Do phosphorus and nitrogen contents in young corn leaves represent contents in shoots?

Ingeborg Frøsig Pedersen,Gitte Holton Rubæk,Peter Sørensen,Bent T Christensen,Christian Willenborg

doi:10.1139/cjps-2017-0383

Ingeborg Frøsig Pedersen, Gitte Holton Rubæk + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1139/cjps-2017-0383

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Abstract

For corn grown on two light-textured soils, leaf P and N concentrations at the six-leaf stage represented their respective concentrations in shoots. At the seven/eight-leaf stage, the P concentration was higher in leaves than in shoots. Biomass at the seven/eight-leaf stage is linked to the N to P ratio in leaves and shoots at the six-leaf stage.

Highlights

For corn grown on two light-textured soils, leaf P and N concentrations at the six-leaf stage represented their respective concentrations in shoots
Previous studies relating leaf to shoot concentrations considered plants beyond the V8 to V10 development stage (e.g., Ziadi et al 2009; Bélanger et al 2011) and it remains unclear if P and N concentrations in the youngest fully developed leaf (YFDL) represent concentrations in shoots during earlier growth stages, where optimal nutrient availability is critical for obtaining maximal final yields
N concentration or N to P ratio in the YFDL and shoots could serve as indicators of subsequent shoot dry matter (DM) yield

Summary

Introduction

For corn grown on two light-textured soils, leaf P and N concentrations at the six-leaf stage represented their respective concentrations in shoots. Previous studies linking P and N availability in soil to corn growth have focused on concentrations in shoots or in leaves (e.g., Mallarino 1996; Plénet and Lemaire 2000; Bélanger et al 2011). Previous studies relating leaf to shoot concentrations considered plants beyond the V8 to V10 development stage (e.g., Ziadi et al 2009; Bélanger et al 2011) and it remains unclear if P and N concentrations in the YFDL represent concentrations in shoots during earlier growth stages, where optimal nutrient availability is critical for obtaining maximal final yields.

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