la n t growth and i n some cases cause
v a r i a t i o n i n chem ical com position o f th e g r a in o r f r u i t .

The chem ical

com position o f th e le a v e s and stem s o f th e p la n t i s g e n e ra lly more r e ­
sponsive t o v a r ia tio n s in n u t r i e n t s th a n i s th e g rain #

The seed o f

th e p l a n t , re p re s e n tin g f u tu r e g e n e ra tio n s , i s i n g e n e ra l r e l a t iv e ly
c o n s ta n t in m in era l com position#
The acreag e o f dwarf g r a in sorghum i s in c r e a s in g in V ir g in ia on
th o se farm s where th e r e i s a sh o rta g e o f la b o r .

Less la b o r i s re q u ire d

to produce an a c re o f g r a in sorghum th a n an a c re o f corn in V ir g in ia ,
because g r a in soreturn i s h a rv e s te d w ith a combine.

G rain sorghum

y ie ld s ap p ro x im ately n in e ty p e rc e n t o f adapted h y b rid corn u nder s im ila r
c o n d itio n s .

Hie replacem ent o f co rn by g r a in sorghum i s n o t ex p ected ,

b u t a f u r t h e r in c re a s e o f g r a in sorghum on th e w e ll mechanized farm
w ith a la b o r sh o rta g e i s a n tic ip a te d #

-2 No l i t e r a t u r e h a s been found r e p o rtin g th e e f f e c t o f v a ry in g th e
r a t e o f a p p lic a tio n o f n itr o g e n , phosphorus and potassium upon th e
ty p e o f growth and g r a in com position o f a dw arf g ra in sorgium i n th e
e a s te r n U nited S ta te s *

Rxe h e ig h t, m a tu rity , ty p e o f grow th, and

y i e l d a r e v e ry im portant*

S h o rte r o r dw arf grow th, e a r ly m a tu rity ,

heavy y ie ld and g r a in w ith a h i g i n u tr ie n t c o n te n t a re d esire d *

Any

e f f e c t o f f e r t i l i z a t i o n o f th e s o i l w ith n itro g e n , phosphorus and
po tassiu m upon th e growth and development o f t h i s p la n t i s im portant*

REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Vandecaveye (19) h a s p re se n te d an e x c e lle n t review o f th e e f f e c t
o f s o i l ty p e and f e r t i l i z e r tre a tm e n ts on th e chem ical com position o f
c e r t a i n fo ra g e and sm all g r a in crops*

The response o f c e r e a l g r a in s

t o n itro g e n was found t o v a ry w ith th e amount a p p lie d t o th e s o i l and
th e tim e o f a p p lic a tio n *

In o nly seven o f f i f t e e n s tu d ie s reviewed

d id th e a p p lic a tio n o f phosphorus in c r e a s e th e phosphorus c o n te n t o f
th e g rain *

P otash a p p lic a tio n s r e s u lte d in an in c re a s e o f potassium i n

th e g ra in in on ly a few cases*
Beeson (4) h as p re se n te d a review and co m p ilatio n on th e m in e ra l
com position o f cro p s w ith p a r t i c u l a r re fe re n c e t o th e s o i l s i n which
th e y were grown*
s u lts *

T h is review shows wide v a r i a t io n and c o n f lic tin g re ­

The heed f o r h a s ic re se a rc h on t h i s problem i s ev id en t*

S tu d ie s by B a y field ( l ) (2) ( 3 ) , B l a i r ( 5 ) , Gainey, e t a l ( 8) ,
Geddes, e t a l ( 7 ) , Guyon ( 1 0 ), T e ak le, e t a l (17) and T ulaikov (18)
in d ic a te t h a t a d d itio n s o f n itro g e n t o t h e s o i l r e s u lte d in an in c re a se d
p e rc e n t o f p r o te in i n th e g rain *
G arola ( 9 ) , H o ltz , e t a l ( 1 1 ), J o r e t , e t a l (12) and V in cen t, e t a l
( 20) re p o rt t h a t th e e f f e c t o f n itro g e n on th e p r o te in c o n te n t o f th e
g ra in i s v a r ia b le , depending upon th e s o i l , tim e and amount o f a p p li­
c a tio n and a ls o o th e r fa c to rs *
R eports o f Guyon ( 1 0 ), L e fo rt (14) and Murphy (15) show d e f i n i t e l y
t h a t th e a d d itio n o f phosphorus f o r wheat in c re a se d th e p e rc e n t o f phos­
phorus in th e g rain *

R e s u lts o f s tu d ie s by B ay fie ld ( l ) (2) ( 3 ) ,

-4-

Geddes, e t a l ( 7 ) , V in cen t, e t a l (20) and Weidemann (22) in d ic a te
t h a t th e phosphorus tre a tm e n t had l i t t l e o r no e f f e c t upon th e phos­
p horus c o n te n t o f th e g r a in .
R e s u lts o f in v e s tig a tio n s d e a lin g w ith th e e f f e c t o f po tassiu m
a p p lic a tio n s on th e p o tassiu m c o n te n t o f th e g r a in have been in c o n s is ­
te n t.

Some i n v e s tig a to r s found t h a t p o tassiu m a p p lic a tio n s in c re a s e d

t h e p o tassiu m c o n te n t i n th e g r a in w h ile o th e r s shoved t h a t po tassiu m
had no e f f e c t i n in c r e a s in g th e p o tassium co n te n t o f th e g r a in .
C a r t t e r ( 6) s t a t e s t h a t d i r e c t f e r t i l i z e r a p p lic a tio n s on a s o i l
o f medium t o h ig h f e r t i l i t y shoved v e ry l i t t l e e f f e c t on th e y ie ld o r
t h e com position o f soybean se e d .
Weeks, e t a l (21) re p o rte d from Kentucky t h a t m anure, lim e and
f e r t i l i z e r tre a tm e n ts a f f e c te d th e amount o f phosphorus, calcium , mag­
nesium and p o tassiu m and t o a l e s s e r e x te n t th e n itro g e n in t h e g ra in
of com .

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION
The purpose o f t h i s i n v e s tig a tio n v a s t o d e te n n in e 9i f v a ry in g th e
r a t e s o f n itr o g e n , p h osphorus, and p o tassium alone and i n com bination
a p p lie d t o a p o o r s o i l v o u ld s ig n i f i c a n t l y in flu e n c e ( l ) th e n itro g e n ,
phosphorus and p o tassiu m c o n te n t o f th e sorghum g r a in produced on t h a t
s o i l and ( 2) th e h e ig h t o f p l a n t , d a te o f head in g and p o ll i n a t i o n ,
m a tu rity , m o istu re p e rc e n t i n th e seed a t h a r v e s t, c o lo r o f le a v e s ,
c o lo r o f g r a in , number o f s u c k e rs , p e rc e n t g erm in atio n o f se e d , w eight
p e r 100 g r a in s , p re v a le n c e o f d is e a s e and y i e l d .

PLAN OF EXPERIMENT'
L o catio n and D e s c rip tio n o f Area S ele c te d
The experim ent was conducted on a G roseclose s i l t loam s o i l .
The s o i l s o f th e G roseclose s e r i e s have developed from c h e rty d o lo m itic lim esto n e in a s s o c ia tio n w ith th e gray-brown p o d zo lic s o il s o f
th e A ppalachian V a lle y .
ac id in r e a c tio n .

The G roseclose s o i l s a re medium to s tro n g ly

The s i l t loams predom inate.

The topography i s r o l l i n g to h i l l y .
d ra in ag e a re good.

I n te r n a l and" e x te r n a l

The G ro seclo se s o il s o f th e s e c tio n a re p r a c t i c a l l y

a l l c le a re d and used f o r a l l o f th e more common crops o f th e a re a .
G roseclose i s found p r im a r ily in w estern V ir g in ia and e a s te rn Tennessee.
„ The A h o riz o n i s l i g h t to y e llo w ish -g ra y in c o lo r and ranges from
7 to 9 in ch e s t h i c k .

The B h o riz o n i s l i g h t brow nish-yellow f r i a b l e

s i l t y c la y and i s 5 to 7 in c h e s t h i c k .

The C h o riz o n i s s im ila r to th e

B h o riz o n b u t“ sp lo tch ed w ith re d , brown and g ra y .
m ents occu r l o c a l l y .

A few sh a le f r a g ­

The C h o riz o n i s 18 to 36 in ch es th i c k .

The ex p erim en tal a re a s e le c te d was lo c a te d on a 150 a c re p a s tu re
f i e l d to which no f e r t i l i z e r had been ap p lied f o r 35 y e a r s .
f e r t i l i z a t i o n a re n o t a v a ila b le beyond 35 y e a r s .

Records o f

Records show th e f i e l d

had been in p a s tu re sin c e 1900 and o ld e r people in th e s e c tio n say t h a t
th e a re a had been in p a s tu re co n tin u o u sly f o r over 74 y e a r s . ' One to n o f
ground lim esto n e p e r acre was a p p lie d in 1940.
The s o i l o f th e e n t i r e a re a was c a r e f u lly mapped and checked to
determ ine th e b e s t lo c a tio n f o r th e experim ent.

The fo u r acre a re a

s e le c te d was n e a rly f l a t w ith enough slope to allow good su rfa c e

drain ag e*

The a r e a was th e n checked every fo u r o r f iv e f e e t t o d e t e r ­

mine th e depth o f th e to p s o i l , depth o f th e s u b - s o i l, ty p e o f s u b - s o il
and c o lo r o f th e s o il*

T h is was done t o lo c a te th e most uniform a r e a

o f 3 /4 o f an a c re needed f o r th e experim ent.

The a r e a used showed v ery

l i t t l e v a r i a t io n i n d epth o f to p o r s u b - s o il, c o lo r o f s o i l and o th e r
v is ib le c h a ra c te ris tic s •
Chemical P r o p e r tie s o f th e S o il
The a r e a was l a i d o u t in to p l o t s and from each p lo t a s o i l sample
was taken*

A quick s o i l t e s t a cco rd in g t o V irg in ia procedure was ru n on

a l l th e sam ples.

The s o i l s showed uniform ly low t o v e ry low i p a v a ila b le

phosp h o ru s, u n ifo rm ly good in a v a ila b le p o tassiu m , good i n a v a ila b le c a l­
cium and magnesium, a pH o f 6*0 and an o rg a n ic m a tte r c o n te n t o f 1.3/£*
A v a ila b le phosphorus was a ls o run on th e same s o i l samples by
T ru o g 's method and a l l gave a low te s t *
Base exchange p r o p e r tie s o f th e s o i l were determ ined by th e methods
o u tlin e d by Pegeh, e t a l* (16)*

The b ase exchange c a p a c ity was 9*38 m .e.

p e r 100 grams o f d ry s o i l and t h e exchangeable Ca, Mg, K and H was
3 .5 9 , 1 .7 1 , 0*20 and 3*88 m.e* p e r 100 grams o f dry s o i l re s p e c tiv e ly *
F e r t i l i z e r T reatm ents and P lo t D esign
Four tre a tm e n ts o f n itr o g e n , two tre a tm e n ts o f p h osphoric a c id and
two tre a tm e n ts o f p o ta sh were u sed i n a fo u r by two by two f a c t o r i a l
design*

Three r e p l ic a t io n s w ere used in s te a d o f fo u r due t o th e lack o f

s u f f i c i e n t uniform land*
were a s follow s*

The tre a tm e n ts o f f e r t i l i z e r and p l o t d esig n

-7 -

—

T reatm ents p e r a c re

N itro g e n

P hosphoric a c id

0 -

0 lb s ,

1 -

60 l b s ,

2 -

120 l b s .

3 -

180l b s .

0

P otash

- 0

0 - 0

1 - 240 l b s ,

1 -

120 l b s ,

P lo t D esign *
R e p lic a te 1 .
block b

block a
n:

-

p 2°5

"

0
3
3 - ■. 1 ■. 0
0 '
2 m. , 1
0
2 «
1
1 m
0
1 0 m* , 1 . .

k 20
1
0
0
0
1
1
0
1

N

m

2 m
1 m
3 2 0 1 m
3 0 m

*2°5

-

k 2o

1
0
0
0
0
1
1
1

-

1
1
0
0
1
0
1
0

mr

-

R e p lic a te 2 .
b lock a
E ~

■
,

2
0
2
1
1
0
3
3

1
0
0
0
- 1
•1
1
m
0
-

.

p2°5

block b
" k 20
-

-

-

0
0
1
1
0
1
1
0

N
3
0
0
3
1
1
2
2

-?sP5
m
m
m

m
m

1
1
0
0
0
1
1
0

-

k 20
0
0
1
1
0
1
1
0

R e p lic a te 3 .
block a
K
3
0
1
1
2
2
3
0
*

mm

mm
'm
■ .em

-

b lock b

P2°5

-

1
1
0

-

0
1
0
0

k 2o

0
1:- ■
1
0
0
1
1
0

•

n;

-

P2°5

2
0
1
0
2
1
3
3

-

1
0
0
1
0
1
1
0

mm

mm

-

—
mm

-

k 20

0
1
0
0
1
1
1
0

Numbers r e f e r t o r a t e s p e r a c re in d ic a te d u nder "Treatm ent p e r a c r e " .
The 240 l b . r a t e o f P20£ and th e 120 l b . r a te o f KjjO p e r a c re were

th o u g h t t o be ample t o p re v e n t any d e f ic ie n c y from o c c u rrin g .

