Correlation of Soil pH and Mehlich‐3 Phosphorus with Postflood Rice Phosphorus Concentrations in Arkansas

Abstract

Plant‐available phosphorus (P) measured by routine soil‐test methods is poorly correlated with rice grain yield in Arkansas. Our objective was to determine whether soil water pH (pHw) and Mehlich‐3 P were correlated with growth and yield of rice grown on silt loam soils. Data from 35 field studies were used to correlate Mehlich‐3 P and pHw with relative yield, dry matter accumulation, and P concentration at the midtillering stage. Significant linear or nonlinear relationships between pHw or Mehlich‐3 P with rice growth parameters were delineated but explained less than 27% of the variability in dry matter and P concentrations at the midtillering stage and grain yield at maturity. Mehlich‐3 P and pHw together explained 61% of the variability in midtillering P concentrations. Midtillering whole‐plant P concentrations were positively related to relative grain yield and dry matter production and will be used to identify soils with limited P availability for rice in Arkansas.