COMPETITION FOR PHOSPHATE BETWEEN A DIPLOID AND A TETRAPLOID PERENNIAL RYEGRASS

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe relative uptake of P was measured in two varieties of Lolium perenne using radioactive tracer techniques. The diploid cv. Hora and the tetraploid cv. Terhoy were sown as pure stands and as 50:50 mixtures at both high and low density. Uptake from four depths 10, 20, 30 and 40 cm was examined. The results showed that: in pure stands the diploid uptake at 10 cm exceeded that of the tetraploid although at deeper levels the uptake pattern was similar; in mixtures the uptake of the tetraploid variety increased markedly at 10 cm while that of the diploid variety decreased. The diploid compensated for its decreased uptake at 10 cm by a substantial increase in uptake at 20 cm; overall the tetraploid variety had a deeper pattern of uptake than the diploid; in general, uptake at high density was greater than that at low density; the mixture showed a greater degree of P utilization than pure stands in the upper layers of the soil; when these two varieties are grown together in 50:50 mixtures the tetraploid is relatively more efficient in taking up.