The 180 l b .

r a te o f n itro g e n was ex p ected t o be am ple.
*
The n itro g e n was su p p lie d a s 16$ n i t r a t e o f soda, th e phosphorus
as 45$ t r i p l e superphosphate and th e p o tassiu m as 62$ m u riate o f p o ta s h .

Land P r e p a ra tio n and Method o f F e r t i l i z e r A p p lic a tio n
The sod lan d was plowed March 25 t o an average depth o f 7 to 8 in ch es
w ith a t r a c t o r plow .
tim e on May 1 3 .

The lan d was double d isc e d A p ril 10 and a second

The t r i p l e superphosphate and m u ria te o f p o ta sh were

a p p lie d b ro a d c a st May 13 im m ediately b e fo re th e second d is c in g .

F e rti­

l i z e r f o r each p l o t was mixed w ith s o i l b e fo re ap p ly in g t o p re v e n t
d r i f t i n g o r blow ing.

The f e r t i l i z e r and s o i l f o r each p l o t was d iv id e d

in to f o u r eq u al p a r t s and each p a r t o r o n e -fo u rth was sown o v er th e e n t ir e
p lo t to g iv e a more even d i s t r i b u t i o n and a s su re no s k ip s .

On a l l p lo ts

re c e iv in g 60, 120 and 180 l b s . of n itro g e n p e r a c re , 20 l b s . of th e
n itro g e n was a p p lie d a t th e same tim e th e phosphate and p o ta s t were
a p p lie d .

Hie rem ainder o f th e n itro g e n o r th e 40, 100 and 160 l b s . was

ap p lie d as a s id e d re s s in g on June 30 when th e p la n ts were about 12”
high on th e b e t t e r p l o t s and 3” to 4" high on th e p o o re r p l o t s .

Hie

n itro g e n was a p p lie d in a band 12" to 18” vd.de between th e rows.
P la n tin g , C u ltiv a tin g , and Thinning
Hie p lo ts were 16.5* wide and 2 6 .5 ' long w ith f iv e 40" rows p e r p lo t
Hie th r e e c e n te r rows were used f o r a l l m easurem ents.

Hie sorghum was

p la n te d th ic k w ith a se e d e r to in s u re a good stan d and was th in n e d to 4
in ch es between p la n ts in th e row on June 23.

A m easuring s tic k was used

in th e th in n in g , to in s u re equal d is ta n c e between p l a n t s .
a lle y s between p l o t s .

Hi ere were no

Hie sorghum was c u ltiv a te d th re e tim e s, once w ith

a r o ta ry hoe when 2" h ig h and tw ice w ith a r e g u la r c u l t i v a t o r .
Plainsm an, s. dwarf g ra in sorghum v a r i e t y , was used which i s recom­
mended f o r V ir g in ia as a combine sorghum.

Hie sorghum was p la n te d on

May 15 which i s th e recommended p la n tin g d a te f o r th e a re a *
in e x c e lle n t p h y s ic a l c o n d itio n when th e sorghum was p la n te d .
m o istu re'w as p re s e n t th ro u g h o u t th e growing seaso n .

Hie s o i l was
Ample

-1 0 RESULTS and DISCUSSION
The E f f e c t o f F e r t i l i z a t i o n on th e H eight o f th e P la n ts
The p la n t h e ig h t i s th e average o f t h r e e r e p lic a te s w ith 100
p la n ts measured from two rows o f each p lo t*
a t o t a l o f 300 p la n t s were measured*
J u ly 8 , August 5 and Septem ber 20*

T h e re fo re , f o r each tre a tm e n t

The p la n t h e ig h t was measured on

The r e s u l t s a re shown in T able 1 and

F ig u re 1 .

The s t a t i s t i c a l a n a ly s is i s g iven i n T ables 2 and 3*

Table 1 . -

The average h e ig h t o f p l a n ts i n inches*

Treatm ent *
N - P205 0 1 —
2 3 0 1 —
2 —
3 0 -- '
1 -2 3 m .
0 1

—

2
3

-

*

o
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
^ ...

1
1
1
1

—

—
:. .—

'- - r i
-

-

J u ly 8

August 5

5.77
5.59
5.90
5 .9 0
7.23
6.24
6.44
6 .1 0
11.39
13.24
14.27
15.60
11.94
14.09
13.90
12.74

26.6
23.0
23.9
27.2
26.4
27.0
25.5
24.2
41 .4
4 5 .4
4 4 .8
4 4 .5
40.6
4 4 .7
42.9
4 4 .2

Septem ber 20

k 20
o
0
0
0
1
I
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1

.

See page 7 f o r tre a tm e n ts p e r acre*

28.0
24.0
25.0
25.7
26.5
26.0
25.9
26.0
4 2 .0
4 5 .1
4 5 .0
4 7 .1 _
41 .0
4 6 .3
4 4 .0
43 .5

-11Table 2

Anal ys i s o f v a ria n c e o f th e h e ig h t o f th e p la n ts
i n in ch e s on J u ly 8 *

Source

D.F.

Blocks
W
F ■
K
HP •
HK
HC
HFK
E rro r
T o ta l

S .S .
14.67
8.36
630.75
.19
17.62
9.85
4.08
2.77
36.69
724.98

3
1
1
3
1
3
27
47

M.S.
2.93
2.79
630.75**(+)
.19
5.87* (+)
3.28
4.08
.92
1.36

♦ S ig n if ic a n t a t 5% p o in t
♦ ♦ S ig n ific a n t a t 1% p o in t
(+) in c r e a s e s
(-) d e c r e a s e s

Table 3 . -

A n aly sis o f v a ria n c e o f th e h e ig h t of th e p la n ts
i n in c h e s on August 5#

Source
Blocks
H
•P
K
HP
HK
PK
HHC
E rro r
T o ta l

D .F.
.

' . .

-•

5
3
1
1
3
3
1
3
27
47

S .S .
:

♦ S ig n ific a n t a t 5% p o in t
♦ ♦ S ig n ific a n t a t 1% p o in t
C+) in c r e a s e s
( - )d e c r e a s e s

93.50
13.50
3924.08
.33
54.09
17.17
6.76
16.81
165.76
4292.00

M.S.
18.70
4.50
3924.08**(+)
.33
18.03
5.72
6.76
5.60
6.14

-1 2 -

Phosphorus had more in flu e n c e on t h e h e ig h t o f p la n ts th a n n itro g e n
o r p o ta ssiu m .
grow th.

Phosphorus was th e p r in c ip a l elem ent s tim u la tin g e a r ly

N itro g en a lo n e , po tassiu m alone and n itro g e n -p o ta ssiu m combined

had no s ig n i f i c a n t in flu e n c e on p la n t h e ig h t on J u ly 8 , b u t d ecreased
s l i g h t l y th e h e i g i t on August 5 and September 20 compared t o th e check.
P la n ts grown on n itro g e n -p h o sp h o ru s, and n itro g en -p h o sp h o ru s-p o tassiu m
t r e a t e d p l o t s showed an in c r e a s e i n h e ig h t o v er th o se grown w ith phos­
phorus tre a tm e n t.

P la n ts produced on NjP’jK]' f e r t i l i z e d p l o t s were

t a l l e r th a n p la n ts from

o r N3P^K^ p l o t s .

P otassium alo n e and in com bination w ith n itro g e n and phosphorus had
no s ig n i f i c a n t in flu e n c e on th e h e ig h t which was p ro b ab ly due to a s u f­
f i c i e n t supply o f po tassiu m i n th e 6o i l .
s l i g h t l y when combined w ith NgP^ and NgP^.
between n itro g e n and phosphorus o c c u rre d .

P otassium d ecreased th e h e ig h t
A s ig n i f i c a n t in t e r a c t io n
P la n ts grown on n itro g e n -

phosphorus t r e a t e d p l o t s were t a l l e r th a n p la n ts on phosphorus t r e a te d
p l o t s th ro u g h o u t th e growing se a so n .

N itro g en and phosphorus were both

needed to g iv e p la n ts h e ig h t, w ith phosphorus h aving th e g r e a te s t in ­
flu e n c e .
Of i n t e r e s t i s th e f a c t t h a t n itro g e n had much le s s in flu e n c e on
th e h e ig h t th a n p hosphorus.

-1 3 -

The E f f e c t o f F e r t i l i z a t i o n on S uckering, H eading, M a tu rity , P o llin a tio n
and th e P e rc e n t M oisture i n th e Seed a t H arvest
The average number o f su ck e rs p e r 15 f o o t row was determ ined
September 25, f iv e days b e fo re h a r v e s tin g .

The numbers a re averages f o r

th e th r e e r e p l ic a t e s and th e th r e e c e n te r rows o f each p l o t .

Heading

d a ta were ta k e n from th e same p la n ts a s th e su ck erin g d a ta .

These d a ta

a re p re se n te d i n Table 4 and F ig u re s 2, 3, 4 , and 5 ,
a n a ly s is i s p re se n te d in T ables 5, 6, 7 , and 8 ,
Table 4 , -

—
-

0
0
0
0
0
0

d

0
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

mm

-

S uckering and M a tu rity R ate as In flu en ced by F e r t i l i z a t i o n ,

T reatm ent*
N -P 2O5- K2O

0
1
2
3
0
1
2
3
0
1
2
3
0
1
2
3

The s t a t i s t i c a l

0
0
0
0

i

-■ 1
mm
1
- 1
- 0
- 0
0
mm
0
mm
1
1
- 1
1

Suckers I P e rc e n t
P e rc e n t
p
la
n
ts
brown
per
15 f t ,
f u l l head
heads
row
August 5 August 20

2.22
6,74
7 .9 1
7.97
5.70
4 .2 5
6.31
3 .4 2
11.61
16.06
25.10
13.49
10.00
32.45
37.45
24.70

6 .1
1 .8
1 .7
3 .5
8 .6
4 .6
3 .4
1 .4
6 9.2
85.0
83.3
84.9
6 4 .2
86.5
85.3
8 7 .0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
80.0
95.3
98.0
97.0
92.7
95.3
9 3.7
97.3

* See page 7 f o r tre a tm e n ts p e r a c r e .

P ercen t
suckers
p o llin ­
a tin g
August 20

P e rc e n t
m oisture
i n seed
S e p t. 30

_ .62

40.0
44.6
43.1
39.1
42.4
38.2
39.6
41.4
29.3
27.5
29.0
23.2
26.0
25.7
24.4
28.7

.39 _
3.8
.36
66.2
84.7
88.9
88.1
50.1
83.2
84.3
91.5

.

P e rc e n t
m o istu re
in su ck er
seed
S e p t. 30
4 4 .5
59.4
60.9
62.0
4 9.7
63.3
68.0
38.1
35.9
41.6
33.9
3 7 .7
35.3
34.0
4 1.5
4 2 .0

Table 5 . -

A n a ly sis o f V ariance o f th e Humber o f Suckers p e r
F if te e n F eet o f Row.

Source
Blocks
H
P
K
HP
HK
PK
HPK
E rro r
T o ta l

D .F.
5 3
1
1
3 V
3
1
3
27
47

. , S .S .
:7.7795
13.3245
54.8269
1.6060
4.1499
.2625
4.1419
3.6309
26.9999
116.7220

M.S.—
1.5559
4.4415 *(+)
54.8269**(r+-)
1.6060
1.3833
.0875
4.1419
1.2103
1.0000

♦ S ig n if ic a n t a t 5% p o in t
♦ ♦ S ig n ific a n t a t 1% p o in t
(-+•) in c r e a s e s
(-)d e c re a se s

Table 6 #-

A n aly sis o f V ariance of th e P e rc e n t P la n ts i n F u ll Head
August 5 .

Source
Blocks
H
P
K
HP
HK
PK
HPK
E rro r
T o ta l
♦ S ig n ific a n t a t 5% p o in t
♦ ♦ S ig n ific a n t a t 1^ p o in t
C+) in c r e a s e s
( - ) d e c re a ses

D .F.
5
3
1
1
3
3 .
1
3
27
47

S .S .
11.9507
97.3667
34267.3313
12.5359
326.4915
35.3671
5.1025
38.3138
260.4227
35554.8822

M.S.
2.3901
32.4556 * ( " )
34267.3313**(4-)
12.5359
275.4972** (-f-)
11.7890
5.1025
12.7713
~ 9.6453

-1 5 -

Table 7 . -

A n aly sis o f V ariance o f th e P e rc e n t o f th e Suckers
P o llin a tin g on August 20.

Source

D .F.
5
3
1
1
3
3
1
3
27
47

Blocks
ST
P
K
BP
HK
PK
HPK
E rro r
T o ta l

M.S.

S .S .

74.7080
107.7226
45896.4114**(+)
3.8307
549.7949 *(+}
"
8.4587
60.7951
59.8492
141.5952

373*5402
323.1680
45896.4114
3.8307
1649.3847
25.3762
60.7951
179.5476
3823.0717
52155.5780

♦ S ig n if ic a n t a t 5$ p o in t
♦ ♦ S ig n ific a n t a t if* p o in t
( ^ in c re a s e s
(-)d e c re a .se s

Table 8 «-

A n aly sis o f V ariance o f t h e P e rc e n t M oisture in th e
Seed^ When Cut September 30#

Source
Blocks
N
P
K
HP
HK
PK
HPK
E rro r
T o ta l

D .F.

