Effect of phosphorus concentration on mineral nutrition and growth phenology in Pistacia vera L. and Pistacia atlantica Desf.

Abstract

• The treatment 5 ppm enhance P. atlantica establishment. • Increasing phosphorus concentrations in the soil enhanced P, K, Fe, Mg, Na and Cu uptakes in both species. • High P level reduced Zn uptake. • P. atlantica can rehabilitate the exploited phosphate zones. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of phosphorus (P) on two pistachio species Pistacia vera L. ( P. vera L.) and Pistacia atlantica Desf . ( P. atlantica Desf.) growth, phytomass production and nutrient uptake, recorded 82 days after treatment. The plants were grown in pots containing soil supplied with six levels of phosphorus 0, 5, 15, 30, 60 and 120 mg/L as phosphoric acid (P 2 O 5 ). Results showed that P has a major effect on minerals uptake, leaf area and relative growth rate of (shoot, root and root/shoot phytomass ratio) in P. vera and P. atlantica . The two species showed different patterns. P level (5 mg/L) increased significantly P. atlantica leaf area and relative growth rate compared to low phosphorus level (0 mg/L) and high P level 60 and 120 ppm. Indeed, high P level 60 and 120 mg/L reduced significantly these parameters in both species. This study suggested that P applications at 5 mg/L enhance P. atlantica establishment. Also, P. atlantica maintained growth at 15, 30 mg/L. Increasing phosphorus concentrations in the soil enhanced P, K, Fe, Mg, Na and Cu uptakes in both species. In contrast, high P level reduced Zn absorption. Added to P. atlantica adaptation to water and salinity stress, this finding has major implications in arid land rehabilitation, where many soils have high P levels and suffering from aridity.