'

♦ S ig n ific a n t a t 5}£ p o in t
♦ ♦ S ig n ific a n t a t 1% p o in t
(+ ) in c r e a s e s
(- )d e c r e a s e s

5
3
1
1
3
3
1
3
27
47

M.S.'

S .S .
13.3648
4.4940
914.7293
6.1776
1.0571
49.9242
.0332
12.6901
44.2049
1046,6753

-

2.6730
1.4980
914.7293 * * (-)
6.1776
.3524
16.6414 *(+)
.0332
4.2300
1.6372

-1 6 -

Suckering*

N itro g e n alo n e and phosphorus alone in c re a se d s i g n i f i ­

c a n tly th e amount o f su ck e rin g compared to no tre a tm e n t*

N itro g en -p h o s-

phorus in c re a se d th e su c k e rin g above phosphorus alo n e and n itro g e n p h ospherus-potassium in c re a s e d su ck erin g above nitrogen-phosphorus*
P la n ts on p l o t s t r e a t e d w ith NgPx orN gPjK x showed an in c re a s e i n
su c k erin g above p la n ts grown on p l o ts to which Njp-j/ o r HjPjK-l was
a p p lie d ;

b ut p la n ts on p l o t s re c e iv in g NgF^ and

th a n p la n ts on p l o t s re c e iv in g N ^ i o r W

s u c k e r e d le s s

l*

I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o te t h a t a ls o th e y ie ld was low er on NgP-^ and
NgF-jKi t r e a t e d p l o t s th a n NgP-^ o r NgP-jKx f e r t i l i z e d p lo ts *

Corn and
/_

b a rle y y ie ld s in V ir g in ia have shown s im ila r r e s u l t s i n c e r ta in e x p e ri­
ments*
S uckering i s in c re a se d p r im a r ily by phosphorus and n itro g e n *

There

were no s ig n i f i c a n t in t e r a c t io n s w ith NP, NK, PK o r NFK*
H eading and F e l l i n a t i n g :

The e a r l in e s s o f h ead in g and p o l l i n a tio n

showed a h ig h ly s ig n i f i c a n t in c re a s e from th e phosphorus tre atm e n t*
N itro g en alo n e d ecreased s i g n i f i c a n t l y th e e a r lin e s s o f heading*

N itro -

gen-phosphorus in c re a se d s i g n i f i c a n t l y th e e a r lin e s s compared to phos­
phorus f e r t i l i z a t i o n alone*
p o l l i n a t i o n and heading*

P otassium had no e f f e c t on th e d a te o f

In cre a se d r a t e s o f n itro g e n above 60 pounds

p e r a c re had no in flu e n c e on t h e d a te s o f h ead in g o r p o llin a tio n *

Of

i n t e r e s t i s th e f a c t t h a t th e sorghum on p l o t s f e r t i l i z e d w ith n itro g e n phosphorus headed and p o llin a te d e a r l i e r th a n p la n ts grown on phosphorus
f e rtiliz e d p lo ts •

T h is f a c t showed t h a t n itro g e n d id n o t d e la y m a tu rity

-1 7 -

i f p ro p e rly balanced w ith phosphorus and p o tassiu m .

There was a

s ig n i f i c a n t i n t e r a c t io n between n itro g e n and phosphorus.
M a tu rity and M oisture p e rc e n t i n th e G rain:

The g ra in was h a r ­

v e ste d on September 30 which was f iv e days a f t e r th e f i r s t k i l l i n g
fro s t.

The g r a in co n tain ed to o much m o istu re to th r a s h w ith a r e g u la r

head t h r a s h e r .

E ig h t h eads from each p l o t were th ra sh e d by hand and

th e m o istu re p e rc e n t d eterm in ed .

G rain produced on p lo ts t r e a t e d w ith

n itr o g e n alo n e and p o tassiu m alone co n tain ed approxim ately th e same
p e rc e n t m o istu re as th e g r a in on no tre a tm e n t p l o t s .

G rain from phos­

phorus t r e a t e d p l o t s co n tain ed t e n p e rc e n t l e s s m o istu re th a n seed from
th e check p l o t which was s i g n i f i c a n t .

Seed from n itro g en -p h o sp h o ru s

t r e a t e d p l o t s showed a low er m o istu re c o n te n t th a n seed from th e phos­
phorus tre a tm e n t a lo n e .

There i s an in d ic a tio n t h a t potassium w ith

phosphorus o r p otassium w ith n itro g en -p h o sp h o ru s gave g ra in w ith a
s l i g h t l y d ecreased m o istu re c o n te n t.

In c re a se d r a t e s o f n itro g e n d id

n o t in flu e n c e s i g n i f i c a n t l y th e p e rc e n t m o istu re i n th e g ra in a t h a r ­
v e s t.

N itro g e n -p o tassiu m t r e a t e d p l o t s developed g r a in w ith a s i g n i f i ­

c a n tly h i ^ i e r m o istu re c o n te n t a t h a rv e s t th a n g ra in from p l o t s f e r t i l i z e d
w ith n itro g e n o r po tassiu m a lo n e .
F e r t i l i z a t i o n shows th e same e f f e c t on m a tu rity a s on head in g and
p e rc e n t m o istu re i n seed a t h a r v e s t.

N itro g en h a s te n s m a tu rity when

b alan ced w ith phosphorus on a s o i l w e ll su p p lied w ith p o ta s h .

D uring

1947 and 1948 th e s e r e s u l t s were d u p lic a te d w ith co rn on exp erim en tal
p l o t 8 i n V ir g in ia .

-1 8 -

Suckers*

The su ck ers headed, p o llin a te d and m atured ap p ro x im ately

two weeks l a t e r th a n th e r e g u la r heads*

The in flu e n c e o f f e r t i l i z a t i o n

on th e s e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s i s n e a r ly th e same as f o r th e r e g u la r heads
b u t i s n o t as c o n s is te n t*

-1 9 -

The E f f e c t o f F e r t i l i z a t i o n on th e Average W eight o f Head, W eight o f
Seed P e r H ead,; W eight of Seed P e r Sucker Head, Y/eight o f 100 Seed
from R eg u lar and Sucker H eads, P e rc e n t G erm ination o f Seed A f te r Dry
(12$ m o istu re) and th e R e la tio n of th e Weight o f th e Head t o th e
Weight o f th e Seed*
A ll measurements were made w ith seed a t 12$ m oisture#

The r e ­

s u l t s a re given i n Table 9 and F ig u re s 6, 7 , 8 , 9 , 10, 11, and 12*
S t a t i s t i c a l a n a ly se s o f th e measurements are given in Tables 10, 11,
12, and 13#
Table 9#-

The E f f e c t o f F e r t i l i z a t i o n on th e Heads, Seed and Germ ination#

T reatm ent * W t.P er Wt.Seed
per
W -P 205- k 2o Head
Grains
Head
Grams
Q1 2 3 o; l 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 - 1 2 3 —
*

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
x

1
1

mm

mm

-

0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1

See page 7

4 8 .5
4 1 .2
3 7.1
4 1 .7
4 6 .2
41 #2
4 4 .4
3 5 .8
68.9
6 4 .8
8 1 .1
75.2
6 1 .2
7 2 .0
6 7 .0
7 3.4

35.8
24,0
26.3
33.1
3 9.0
34.9
3 6 .2
27.2
4 7.6
52.5
62.5
5 6 .2
4 8 .5
4 8 .5
4 7 .6
5 6 .2

Wt.Seed
w t.head
p e rc e n t

81.9
81.9
8 1 .0
83.3
81.9
82.3
8 1 .4
8 2 .2
83.3
8 1.8
8 2 .0
80.5
8 1 .2
8 1 .2
8 2.3
8 1 .4

f o r tre a tm e n ts p e r acre#

W t.seed
per
sucker
head Grams

Wt.100
Seed
Grams

11.8
10.4
9 .1
16.8
16.3
16 .8
15.6
13.1
16.3
23.6
24.5
26.7
23.1
26.3
22.2
21.7

2.40
2.08
2.22
2.16
2.42
2.34
2.30
2.10
2S.58
2.69
2.85
2.74
2.62
2.66
2.72
2.80

Wt.100 Germin­
seed
a tio n
from
p e rc e n t
suckers
grams
1.98
1.79
1.72
,1.74
1.94
1.73
1.88
2.01
2.27
2.25
2.57
2.41
2.09
2.41
2.41
2.44

87.9
83.3
79.6
88.1
86.9
88.0
8 7 .2
92.3
94.0
94.9
91.9
96.3
9 5.1
93.3
91.8
9 1.7

-2 0 Table 1 0 .-

A n aly sis o f V arian cs o f th e Weight P e r Head
a t 12$ M o istu re.

D.F.

Source

5
3
1
1
3
3
1
3
27
47

Blocks
H
P
K
HP
HK
FK
HPK
E rro r
T o ta l

S .S .
.0017
.0002
•0469
.0003
•0028
.0006
.0002
.0014
.0046
.0587

_

M.S.
.00033
.00007
.04688**(+)
.00028
.00094 *(+ )
.00021
.00023
.00047
.00017

>

♦ S ig n if ic a n t a t 5$ p o in t
♦ ♦ S ig n ific a n t a t 1$ p o in t
(rf-) in c r e a s e s
( - ) d e c re a se s

Table 1 1 .-

A n aly sis o f V ariance o f th e W eight o f th e Seed
P e r Head a t 12$ M o istu re .

Source
Block8
E
P
K
HP
HK
PK
HPK
E rro r
t T o ta l
*
♦ S ig n ific a n t a t 5$ p o in t
♦ ♦ S ig n ific a n t a t 5$ p o in t
(-(^ in creases
(- ) d s c r e a s e s

D .F.

S .S .

5
3
1
1
3
3
1
3
27
47

.000387
.000429
.024843
.000004
.002191
.000398
.001046
.001529
.003617
•034444

M.S.
.000077
.000143
.024843**(+)
.000004
.000730 *(+)
.000133
.001046 *(+)
.000510 * ( - )
.000134

21T able 1 2 .-

A n a ly s is o f V a ria n ce of th e P e rc e n t o f Head W eight
I s S e e d s.

Source

D .F .

B locks
H
P
K
HP
HK
PK
HFK
E rro r
T o ta l

5
3

S .S .

M .S.

23.60
1 .5 2

4 .7 2
.5 1

1

.8 8

.8 8

1

.0 5

.0 5
2.2 3
1 .4 4
.0 7
4 .6 6
3 .5 5

3
3
1

3
27
47

6 .6 8

4 .3 1
.0 7
13.99
9 5 .6 2
14 6 .7 5

■ ^S ig n ifican t a t 5% p o in t
^ S i g n i f i c a n t a t 1% p o in t
(+ )in c r e a s e s ( - ) d e c r e a s e s
T able 1 3 .-

A n a ly s is o f V arian ce o f t h e W eight o f 100 Sorghum K e rn e ls .

Source
B locks
K
P
K
HP
M
PK
HPK
E rro r
T o ta l
.

■ ^ S ig n if ic a n t a t 5 fa p o i n t
* * S i g n i f i c a n t a t l/£ p o i n t
(-f)in c r e a s e s
(-)d e c r e a se s

D .F .
5
3
1
1

3
3
1

3
27
47

S .S .
.057231
.062115
2.485666
.010414
.333069
.035115
.021973
.055322
.353912
3.414817

M.S.
.011446
.020705
2.485666**(+)
.010414
.111023 *(+ )
.011705
.021973
.018441
.013108
-

22-

Table 1 4 , - A n aly sis o f V ariance o f th e P erc e n t G erm ination
o f th e Seed,

Source

: D .F,

B locks
N
‘
P
K
UP
HK
PK
HPK
E rro r
T o ta l

♦ S ig n ific a n t a t 5% p o in t
♦ ♦ S ig n ific a n t a t 1% p o in t
(+) in c r e a s e s
( - ) d e c rea se s

5
3
1
1

3
3
1

3
27
47

S .S .
92,7949
116.1318
545.4008
7.8085
26.9593
22.3159
70.4222
37.9469
533.3847
1453.1650

M.S.,
1.8559
38.7106
545.4008**(+)
7.8085
8.9864
7.4386
70.4222
12.6490
19.7550

23Weigfrt P e r Heads

Heads produced on p l o t s t r e a t e d w ith n itro g e n

alo n e were l i g h t e r th a n th o s e from th e u n f e r t i l i z e d p lo t*

Heads from

n itro g e n -p o ta s siu ra t r e a t e d p lo ts were s l i g h t l y l i g i t e r th a n h eads from
p l o t 8 f e r t i l i s e d w ith p o tassiu m alo n e o r th e cheek.
n itr o g e n alo n e had no in flu e n c e *

In c re a se d r a te s o f

Heads from phosphorus t r e a t e d p l o t s

were s i g n i f i c a n t l y h e a v ie r th a n th o s e from no tre atm e n t*

The n itro g e n -

phosphorus t r e a t e d p l o t s produced h ead s s i g n i f i c a n t l y h e a v ie r th a n th o se
grown on p l o t s t r e a t e d w ith phosphorus alone*

Hie n e c e s s ity o f h aving

an adequate supply o f n itro g e n and phosphorus to produce th e h e a v ie s t
head was ev id e n t even though phosphorus had th e g r e a te s t in flu e n c e on
th e w eig h t o f th e head*

Phosphorus and n itro g en -p h o sp h o ru s had a s ig n i­

f ic a n t in flu e n c e on th e w eight p e r head*
Die w eight o f seed p e r h ead , w eight o f seed p e r su ck er h ead , w eight
o f 100 seed from r e g u la r h ead s and w eight o f 100 seed from su ck er h ead s
showed n e a r ly th e same e f f e c t from f e r t i l i z a t i o n a s d id th e w e ig it p e r
head*
F e r t i l i z a t i o n had no in flu e n c e on th e r e l a t i o n o f th e w eight o f
h eads t o t h e w eight o f seed s p e r head*
G erm inations

Die p e rc e n t g e rm in a tio n was determ ined by germ in atin g

th e seed i n a sta n d a rd germ ination*
Die e f f e c t o f v a rio u s tre a tm e n ts on t h e g erm in a tio n does n o t p re s e n t
a tr e n d from which c o n c lu sio n s may h e drawn f o r a l l tre a tm e n ts*

Die

average p e rc e n t g erm in a tio n o f th e seed from a l l p l o t s f e r t i l i z e d w ith
phosphorus i s 93*63/° and from a l l p l o t s w ith o u t phosphorus f e r t i l i z a t i o n
i s 8 6 *6

6

Seed produced on phosphorus t r e a t e d p l o t s showed a s i g n i f i ­

c an t in c re a s e i n th e p e rc e n t g erm in a tio n compared t o seed produced on

-2 4 -

p l o t s re c e iv in g no phosphorus*
Seed from phosphorus t r e a t e d p l o t s gave a q u ick er g erm in atio n
th a n seed from p l o t s re c e iv in g no phosphorus f e r t i l i s a t i o n *

I n Table

18 i t i s shown t h a t seed from phosphorus t r e a t e d p l o t s co n tain ed
s ig n i f i c a n t l y mors P2O5 and i n Table 1 i t i s shown t h a t phosphorus in ­
c re a s e s th e e a r ly growth*

Thus i t i s seen t h a t phosphorus p la y s a

v i t a l r o le from g erm in atio n t o m atu rity *
The E f f e c t o f F e r t i l i z a t i o n on th e P e rc e n t o f th e Leaves Browning and
D rying on September 10, P rev alen ce o f D isease and Y ield i n B ushels P e r
: A cre,
Counts were made o f th e number o f le a v e s browning on September 10*
Ore t o t a l number o f le a v e s browning in two f i f t e e n f o o t rows o f each p l o t
were counted and t h e p e rc e n t determ ined*

The number of d ise a se d p la n ts

were counted i n two f i f t e e n f o o t rows o f each p l o t and th e t o t a l number
o f d ise a se d p la n ts i n 30 f e e t o f row was recorded*

The y ie ld was d e te r ­

mined by h a r v e s tin g two f i f t e e n fo o t rows from each p l o t , d ry in g th e
h eads and seed t o 12/£ m o istu re and th e n th ra s h in g and weighing*
were c a lc u la te d i n b u sh e ls (56 lb s* ) p e r acre*

The y ie ld s

The r e s u l t s o f th e s e

d e te rm in a tio n s a r e p re se n te d i n Table 15 and F ig u re s 13, 14, and 15*
S t a t i s t i c a l a n a ly s is o f th e d e te rm in a tio n s i s p re se n te d i n T ables 16 and
17.

-2 5 -

T able 1 5 .-

She E f f e c t o f F e r t i l i z a t i o n on th e Browning o f th e L eaves,
Amount o f D isease and Y ie ld .

T reatm ent *
. . . . . . . . . . .

0
1
2
3
0
1
2
3
6
1
2
3
0
1
2
3
*

- 0 - 0
- 0 - 0
- 0 - 0
- 0 - 0
- 0 - 1
- 0 - 1
- 0 - 1
- 0 - 1
- 1 - 0
- 1 - 0
- 1 - 0
- 1 - 0
- 1 - 1
- 1 - 1
- 1 - 1
- 1 - 1

Brown le a v e s
S e p t. 10 p e rc e n t

Y ield-B ushels
Humber D iseased
P e r Acre
P la n ts - 30* Row
12. 0£ m o istu re
S e p t. 10

16.0
13.0
10.0
6.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
36.0
20.0
10.0
10.0
37.0
16.0
10.0
6.0

See page 7 f o r tre a tm e n ts p e r a c r e .

.9 7
.65
.75
.64
.63
1.11
.67
.78
1.64
2.88
2.41
2.89
2.30
2.60
3.76
2.16

4 5 .2
27.2
27.2
35.8
40.3
4 4 .7
42.3
33.2
55.5
65.4
89.9
8 0 .2
56.2
8 2.5
72.3 '
7 2.5

26-

Table- ,16.~, . A n a ly s is o f V a ria n ce o f t h e Number o f D isea sed P la n ts
P e r 30 F e e t o f Row*

Source

D .F .

B locks

5
3

F

1
.

NP
m
PK
NPK
E rro r
T o ta l

1

3
- 3 K■

■

1

3
27
47

. S .S .

M.S. v

9.8380
1.8773
39.1324
.2611
2.1735
1.3239
.1323
2.0820
16.3476
73.1681

1.9676
.6258
39.1324**(+ )
.2611
.7245
.4413
.1323
.6940
.6055

♦ S ig n if ic a n t a t 5f0 p o in t
♦ ♦ S ig n if ic a n t a t 1% p o in t
( + ) in c r e a s e s
( - ) d e c re a s e s
T ab le 1 7 .-

A n a ly s is o f V a ria n ce o f t h e Y ie ld i n B u sh e ls P e r Acre
a t 12^ M o istu re*

Source

d .f

B locks
P
■K- HP
NK
PK
NPK
E rro r
T o ta l

5
3
~ ?

,-y.

•

.

" S .S .

■:

1
1

3
3
1

;

3
27
- 47

♦ S i g n i f i c a n t a t 5% p o i n t
♦ ♦ S i g n i f i c a n t a t 1% p o i n t
(+ ) in c r e a s e s
( - ) d ecreases

■

193.39
4 8 0 .3 1
14560.33
58.08
1988.42
1 930.94
1 99.27
4 3 2 .1 0
188.66
19024.50

M .S.
38.68-M?1 6 0 .1 0 * * (-)
14560.33**(+ )
5 8 .0 8 * * (-)
662.81**(+ )
3 1 0 .3 1 * * (-)
1 9 9 .2 7 * * (-)
1 4 4 .0 3 * 4 - )
6.7 3

27-

Browning o f leav esx

Sorghum produced on p l o t s f e r t i l i s e d w ith

n itro g e n alo n e showed l e s s browning th a n t h a t produced on th e check*

A

d e c re a se o f browning g e n e r a lly o ccu rred a s th e r a te o f n itro g e n was i n ­
creased*

The amount o f browning of th e le a v e s was sm all on p la n ts from

a l l p l o t s ex cep t w ith phosphorus alo n e and w ith phosphorus-potassium
tre a tm e n ts *

The p la n ts on th e s e two p l o t s showed a h ig h p e rc e n t of

browned leav es*

The p l a n t s on th e u n f e r t i l i s e d p lo t showed much le s s

browning th a n th e p la n ts on th e phosphorus alo n e o r phosp h o ru s-p o tas­
sium t r e a t e d p lo ts *

T h is i s t o be expected sin c e th e check p l o t re ­

ceiv ed no phosphorus to s tim u la te growth and encourage th e development
o f n itro g e n d e ficien c y *

The p e rc e n t o f le a v e s browning Showed t h a t 60

pounds o f n itro g e n w ith phosphorue o r w ith phosphorus-potassium was n o t
s u f f i c i e n t t o p rev e n t browning b u t t h a t p la n ts on p l o t s t r e a t e d w ith
120 pounds o f n itro g e n showed no in c re a s e i n browning compared t o le a v e s
from p la n ts produced on p l o t s re c e iv in g 180 pounds o f n itro g e n *
T issu e t e s t s (Purdue method) f o r n itr o g e n , phosphorus and p o tassium
were made on p la n ts from a l l p l o t s on J u ly 24, August 20 and Septem ber 20*
P la n ts on a l l p l o t s showed h ig h i n n itro g e n and po tassiu m on J u ly 24*
P la n ts on p l o t s re c e iv in g no phosphorus showed v e ry low i n phosphorus;
b u t p la n ts on phosphorus f e r t i l i z e d p l o t s showed high*
On August 20 p la n ts on a l l p l o t s showed high in potassium *
t e s t s f o r phosphorus gave th e same r e s u l t s as on J u ly 24*

T issue

P la n ts grown

on p l o t 8 re c e iv in g phosphorus and phosphorus-potassium f e r t i l i z a t i o n
gave & low t e s t f o r n itro g e n *
medium t o h ig h in n itro g e n *

P la n ts from a l l th e o th e r p l o t s showed

-28«
The Septem ber 10*t i s s u e t e s t s p r e s e n te d a changed p i c t u r e f o r
n itro g e n #

The p l a n t s from t h e p l o t r e c e iv in g no f e r t i l i z e r gave a

medium t e s t f o r n itr o g e n #
a ls o from N-jK^,
n itr o g e n #
P-jKi

P la n ts from

N2 » and K3 tr e a tm e n ts and

and NgK-^ tr e a tm e n ts showed h ig h t o v e ry h i ^ i i n

The t i s s u e t e s t showed no n itr o g e n in th e p l a n t s from

f e r t i l i z e d p lo ts #

n itr o g e n b u t p l a n t s from

P la n ts from th e

and

tr e a tm e n ts t e s t e d low i n

tr e a tm e n ts showed h ig h #

P la n ts from phosp h o ru s t r e a t e d p l o t s s t i l l t e s t e d h ig h b u t p l a n t s
on p l o t s r e c e iv in g no p hosphorus showed none i n t h e p l a n t .

T h is t e s t

i n d i c a t e s t h a t p hosphorus was v e ry d e f i c i e n t i n t h i s s o i l ; b u t t h a t th e
r a t e o f 240 l b s . o f F 2 O5 p e r a c r e was ample t o p re v e n t any d e f ic ie n c y o f
phosphorus#

P la n ts from p l o t s n o t r e c e iv in g p h o sp h o ru s showed phos­

p h o ru s d e f ic ie n c y symptoms; b u t no such symptoms w ere found on p l a n t s
produced on phosphorus t r e a t e d p lo ts #
On Septem ber 10, p l a n t s from a l l p l o t s showed h ig h i n p o ta ss iu m .
The t e s t shows t h a t ample p o ta ss iu m was p r e s e n t i n t h e s o i l b e fo re th e
120

1b

. a p p lic a tio n o f KgO was made#

The t i s s u e t e s t s f o r n itr o g e n c o r r e l a t e q u ite c lo s e ly w ith th e
p e r c e n t brown le a v e s on Septem ber 10#
D ise a se s

P la n ts w ere o b serv ed a t m a tu r ity which b ro k e a t th e

ground l e v e l and had a d ry s t a l k .

The p l a n t p a th o l o g i s t examined t h e s e

s t a l k s and d ia g n o se d t h e d is e a s e a s a h th ra c n o s e .

W ith th e h e lp o f t h e

p l a n t p a t h o l o g i s t , c o u n ts f o r d is e a s e d p l a n t s w ere made on a l l p l o t s
Septem ber 10#

The r e s u l t s o f t h e c o u n ts a re d i f f i c u l t t o i n t e r p r e t due

t o t h e i r in c o n s is te n c y , how ever, s i g n i f i c a n t l y more d is e a s e d p l a n t s
w ere found on p l o t s t r e a t e d w ith phosphorus#

No re a so n can be g iv e n f o r

-2 9 -

i h i s e x ce p t t h a t sorghum on p l o t s r e c e iv in g p h o sp h o ru s was more
v ig o ro u s and p ro b a b ly more s u c c u le n t and th u s more s u s c e p tib le t o th e
d is e a s e .

Work by p la n t p a t h o l o g i s t s i n V ir g i n i a , h ow ever, shov/s t h a t

g e n e r a lly th e more v ig o ro u s p l a n t s on w e ll f e r t i l i z e d s o i l a r e more r e ­
s i s t a n t to d is e a s e r a t h e r th a n more s u s c e p tib le a s shown h e r e .
Y ie ld s
e s tin g .

The e f f e c t o f t h e tr e a tm e n ts on t h e y i e l d i s q u ite i n t e r ­

The f a c t t h a t a 45 b u s h e l y i e l d was se c u re d on th e check p l o t

i s u n u s u a l.

N itro g e n a lo n e d e c re a se d t h e y i e l d s i g n i f i c a n t l y compared

t o no f e r t i l i z e r .

P la n ts ho n itr o g e n a lo n e p l o t s d id n o t d e v elo p a s

good h e a d s a s th o s e on t h e check p l o t s .

A p p a re n tly , th e u n b alan ced

n u t r i e n t c o n d itio n due t o t h e e x ce ss n itr o g e n had a d e tr im e n ta l e f f e c t
on seed fo rm a tio n .

The n itr o g e n may h av e s tim u la te d fo ra g e grow th

which u sed up t h e a v a i l a b l e pho sp h o ru s r e s u l t i n g i n a d e f ic ie n c y o f
a v a il a b le p hosphorus f o r seed fo rm a tio n .
P la n ts from p l o t s f e r t i l i z e d w ith p o ta ssiu m a lo n e and n itr o g e n p o ta ssiu m d e c re a se d th e y i e l d s i g n i f i c a n t l y below th e y i e l d s from th e
no tr e a tm e n t p l o t s .

T h is i s p o s s ib ly due t o an u n b a lan c e d n u t r i e n t

su p p ly w ith a d e f ic ie n c y o f pho?> h o r u s .'
P la n ts grown on phosp h o ru s t r e a t e d p l o t s gave s i g n i f i c a n t l y h ig h e r
y i e l d s th a n th o s e grown on t h e c h ec k , n i t r o g e n , p o ta ss iu m o r n i tr o g e n p o ta ssiu m t r e a t m e n t s .

T h is shows two th i n g s :

( l ) th e d e f ic ie n c y o f

phosp h o ru s i n t h i s s o i l and ( 2 ) th e n e c e s s i t y o f p h o sp h o ru s f o r seed
p r o d u c tio n .

N itro g e n -p h o sp h o ru s tr e a tm e n ts gave s i g n i f i c a n t in c r e a s e s

i n th e y i e l d above phosp h o ru s a lo n e which a ls o d e m o n stra te s t h e im p o rt­
ance o f n itr o g e n i n seed p ro d u c tio n when ample p h o sp h o ru s i s p r e s e n t . .
P la n ts produced on t h e N'jP^ f e r t i l i z e d p l o t s gave a lo w e r y i e l d

-3 0 -

th a n th e p l a n t s from th e NgPi t r e a t e d p l o t s .

However t h e p l a n t s on

t h e N2 P i p l o t s gave a h ig h e r y i e l d th a n th e p l a n ts on t h e

p lo ts .

Of i n t e r e s t i s t h e - f a c t t h a t t h e h ig h e s t y i e l d from p l o t s t r e a t e d w ith
NPK came from t h e

tr e a tm e n t and n o t from th e E g P ^ i o r ^ 3 ^ 1 ^ l

t r e a tm e n ts .
The reduced y i e l d from p l o t s tre a te c h -w ith NsPjj NgPiKi and NgPjK^
compared to th e y i e l d from th e NgPj and ThjP-jK^ tr e a tm e n ts may he due
t o a d i r e c t o r i n d i r e c t e f f e c t o f an u n b alan ced n u t r i e n t s u p p ly .

The

d e c re a se d y ie ld from p l o t s r e c e iv in g t h e h ig h r a t e s o f n itr o g e n was n o t
caused by d e la y e d m a tu r ity and f r o s t damage.
P o ta ssiu m tr e a tm e n ts had a d e p r e s s in g e f f e c t on th e y i e l d .

■She E f f e c t o f F e r t i l i z a t i o n on t h e N itro g e n , Phosphorus and P o ta ssiu m
C ontent o f t h e S eed.
N itro g e n , p hosphorus and p o ta ssiu m d e te r m in a tio n s were made
a c c o rd in g to a m ic ro -c h e m ic a l p ro c e d u re (13) a f t e r a sh in g t h e m a te r ia l
i n an e l e c t r i c f u r n a c e .

P o ta ssiu m was d e term in e d by th e d i r e c t re a d in g

method u s in g th e Perfcin-E lm er flam e p h o to m e te r.
o f a com posite sam ple o f seed from each p l o t .

The a n a ly s i s was made

.'.The r e s u l t s o f th e

a n a ly s is a re g iv e n in T ab le 18 and F ig u r e s 1 6 , 17 and 1 3 .
a n a ly s is o f th e r e s u l t s i s g iv en i n T a b le s 1 9 , 20 and 21.

S ta tis tic a l

-3 1 -

TablS I S .-

The P e rc e n t F itro g e n , FgOs and KgO i n th e Seed*

T reatm ent **
F -P 2 0 5- K g O

0

-

1
2 3 .0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 -

0
"0
0

-

0
0
0
0
0
1

mm

m
-

2 .1

0

2 .3 ..
2.3
2.5

0
0
1
1
1

1

-

0

1

.

0
0

mm

2 .0

1

mr

1

Re =;ular Seed
P e rc e n t P e rc e n t P e rc e n t
F
k 2o
P 2°5

0

1

1 ■1 1 -

'

0

•

1
1

1
1

2.3
2 .4
2 .5
1 .5
2 .4 .
2 .5
2 .7
1.8
2.3
2.5
2.6

.

.48
.50
.52
.5 2
.51
.50
.5 1
.51
.68
.77
.80
.81
.61
.71
.77
.78

.41
.4 4
.4 4
.4 0
.39
.4 2
.41
.43
.41
.4 2
.43
.43
.43
.40
.45
.43 .

S u ck er Seec
P e rc e n t P e r c e n t P e rc e n t
k 2o
F
P 2°5
2 .04
2 .3 4
2.36
2.23
1.96
2.03
2.16
2.40
2 .0 2
2 .1 0
2 .1 0

2 .3 5
1 .6 1
1.7 3
2 .1 0

2.1 7

.57
.63
.56
.63
.51
.59
.59
.61
.6 5 .
.50
.69 •
.7 1
.67
.58
.6 4
.69

.44.
.51
.4 7
.59
.41
.39
.48 "
.49
.4 4
.45
.39
. .4 2 .
.45
.40
.43
.40

* Oven dry b a s is .
** See page 7 f o r tre a tm e n ts p e r a c r e .
Table 1 9 .-

A n a ly sis o f V ariance o f th e P ercen t N itro g e n in th e Seed
(Oven Dry B asis)

Source
Blocks
F
P
K
FP
NK
PK
• NPK
E rro r
T o ta l '

D .F. .

__

. 5
3
1
" 1
3
3
1
3
27
47

- ^ S i g n i f i c a n t a t 5% p o i n t
. ■ ^ S i g n i f i c a n t a t lf« p o i n t
(+ ) in c r e a s e s
( - ) d ec r e a s e s

S .S .
1.0708
15.1338
.0001
.1398
2.4048
.1502
- .0275
.3861
3.4805
22.7936

M.S.
.2142
5.0446**C+)
.0001
•1398- .8016 * (^ )
.0501
.0275
.1287
.1289

-3 2 -

T ab le 2 0 .-

A n a ly s is o f 'V ariance o f t h e P e rc e n t P 2 O5 i n th e S eed .
(Oven Dry B a s is )

S ource

D .F .

B locks
E
P
K
W
m
PK
NPK; ,
E rro r
T o ta l

5
3
1
1

3
3
1

3
27
47

S .S .
.3262 “
.6157
8.9355
.0540
.3747
.0024
.0808
.0299
1.0530
11.4722

M .S.
.0652
.2052 ■K-^'4 ')
8.9355- sk=-(+)
.0540
.1249 *(+ )
.0008
.0808
.0 1 0 0

.0390

•^ S ig n ific a n t a t 5% p o in t
^ S i g n i f i c a n t a t 1% p o in t
C + ) in c r e a s e s ( - ) d e c r e a s e s

T able 2 1 .-

A n a ly s is o f V a ria n c e " o f th e P e rc e n t KgO i n th e S eed .
(Oven Dry B a s is )

S ource
B locks
N , . , r.-. ■ ......... :
P
K
NP
NIC
PK
NPK
E rro r
T o ta l

D .F.
5
3
1
1
!■>
O
3
1
3
27
47

■ ^ S ig n if ic a n t a t 5 /i p o i n t
“• ^ • S ig n if ic a n t a t 1% p o i n t
(+ ) in c r e a s e s
(-)d e c r e a se s

S .S .

tr
c
ivi• O
•

.4396
.0663
.0091
~ .0 0 0 1
.0600
.0228
.0140
.0136
.4005
1.0260

.0879
.0221
.0091
.0001
.0200
.0076
.0140
.0045
.0148
-

-3 3 '

R e g u la r Seed
N itro g e n :

Seed produced on p l o t s f e r t i l i z e d w ith n itr o g e n a lo n e

c o n ta in e d s i g n i f i c a n t l y more n itr o g e n th a n seed from u n tr e a t e d p l o t s .
No in c r e a s e i n n itr o g e n c o n te n t o c c u rre d in t h e seed from n it r o g e n p o ta ss iu m t r e a t e d p l o t s compared to n itr o g e n tr e a tm e n ts a lo n e .
P o ta ssiu m tr e a tm e n ts a lo n e had no in f lu e n c e on t h e n itr o g e n i n th e
seed.
Seed grown on n itro g e n -p h o s p h o ru s t r e a t e d p l o t s c o n ta in e d s i g n i ­
f i c a n t l y more n itr o g e n th a n seed from p l o t s t r e a t e d w ith n itr o g e n
a lo n e .

T h e re fo re , phosphorus caused an in c r e a s e in t h e n itr o g e n con­

t e n t o f th e seed when ample n itr o g e n m s p r e s e n t .
Of i n t e r e s t i s th e f a c t t h a t seed from p l o t s f e r t i l i z e d w ith p h o s­
p h o ru s a lo n e and p hosphorus -p o ta s siu m had a lo w e r n itr o g e n c o n te n t
th a n seed produced on any o th e r p l o t .

In t h i s c a s e , t h e phosphorus

s tim u la te d - v e g e ta tiv e g ro w th , which p ro b a b ly u t i l i z e d m ost o f th e a v a i l ­
a b le n i t r o g e n .

As a r e s u l t , t h e r e was i n s u f f i c i e n t n itr o g e n f o r t h e

s£ed n e e d s . '

Phosphorus?

P o ta ssiu m a lo n e and n itr o g e n -p o ta s s iu ra f e r t i l i z a t i o n ■

had no in f lu e n c e on th e phosph o ru s c o n te n t o f t h e seed compared to
seed from p l a n t s r e c e iv in g no f e r t i l i z e r , a l l showed p r a c t i c a l l y th e
same phosphorus c o n te n t.
The phosphorus f e r t i l i z e d p l o t s produced see d w ith a phosp h o ru s
c o n te n t s i g n i f i c a n t l y h ig h e r th a n seed produced on th e o t h e r p l o t s n o t
t r e a t e d w ith p h o sp h o ru s.

T h is i s p ro b a b ly due to t h e a c u te d e f ic ie n c y

o f phosphorus i n t h i s s o i l .

R esearch done a t th e V ir g i n i a A g ric u l­

t u r a l E xperim ent S ta tio n h a s shown t h a t co rn grown on s o i l v e ry d e f i ­
c i e n t i n p h o sp h o ru s, produced g r a in w ith a lo w e r p h o sp h o ru s c o n te n t

th a n c o rn grown on s o i l w ith " a n ample su p p ly o f phosphorus*
P e rh a p s th e -m o s t i n t e r e s t i n g r e s u l t i s t h e s i g n i f i c a n t in c r e a s e
i n th e p hosphorus i n t h e g r a in on p l o t s f e r t i l i z e d w ith n itr o g e n
a lo n e compared t o g r a in from u n tr e a te d p l o t s ;

and th e s i g n i f i c a n t

in c r e a s e o f p h osphorus i n t h e g r a in from n itro g e n -p h o s p h o ru s t r e a t ­
m ents compared t o phosp h o ru s tr e a tm e n t alo n e*

On th e s e p l o t s , th e

n itr o g e n h a s been r e s p o n s ib le f o r an in c r e a s e i n t h e p h o sp h o ru s con­
te n t o f th e seed.

H ie n itr o g e n f e r t i l i z e r u sed was sodium n i t r a t e *

Sodium i s supposed t o a id i n th e t r a n s l o c a t i o n o f phosp h o ru s , t h e r e ­
f o r e , th e a d d itio n o f sodium may hav e a id e d i n t h e t r a n s l o c a t i o n o f t h e
phosp h o ru s t o th e seed*

I h e e l e r ( 2 3 ) , e t a l . , re p o r te d i n 1906 t h a t

sodium s a l t s a p p lie d t o Rhode I s la n d s o i l s in c re a s e d t h e p e rc e n ta g e o f
p h osphorus i n th e p l a n t .

Ample n itr o g e n and p h o sp h o ru s i s e s s e n t i a l

t o s e c u re t h e h ig h e s t p hosphoru s c o n te n t i n t h e s e e d .

H ere a g a in t h e

n e c e s s i t y o f b a la n c e d n u t r i e n t s i s e v id e n t*
P o ta ssiu m :

T here was no s i g n i f i c a n t d if f e r e n c e i n th e p o ta ssiu m

c o n te n t o f th e seed produced on th e v a r io u s p lo ts *

One f a c t o r i n ­

f lu e n c in g t h i s i s t h e h ig h p o ta ssiu m c o n te n t i n th e s o i l b e fo re t r e a t ­
m e n t.

N itro g e n o r phosp h o ru s a lo n e o r i n c o m b in atio n had no in f lu e n c e

on th e p o ta ssiu m i n th e seed*

-3 5 S ucker Seed
N itro g e n :

The n itr o g e n c o n te n t o f th e seed from t h e s u c k e rs

showed i n g e n e r a l t h e same in f lu e n c e from f e r t i l i z a t i o n as th e r e g u l a r
seed*

The p r i n c i p a l e x c e p tio n was th e h i g h e r n itr o g e n c o n te n t o f th e

seed from phosphorus t r e a t e d p l o t s a lo n e compared t o seed from th e
o th e r p lo ts *
P h o sp h o ru s:

.

•"

Phosphorus tr e a tm e n ts d id n o t have a s marked i n ­

flu e n c e on t h e s u c k e r seed a s t h e r e g u l a r s e e d .

S u ck er seed from t h e

n i t r o g e n , p o ta ss iu m , p h o sp h o ru s, n itr o g e n -p o ta s s iu m and p h o sp h o ru sp o ta ss iu m t r e a t e d p l o t s w ere a s higfr o r h ig h e r i n p h o sp h o ru s th a n r e g u l a r
seed from s i mil a r p l o t s .

The p h o sp h o ru s i n t h e s u c k e r seed was lo w e r

from p l a n t s grown on t h e n itro g e n -p h o s p h o ru s and n itr o g e n -p h o s p h o ru s p o ta ss iu m p l o t s th a n seed from t h e r e g u l a r h e a d s produced on th e s e
p lo ts *
P o ta ssiu m s

The p o ta ss iu m c o n te n t o f t h e seed showed no e f f e c t —

from any tre a tm e n t*
The n itr o g e n , p hosphorus and p o ta ss iu m c o n te n t o f th e s u c k e r seed
show i n g e n e r a l th e same e f f e c t s from f e r t i l i z a t i o n a s t h e r e g u la r
heads h u t n o t a s c o n s is te n t.

The la c k o f c o n s is te n c y i s p ro b a b ly due

t o t h e v a r i a t i o n i n t h e m a tu r ity o f t h e su ck ers*

-3 6 ;

The E f f e c t o f FertL l i z a t i o n on th e F o lia g e C o lo r

The c o lo r o f t h e f o l i a g e was d e te rm in e d by th e u se o f th e c o lo r
s ta n d a r d s a s g iv e n i n R o b ert Ridgeway 1 s book "C o lo r S ta n d a rd s and
C o lo r N om enclature" p u b lis h e d i n 1912 by th e a u t h o r .

The c o lo r o f

t h e t h r e e c e n te r le a v e s was m atched w ith " th e n e a r e s t c o lo r p l a t e i n
th e book.

The c o l o r d e te r m in a tio n s w ere made on A ugust 4 , 5 , and

and t h e t h r e e re a d in g s a v e ra g e d .

6

I f t h e r e was v a r i a t i o n i n th e

re a d in g s on th e t h r e e s u c c e s s iv e d a y s , t h e re a d in g s w ere made a g a in on
A ugust 7 ,

8

, and 9 .

A f te r th e c o lo r o f t h e le a v e s was m atched w ith th e n e a r e s t c o lo r
g iv e n i n t h e c o lo r s ta n d a rd s ? t h e c o m p o sitio n o f t h e c o l o r was d e t e r ­
m ined from a t a b l e g iv e n i n th e b o o k .

The c o m p o sitio n o f th e c o l o r

o f t h e le a v e s a s d e term in e d f o r each tr e a tm e n t i s g iv e n i n T able 21
and shown i r r F ig u re s 18 and 1 9 .

A cco rd in g t o t h e s ta n d a rd s u s e d , an

in c r e a s e i n th e p e r c e n t o f b la c k and a d e c re a s e i n t h e p e r c e n t o f
y e llo w g iv e s a d a r k e r g re e n and an in c r e a s e i n y e llo w and d e c re a s e i n
b la c k w ould mean a l i m i t e r g r e e n .

-3 7 -

Table 2 2 .-

The C olor o f th e P la n t F o lia g e on August 5 and Septem ber 1 .

Treatm ent *
Nk P 205 -K20
0
1
2
3
0
1
2
3
0
1
2
3
0
1
2
3
*

.—
-

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

C o lo r P erc e n t August 5
Green
Y ellow
Black

- 0
- 0
- 0
— 0
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 0
- 0
- 0
- 0
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1

6
6
6
6
6
8
8
6
17
5
4
4
17
4
3
3

49
49
49
49
49
47
47
49
53
32
25
25
53
25
26
26

45
45
45
45
45
45
45
45
30
63
71
71
30
71
71
71

C olor P erc e n t S e p t. 1
Black
Green
Yellow
11
6
6
6
11
8
6
6
24
6
3
3
24
■ 6
3
3

44
49
49
49
44
47
40
40
76
49
26
26
76
40
26
26

45
45
45
45
45
45
54
54
0
45
71
71
54
71
71

See page 7 f o r tre a tm e n ts p e r a c r e .
August 5 Readings*

N itro g en a lo n e , potassium alo n e and n itro g e n -

potassium . f e r t i l i z a t i o n had no e f f e c t on th e c o lo r o f th e f o lia g e com­
p ared t o no f e r t i l i s a t i o n *

The supply o f phosphorus was v ery low i n th e

s o i l and t h e r e f o r e th e n itro g e n was unable t o fu n c tio n p ro p e rly i n deve­
lo p in g c h lo r o p h y ll.

Phosphorus i s n o t a component o f c h lo ro p h y ll, b u t

i s a p p a re n tly e s s e n t i a l f o r i t s developm ent.

—

P la n ts grown on phosphorus t r e a t e d p lo ts were l i g h t e r i n c o lo r w ith
more y ello w and l e s s b lack th a n p la n ts grown w ith no tre a tm e n t, which
shows a d e fic ie n c y o f n itro g e n developed th ro u g h th e in c re a se d p la n t
grow th.
P la n ts grown on p h o sp horus-potassium p l o t s showed th e same c o lo r a s
th o s e grown on phosphorus t r e a t e d s o i l .

-3 8 -

ETitrogen-phosphorus and sitro g e n -p h o sp h o ru s-p o ta ssiu m produced an
in c r e a s e i n green c o lo r o f p la n ts above th e check, n itr o g e n , p o tassiu m ,
n itro g e n -p o ta s siu m and o f co u rse much in c re a s e o v er phosphorus and phosp h o ru s-p o tassiu m tre a tm e n ts*

These r e s u l t s show th e n e c e s s ity o f a

b alan ced n u t r i e n t supply to develop th e g re e n e s t color*

P la n ts grown on

N jF i and K^PjK-^ t r e a t e d p l o t s were a l i t t l e l i m i t e r g reen th a n p la n ts on
th e RgPi and UgP^Ki f e r t i l i z e d p lo ts *

The p la n t s grown on th e NgP^

IT gP ^i f e r t i l i z e d p l o t s were a s d a * green as th o se p la n ts on th e I^P^
and ETgPjK^ f e r t i l i z e d areas*

These r e s u l t s show t h a t 120 lb s* o f n i t r o ­

gen p e r a c re was s u f f i c i e n t to produce t h e d a rk e s t g reen color*
P otassium alone o r i n com bination w ith n itro g e n and phosphorus had
no e f f e c t on th e c o lo r o f th e p la n ts *

The potassium supply i n th e s o i l

was th o u g it to be ample in t h e b eg in n in g , which may be th e reaso n f o r
th e p o tassiu m a p p lic a tio n s Showing no s ig n i f i c a n t e f f e c t on t h e c o lo r
o f th e fo lia g e *
Septem ber 1 Readings!

There was l i t t l e change i n c o lo r o f th e

p la n ts grown on th e check, n itr o g e n , p o tassiu m and n itro g e n -p o ta ssiu m
t r e a t e d p l o t s from August 5 t o September 1*

There was a s l i g i t d ecre a se

i n th e green c o lo r o f th e p la n t s on th e check and th e potassium p l o t s ,
b u t t h i s i s p ro b ab ly n o t o f s ig n ific a n c e *
P la n ts on th e phosphorus and phosphorus-potassium t r e a te d p lo t s
Showed a marked d ec re a se in g reen c o lo r as th e season developed*

T his

i s due t o a f u r t h e r d ec re ase i n th e n itro g e n supply*
P la n ts grown on th e K jPi andHiPjKi f e r t i l i z e d s o i l s decreased in
g re e n c o lo r from August 5 t o September 1 , which Shows t h a t 60 lb s* o f

-3 9 n itr o g e n was n o t s u f f i c i e n t t o m a in ta in th e g re e n c o lo r th ro u g h o u t th e
season.

P la n ts on t h e Ng^l

NgP-^Ki t r e a t e d a r e a s m a in ta in e d t h e

d ark g re e n th ro u g h o u t th e grow ing p e r io d , and w ere a s d ark g re e n on
Septem ber 1 a s th e p l a n t s grown on t h e K jP j and % P x ^ l t r e a t e d p l o t s .
B ie E f f e c t o f T reatm en t on t h e C o lo r o f th e Seed
The c o lo r o f t h e seed was d eterm in ed by t h e same method a s th e
c o lo r o f th e f o l i a g e ex cep t t h a t a d i f f e r e n t c o lo r p l a t e was used from
Ridgeway*s "C o lo r S ta n d a rd s and N o m en clatu re".

C o lo r d e te r m in a tio n s

w ere made a f t e r th e seed had become a i r d r ie d and i n a dark en ed room
w ith a c o n s t a n t - l i g h t •
a f te r h a rv e s t.
T able 2 3 .-

The p e rc e n ta g e c o lo r o f th e seed i s p re s e n te d i n T a b le 23.

C o lo r o f th e S eed.

Treatm ent *
N- P205 -K20

o

1
2
3
0
1
2
3
0
1
2
3

-

0 0 0 0 -

0
0
0
0

-

0

-

1

-

0

-

1

6

1
1
0
0
0
0
*■
*
1
**
1
1
■ 1

-

0

-

r

-

i

-

x
1
X

1 2 3 -

JL

0

*

1
X

The seed was n o t exposed to t h e sun a t any tim e

C olor P ercen t
Red

-

(Orange

.

11

25
25
8
7
4

'

32
27
36
36
39
27
30
42
33
44
17
17
44
48
51
55

See page 7 f o r tr e a tm e n ts p e r a c r e .

Yellow ! Black
10
15
15
19
16
15
16
13
18

29
29
«0
45
45
29
25
45
39
45
29
29
34
45
45
45

W hite
29
29
29
29
29
10
29
29
14

-4 0 -

As shown by th e d a ta i n T able 23, s in g le elem ents alo n e had v e ry
l i t t l e e f f e c t on th e c o lo r o f th e seed compared t o no tre a tm e n t*

Seed

produced on n itro g en -p h o sp h o ru s t r e a t e d p l o t s were d a rk e r i n c o lo r and '
b r ig h t e r th a n th o s e from th e u n f e r t i l i z e d areas*

Seed produced on p l o t s

re c e iv in g n itro g e n w ith p h o sp horus-potassium were b r i g i t e r b u t t h i s
could n o t be ex p ressed by c o lo r d iffe re n c e s *

-4 1 -

SUMA4RY AND CONCLUSIONS
A uniform a re a o f s o i l (G ro seclose s i l t loam) v ery low in a v a il­
ab le phosphorus, v ery low in n itro g e n and organic m a tte r b u t showing
medium to h ig h in a v a ila b le and exchangeable potassium was s e le c te d , to
study th e e f f e c t o f v a ry in g th e r a te s of n itro g e n , phosphorus and p o ta s ­
sium alone and in a l l com binations on c e r ta in p la n t c h a r s .c te r is tic s of
a dwarf g ra in sorghum.

This was th e p o o re st s o i l in a v a ila b le phos­

phorus and n itro g e n t h a t could be lo c a te d .

The a v a ila b le and exchange­

ab le potassium was h ig h which i s o fte n found in old u n f e r t i l i z e d p a s tu re s
in t h i s a r e a .
A 4 x 2 x-2 f a c t o r i a l d e sig n rras used w ith fo u r tre a tm e n ts o f n i t r o ­
gen (0 , 60, 120 and 180 pounds N p e r a c r e ) , two tre a tm e n ts of phosphorus
(0 and 240 pounds PgOg p e r a c re ) and two tre a tm e n ts o f potassium (0 and
120 pounds K£0 p e r a c r e ) .
The e f f e c t o f t h e tre a tm e n ts on th e p la n t c h a r a c t e r is t i c s i s given
in condensed form in t a b l e 24.
■ The E f f e c t o f N itrogen
This s o i l was v ery low in n itro g e n and organic m a tte r as shown by
th e s o i l t e s t s .

No legumes had grown on t h i s s o i l f o r many y e a r s .

The

l i g h t c o lo r o f th e sp a rse v e g e ta tio n in d ic a te d a lack of n i t 1*0 gen.
N itro g en alone in flu e n c e d s ig n if ic a n t ly only f iv e of t h e p la n t char­
a c t e r i s t i c s s tu d ie d ; in c re a s in g th e number o f s u c k e rs, d elay in g th e
h e ad in g , d e c re a sin g th e y ie ld and in c re a s in g th e p e rc e n t n itro g e n and
phosphorus in th e see d .

The n itro g e n combined w ith phosphorus had a

more pronounced in flu e n c e on th e c h a r a c t e r is t i c s th en n itro g e n alone as

evidenced by th e s ig n i f i c a n t in c re a s e i n th e h e ig h t o f p l a n t s , e a r l i ­
n e s s o f h ead in g o f th e r e g u la r heads and s u c k e rs , in c r e a s e in th e w eight
p e r h ead , th e w eight o f seed p e r h ead , th e w eight o f one hundred seed ,
y ie ld p e r a c re and th e p e rc e n t n itro g e n and phosphorus in th e seed*
The r e s u l t s , i n g e n e r a l, show t h a t th e a d d itio n o f n itro g e n alo n e
t o a phosphorus d e f i c i e n t s o i l h a d a m inor in flu e n c e on t h e c h a r a c te r ­
i s t i c s s tu d ie d b u t a s ig n i f i c a n t d e p re ssin g e f f e c t on th e yield*

Whereas

n itro g e n combined w ith phosphorus had a p o s itiv e s tim u la tin g e f f e c t on
many o f th e . c h a r a c t e r is t i c s *
The r e s u l t s o f t h i s stu d y show c o n c lu s iv e ly th e n e c e s s ity o f
n u t r i e n t balance*
The E f f e c t o f Phosphorus
The f a c t t h a t th e a p p lic a tio n o f 240 pounds p e r a cre o f P 2 O5 had a
h ig h ly s ig n i f i c a n t in flu e n c e on t h i r t e e n o f th e s ix te e n p la n t c h a r a c te r ­
i s t i c s s t a t i s t i c a l l y an aly zed ; and had a pronounced in flu e n c e on th o se
t h a t were n o t s t a t i s t i c a l l y analyzed shows th e im portance o f t h i s e le ­
ment t o dwarf g ra in sorghum on t h i s s o il*

The g e n e ra l responce to

phosphorus s u b s ta n tia te s th e c o n clu sio n t h a t th e supply i n th e s o i l was
in ad eq u ate b ased on th e r e s u l t s o f th e s o i l t e s t *
The d a ta from t h i s experim ent and u n p u b lish ed d a ta from th e
Agronomy Department o f th e V ir g in ia A g r ic u ltu r a l Experim ent S ta tio n show
c o n c lu s iv e ly t h a t phosphorus i s a key elem ent and p ro b ab ly th e key e le ­
ment t o s tim u la te e a r ly growth o f dwarf g ra in sorghum*

43-

Bxe h ig h ly s ig n i f i c a n t in c re a s e in p e rc e n t g erm in atio n o f th e
seed produced on phosphorus t r e a te d p lo ts i s im p o rtan t and w a rra n ts
f u r t h e r in v e s tig a tio n *

The seed n o t o n ly gave a h ig h e r p e rc e n t germin­

a tio n h u t germ inated more rap id ly *
Bie s ig n i f i c a n t in c re a s e o f n itro g e n i n th e g ra in on p l o t s t r e a te d
w ith n itro g en -p h o sp h o ru s shows a s ig n i f ic a n t i n t e r a c t io n between n i t r o ­
gen and phosphorus and th e n e c e s s ity o f n u t r i e n t b alance*

Phosphorus

alo n e d ep ressed th e n itro g e n c o n te n t in th e seed*
Phosphorus had more in flu e n c e on p la n t c h a r a c t e r is t i c s th a n e i t h e r
n £ tro g en o r potassium *
Phosphorus i s a key elem ent from ^ g e m in a tio n to germ ination"*
E f f e c t o f Potassium
P otassium alone o r in com bination w ith n itro g en -p h o sp h o ru s had
l i t t l e o r no in flu e n c e on most o f th e p la n t c h a r a c t e r is t i c s s tu d ie d .

P o ta s­

sium alo n e and i n com bination w ith n itro g en -p h o sp h o ru s had a d e p re ssin g
e f f e c t on th e y ie ld *

Seed produced on p o ta ssiu m -n itro g e n t r e a te d p l o t s

had a s ig n i f i c a n t l y h ig h e r p e rc e n t m o istu re a t h a r v e s t b u t showed a s ig ­
n i f i c a n t d e cre ase i n th e w eight o f th e seed p e r head*
Ih e lac k o f e f f e c t o f added potassium on more c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s i s
p ro b ab ly due to an ad eq u ate supply in th e s o il*

Ih e 120 pounds o f p o ta s ­

sium p e r a c re added may have caused an unbalanced n u t r ie n t c o n d itio n i n
th e S o il which r e s u lte d i n a d e p re ssio n o f th e y ie ld and th e w eight o f
•Hie seed p e r h e ad , Ih e n e c e s s ity o f knowing th e le v e l o f n u tr ie n ts in
th e s o i l i s b rought o u t many tim es*

-4 4 -

G e n era l

B ie w r i t e r f e e l s t h a t t h e r e s u l t s o f t h i s s tu d y show a ls o th e
n e c e s s i t y o f d e te n n in in g a s a c c u r a te ly a s p o s s ib l e t h e p l a n t n u t r i e n t
su p p ly i n t h e s o i l a t th e b e g in n in g o f any f e r t i l i t y e x p e rim e n t.

By

h a v in g c a r e f u l l y checked t h e n u t r i e n t b a la n c e i n t h i s s o i l , t h e la c k
o f re s p o n se t o p o ta ssiu m and s tr o n g re sp o n se t o p h o sp h o ru s tr e a tm e n ts
can be a t l e a s t p a r t i a l l y e x p la in e d *

-4 5 T ab le 24*-

The E f f e c t o f T rea tm e n ts on P la n t C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s ,

P la n t C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s
HI
8

0
0

Humber o f s u c k e rs p e r 15r row

*
4

P e rc e n t o f p l a n t s i n f u l l head
A ugust 5 .
P e rc e n t o f s u c k e rs p o l l i n a t i n g
A ugust 2 0 ,
P e rc e n t m o is tu re i n t h e seed a t
h a r v e s t*
W e i^ it p e r head

*

**
t

PK *

MPK

0

$

0

0

0

0

4

0

0

0

4

4

0

0

4

0

0

0

0

y**

4

**
mm

4

**
4-

0

0

4

*
4

0

H e ig h t o f p l a n t s A ugust 5

■**
■+

T re atm en ts
K .* HP T HK ’

0

H e ig h t o f p l a n t s J u l y

F

0
0

*
4
*
4

1

I

0
*

W eight o f seed p e r head

-

P e rc e n t o f h ead w e ig h t i s seed

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

W eight o f seed p e r head from
su c k e rs.
W eight o f one hun d red seed

0

4

4

4-

0

4

0

**
4

0

*
+

0

0

0

4

0

4

0

0

0

0

¥

0

I

W eight o f one hundred seed from
s u c k e rs
P e rc e n t g e m in a tio n

.<■*

+

0

0

0

0

0

P e rc e n t brown le a v e s S e p t. 1 0 .

mm

4"

0

0

0

0

0

Humber o f d is e a s e d p l a n t s

-

mm

4

0

4
**

0

Y ie ld p e r a c r e

**

**
4

♦*

P e rc e n t n itr o g e n i n seed

**
4
*
4

-

0

**
4

0

P e rc e n t £ 3 © i n seed

0

0

0

F o lia g e c o l o r A ugust 5 - g re e n

0

-

F o lia g e c o lo r S e p t. 1 - g reen

0

-

P e rc e n t P 2 O5 i n seed

♦ S ig n if ic a n t a t 5% p o i n t
♦ ♦ S ig n if ic a n t a t 1$ p o in t

**
4
*
4
*
4

**m
m

0

0

0

0

-

0

0

0

0

0

0

4

0

0

0

0

4

0

0

0

-D e crea se
0 No in f lu e n c e

■+. I n c r e a s e

P ig . 1 . -

50

E f f e c t o f tre a tm e n t on th e p l a n t h e ig h t o f a dw arf g r a in sorghum, J u l y 8 and
A ugust 5.
L b ./a c r e
^
=
-

... 40

In ch es

60 N
120 N
180 N
240 Pg05
120 5r0

August 5

50

i
o»
i

20

J u ly 8

10

»0

%

»2 ; H3

N0

*0

1 Ni

K2

V

N1

K2

po

po

; po : P0

p0

pl

P0

P0

P0

pl

pl

P1

pi

Ko

Ko

K1

K0

%

%

K0

K0

K0

Ki

Ko

K0

.

K1

T r e a tm e n ts

«.■

N2

H

pi

' P1

pi

Ki

K1

“o

.

Ki

F ig . 2 -

E f f e c t o f t r e a t m e n t on t h e num ber o f s u c k e r s p e r f i f t e e n
o f a d w a r f g r a i n sorgh u m .

f e e t o f row

40-

L b ./ a c r e

. 30
Ni
Ng
Ns
Pl
Kx

Number

20

=
s
=
=

6Q.U '
120 N
180 N
2 4 0 PgO g
1 2 0 K gO

.

I

10

0
N0
Po
K0

Ni
Po
K0

N2
Po
K0

NS
Po
K0

N0
Po
Kl

i

N0
Pl
K0

Nl
Po
%

N0

Pl

n

: Ni

k0

Kl

Pl
Kl

n2

n3

Ni

Ng

n3

Po
Kl

Po
Kl

Pl
K0

Pl
k0

T r e a tm e n ts

®2
Pl
Kl

NS
Pl
Kl

F ig . 3.

E f f e c t o f t r e a t m e n t on t h e p e r c e n t o f p l a n t s i n f u l l h e a d A u g u st 5
o f a d w a r f g r a i n so rg h u m .

90i—

L b ./a c r e

80

Nx =
n2 =

'70

Kl =

H
N
N
P 2 O5
K20

I

J

®3 =

Pl -

60

\

60
120
180
240
120

\!
\ /
V

50
40 r
Fe rc e n t
30 U

20

10
0
N j>

(

1

I

1
_ _ i_ _ _

N i

N2

n3

N0

P <3

po

P0

po

K (D

K0

Ko

Ko

—

i1

1

■&0

K i

n2

n 5

>1

N2

n 5

N0

P0

pl

P0

po

po

■ pi

P1

p i

P1

K1

V

K1

K1

V

■; K o

%

Ko

K1

.

■—

T r e a t m e n ts

! __ _

j ,

.

___ L„_

F ig . 4 . -

%
*0
KO

*1Po
, Kq

E f f e c t o f t r e a t m e n t on t h e p e r c e n t o f t h e s u c k e r s p o l l i n a t i n g o n A u g u st 2 0
o f a d w a r f g r a i n sorgh u m .

N2
Po
KO

N5 |
po

K0

NO
Po
%

N0
Pl
K0

Hi
Po
Kl

2
Po
Ki

n

NS
Po
%

Treatm ents

Nl
Pl
K0

2
Pl
K0

n

5
Pl
k0

n

NO
P1
K1

,

Nl
Pl
K1

n2

Pl
Kl

Ng
Pl
%

F ig . S .— E f f e c t o f tr e a tm e n t on th e m o is tu re p e r c e n t i n th e se e d a t h a r v e s t
o f a d w a r f Ig ra jn so rg h u m
L b ./a c re

P e rc e n t
50-

1
01
0
1

-10

No

Nl

N2

N3

No

No

Nl

PO
KO

)p0
Kq

Ko

Kq

Ki

Pl
K0

P0
Ki

0

Ng

N5

Ki
Ki
T re a tm e n ts

Nl

Ng

N5

N0

Ni

Ng

Nj

Pl
Kq

Pl
Ko

K0

Ki

Ki

Pl
Kl

Pl
Kl

F i g . 6 . - E f f e c t o f t r e a t m e n t on t h e w e ig h t p e r h e a d o f a d w a r f g r a i n sorghum ,

9 0 .0

6 7 .5

L b ./a c re

60
120
180
240
120

N
N
N
P2O5
KgO

G rm s

45.0

2 2.5

T re a tm e n ts

F ig . 7 . — E f f e c t o f tr e a t m e n t o n t h e w e ig h t o f t h e s e e d p e r h e a d o f a d w a rf g r a in so rg h u m .
L b ./a c re

^

» i : s 60 N
N2 a 120 N
n 5 a 180 N
- 240 Pg05
- 120 K20

6 7 .5 —

Grins;
4 5 . C*

i
U1
I

to

22 .

N,

i- ~

1 .......... 1.

K1

N2

N5

No

V

N1

po

po
K0

po
,K0

po
K1

P1
K0

P0
Ki

Kq

N5

N1

P0
po
K1
%
T re a tm e n ts

P1
K0

N2

n2

P1
K0

*5

Ho

Ni

P1
Kq

pl
K1

pl
K1

N2
P1
K1

H5
P1
K1

F ig . 8 . -

E f f e c t o f t r e a t m e n t on t h e p e r c e n t o f h e a d w e ig h t i s

s e e d o f a d w a r f g r a i n sorgh u m .

L b ./a c re

Nx = 60 N
Ng = 120 N
N3 - 180 H
P l s 240 pgOg

% = 120 KgO
,

80

P e rc e n t

i
to
I
cn

70

60
H0
Po
Ko

..*1

Ng

H

Po
Ko

Po
Ko

Po
*o

No
Po
K1

%
Pl
Ko

Nl

N2

Po

Po

K1

Po

K1
K1
T re a tm e n ts

K1

Ng

Pl
Ko

Pl
*0

Ni

Ng

Pl

Pl 1 Pl

Pl

K0

K1

K1

N0

K1

*5
Pl
K1

F ig .

9 .-

1

E f f e c t o f t r e a t m e n t on t h e w e ig h t o f t h e 1s e e d p e r h ead from, s u c k e r s
o f a d w a r f g r a i n sorgh u m .

i

L b ./ a c r e

30

Nl
«2'

20

Pl
Kl

—

60
120
ST 180
240
120

N
N
n

Pg05
KgO

Grin.
10

NO

Nl

n2

Ns

Nq

N0

Nl

Ng

N«

Nl

Np

Ns

Nq

Ni

P0

Po

Po '

Po

Po

Pl

Po

Po

Po

Pl

Pl

Pi

Pl

Pl

Ko

%

K0

' "%

K1

Kl

K0

K1

Kl

*0

K0

so

T reatm en ts

K0

X0

'

Ng

N*
t.-

Pl

?!

Ki

Kl

F ig . 1 0 .-

E f f e c t o f t r e a t m e n t o n t h e w e ig h t o f 1 0 0 s e e d o f a d w a r f g r a i n so rg h u m .

5 .0

2 .5

L b ./a c re
»

2 .0
Nx

-

60 N

N2 - 120 N
N5 i 180 N
P l - 240 PgOg
Kx = 120 KgO

""

1 .0

N0

N1

n2

N5

N0

PO

PO

Po

Po

*0

Ko

Po
Ko

N0
Pl

Ko

K1

V

%
Po
Ki

n2
Po
K1

n5
Po
K1

T r e a t m e n ts

Nl

Pl
xo

N2
Pl
Ko

n5
Pl
Ko

No
Pl
K1

Ni

Ng

Ng

Pl

Pl

Pl

K1

K1

K1

F ig . 1 1 .-

E f f e c t o r t r e a t m e n t on t h e w e ig h t o f 1 0 0 s e e d fro m t h e s u c k e r h e a d s
o f a d w a r f g r a i n sorgh u m .

I
UT1i
C
I

L b ./a c re
60 N
120 N
180 N

240 P2O5
120 KgO

0
'•0

N0

N0

%

n2

NS

Ni

n2

N3

P0

P0

P1

P0

P0

P0

V

P1

P1

K0

K1

K0

K1

K1
K1
T re a tm e n ts

K0

K0

K0

N2
K-.

P1
Ki

»3
P-,

Fxg. 12 - E f f e c t o f trea-faaent on th e p e rc e n t germ in atio n o f a dw arf g ra in sorghum
J

'

'

■:

/

100
P ercen t
90
L b ./a c re
60 N
80
180 N
240 Pg05
120 KgO
70
»0

H,

T reatm ents

F ig . 1 3 .-

E f f e c t o f t r e a t m e n t on t h e p e r c e n t brow n l e a v e s S e p te m b e r 1 0
o f a d w a r f g r a i n sorgh u m .

Nx = 60 N
N2 = 120 N
N5 = 180 N
P l = 240 P20 5
Ki = 120 KgO

0
N0

Ni

n2

NS

N0

N0

Nl

n2

n3

Nl

Ng

N5

N0

Ni

n2

P0

P0

po

po

po

P1

po

po

po.

P1

P1

P1

pl

P1

P1

K 0

K0

K0

K0

K1

K0

K1

. K1

K1

K0

K0

K0

K1

%

K1

T r e a tm e n ts

n3
,

i

P

l
-u

%

p i g « 1 4 . — E f f e c t o f trea-hn*»»> +

<* » * » r f g r a i n t ^ W *

°f

P ^ t a p . , 30 f o o t ™

L b./acre
N1 r
. n2 ss
n3 «
P1 =
% =

Number

60 N
120 N
180 N
240 P 20s
120 KgO

1
tn
<
£>
I

V

Kr

Kr

»3
po
*0

*o
po
K1

»0
P1
Ko

Ki

T r e a tm e n ts

'3
*0
1

»1
P1
*0

*2
pl
K0

%
p1
K0

Ki

"3
P1
Ki

F ig , 1 5 .-

E f f e c t o f t r e a t m e n t on t h e y i e l d p e r a c r e o f a d w a r f g r a in , so rg h u m .

]

j

,

|■

L b ./a c re

60
120
180
240
120

20
*0

PO
K0

N
N
N
P20 5
KnO

1

1

r

1

1

Nl
PO

*2

NS

H.o

PO

' Po
Ko

Po

Ho
Pl
NO

%

N0

Ki

1

1

1

I

|

<1

|

|

f

*1

n2

n5

%

Ng

%

»0

Ni

Ng

NS

Po

Po
Ki

Po

Pl

Pl

Pl

Pl

Pl

KX

K0

K0

P1
N0

Pl
K1

%

Ki

%

‘t

Nl

T rea tm e n ts

F ig . 1 6 .-

E f f e c t o f t r e a t m e n t on t h e p e r c e n t o f n i t r o g e n i n t h e s e e d o f a d w a r f g r a i n
sorgh u m .

5 .0

2 .5

L-

2.0
P e rc e n t

%
Ng
N3
Pl
Kx

1 .5

=

60
- 120
= 180
= 240
- 120

•19-

L b s ./ a c r e

N
N
N
Pg05
KgO

1.0
NO

Ni

; po
•' K0

po
Ko

n2
po
Ko

N3
po
Ko

N0
po
K1

N0
P1
K0

N1
po
K1

W2

N3

po
po
K1
K1
Treatm ents

Ni
K,

Ni

Ni
K,

Nr

Ni

Ni

K,

Ki

N*

F ig . 1 7 ..80

E f f e c t o f tre a tm e n t on th e p e rc e n t o f PjjOjjin th e seed o f a dw arf g ra in sorghum.
L b ./ a c re

.70
P e rc e n t
.60

.50

.40

T reatm ents

F ig . 1 8 .-

E ffe c t jof treatm en t on th e p ercen t o f KgO in th e seed o f a dwarf g ra in sorghum.

.60

.40
I
o>
to
I

L b ./ a cre

P e rc e n t
»i
n2

.20

:
t
:

NS
Pl
Ki1 =
-

N0

%

Ng

P0
Kq

P0
%

P0
K0

■V
po
Ko

po

N0 »i
pr l ^ o

h

K0

N0

Kx

Ng,

N-3

%

Ng

P0
P0
Ki
K1
T reatm ents

P1
K0

P1
K0

N3
P1

Ko

N0
P1
K1

60
120
180
240
120

N
N
N
Pg05
K20

%
P1
Kv

Nr
Ki

n5
P1
*1

F ig . 1 9 .-

E ffe c t o f treatm en t on th e amount o f b la c k , g reen , and y e llo w in th e fo lia g e
on August 5 o f a dwarf g ra in sorghum.

80
P e rc e n t^
B la c k

P e rc e n

L b ./ a c re
60 N
120 N

20

± 1

2 4 0 P 9O5
120 KgO

.Permit.
G re e n

/ \
P e rc e n t
Y e llo w

T7.:,.zn

T reatm ents

F ig . 2 0 .-

E f f e c t o f tre a tm e n t on th e amount
on September 1 o f a dw arf g ra in s<

b la c k , g re e n , and y ello w in th e folialge

L b ./a c re

-

Ki
Ng
Ng
Pl
Kx

=
s
-

60
120
180
240
120

A

N
N
N
P2O5
KgO

/
/

\

/
/

Black

r -

V
\
\
/

\

\

Green

I

Yellow
1
0
0
0

N1
p0
Kq

; 1
%
p0
Kq

1

1

v

1

1

n3
p0
Ko

n0
p0
Kl

Nq
pl
K0

Nl
p0
Kl

Ng
p0
Kl

n3

Nl

p0
%

pl
K0

2
pl
K0
n

NS

N0

pl

pl
Kl

Kq

Nl
pl
Kl

Ng

NS

pl

pl
Kl

%

-6 6 LITERATURE CITED
1.

BAYFIELD, E . G . 1 E f f e c t o f f e r t i l i z e r s upon t h e 'g r a i n t e x t u r e
and p r o t e i n c o n te n t o f'-w h e a t. Ohio A gr. E xp. S t a . B u i. 516:
2 9 -3 0 . 1933.

2.

' S o f t w in te r -wheat s t u d i e s . I I I .
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12: 1 -1 6 . 1935.

Hie e f f e c t o f
C e re a l Chem.,

3. .

■ •
• . In f lu e n c e o f s o i l and f e r t i l i z e r s on q u a lity o f
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4.

BEESON, K. C. Hie m in e ra l conqposition o f c ro p s w ith p a r t i c u l a r
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M isc e lla n e o u s P u b lic a tio n 36 9 . 1941.

5.

BLAIR, A. ¥ . ' P r o te i n i n fe e d in g s t u f f s .
6 - 7 . 1933.

6.

CARTIER, JACKSON L. E f f e c t o f environm ent on co m p o sitio n o f soybean
s e e d . S o il S c i . S oc. Amer. P ro c , V o l. 5: 12 5 -1 3 0 . 1940.

7.

GEDDES, W. F ., WINKLER, C. A ., and ROBERTS, J . In flu e n c e o f n i t r o ­
genous, p h o s p h a tic , and p o ta s s ic f e r t i l i z e r s on th e chem ical
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A g r., 19: 380-388. 1939.

8.

GAINEY, P . L ., and SEWELL, K. C.. Hie ro le o f n itro g e n in th e pro­
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1932.
-

9.

GAROLA, J . N ouvelles rech erch es s u r l* a c tio n de 1*azo te de l a
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b l e . Compt. re n d . ac ad . a g r . F rance, 22: 296-303. 1936.

N. J . A g r., 1 5 , No. 5:

10.

GUYON, G. O b serv atio n s s u r L’ in flu e n c e des incom pletes-dans l a
c u ltu r e de b l e . Ann. ag ro n . ( N .S .), 6: 559-567. 1936.

11.

HOLTZ, H . F . i and VANDECAVEYE, S. C. Organic re sid u e s and n itro g e n
f e r t i l i z e r s i n r e l a t io n to th e p r o d u c tiv ity and humus co n ten t of
P alo u se s i l t loam. S o il S c i ., 45: 143-163. 1938.

12. JORET, G ., and MALTERRE, H. Recherches Agronomiques s u r le s p la n te s
de grande c u ltu r e dans le s limons de S a n te rre . Ann. Agron. (U .S .),
51 632-677. 1935.
13. KELLY,0 . , HUNTER, A.. S ., and STURGIS, A. J . D eterm ination o f n i t r o ­
gen, phosphorus, p o tassiu m , calcium and m agnesiut in p la n t t i s s u e s .
A n a ly tic a l E d itio n , I n d u s t r ia l and E n gineering C hem istry, 18: 319.
1946.

-6 7 -

14* LEFORT, G. Delayed a c tio n of im balanced f e r t i l i z e r s in wheat
c u l t i v a t i o n . Recherches f e r t i l i z a t i o n s t a . agron. M in iste rs
Agr. F rance, 10: 4-2-46. 1937. (Chem. A bs., 31: 7167. 1937)
15.

MURPHY, H. F. In flu e n c e o f f e r t i l i z e r on th e q u a lity of wheat,.
O kla. A gr. Exp. S ta . R p t. 1932-34: 25. 1934.

16.

PEECH, MICHAEL* ALEXANDER* L. T ., DEAN, Li. A ., and REED, J . F.Methods o f s o i l a n a ly s is f o r s o i l f e r t i l i t y in v e s tig a tio n . C ir­
c u la r No. 757, A p ril 1947. U.3.D.A. in co o p eratio n w ith New
York and North C a ro lin a Agr. E x p t. S ta .

17. TEAKLE, L. J . H ., and SAMUEL, L. W. The v alu e o f n itro g en o u s
. f e r t i l i z e r s f o r wheat in W estern A u s tr a lia . J o u r.-D e p t. Agr.
W estern A u s tr a lia , 13: 74-89. 1936.
18. - TULAIKOV, N. M. F r a c tio n a l a .p p lica tio n of n itro g e n o u s f e r t i l i z e r s
on sp rin g wheat u n d e r .i r r i g a t io n . S o il S c i ., 33: 293-298. 1937.
19.

VANDECAVEYE, S. C . : E f f e c ts of s o i l ty p e and f e r t i l i z e r tre a tm e n ts
on: th e chem ical com position of c e r ta in fo rag e and sm all g ra in
ci’ops. S o il S c i. Soc. Amer. P r o c ., V ol. 5: 107-119. 1940.

20. VINCENT, V ., ^HERVIAUX, J . , a n d . SARAZIN. Etude su r le developpement des c e re a le s de p rin tem p s. Ann. Agron. (N .S .), 4: 508-528.
1934.
21.

WEEKS, M. E ., e t a l . The com position of. th e com p la n t grown
under f i e l d c o n d itio n s in r e l a t io n to th e s o il and i t s tre a tm e n t.
S o il S c i. Soc..Am er. P r o c ., VoJ, 5: 140-145. 1940.

22.

WEIDEMANN, A. G. A v a ilab le phosphorus in s o i l and th e phosphorus
co n ten t o f g ra in as in flu e n c e d by phosphorus a p p lic a tio n s to
s o i l . J o u r. Amer. Soc. A gron., 26: 170-178. 1934.

-23.

WHEELER, H. J . , HARTWELL, ,B. L ., KELLOGG, J.. W., and STEEL, -MATHEW.
The f u n c tio n s ' o f sodium s a l t s . Rhode Isla n d Agr. E x p t. S ta .
Ann. R p t. 19: 186-316. .1906.