CORRELATION OF PLANT TISSUE TESTS OF CORN, DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS AND SOIL ANALYSIS ON THE JORDAN FERTILITY PLOTS

75 Pages·02.489 MB·English

by  DRISKELL, BERTRAN N

The Pennsylvania State College
The Graduate School
Department of Agronomy
Correlation of Plant Tissue Tests of Corn, Deficiency
Symptoms and Soil Analysis on the Jordan
Fertility Plots
A Thesis
by
Bertran Norman Driskell
Submitted in partial fulfillment
of the requirements
for the degree of
Dootor of Philosophy
August 1950
Approved*
August 4, 1950
Department of Agronomy
August 4, 1950
Head of the Department
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
INTRODUCTION AND REVIEW OF LITERATURE 1
Purpose of the investigation 5
MATERIALS AND METHODS 6
A* Tho Jordan Fertility Plots 6
3. Soil Analysis 8
C. Tissue Tests 9
D* Deficiency Symptoms 13
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 16
A* Correlation between methods 16
1* Soil Tests vs Tissue Tests 16
2* Soil Tests vs VisualD eficiency Symptoms 27
3* Tissue Tests vsD efioienoy Symptoms 35
B* Effect of plot treatments on soil and plant
characteristics 46
COLORED PLATES 55
SUMMARY 61
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 66
BIBLIOGRAPHY 67
Plates
PlateNo* Desert, pt ion
1 General view of the Jordan Fertility Plots»
2 Healthy stalk, no defioienoy symptoms*
3 Nitrogen defioienoy - leaf shoeing the typioal inverted "V"
firing*
4 Left, no nitrogen defioienoy (NnPK) j right, severe nitrogen
defioienoy (PK)*
5 Phosphorus defioienoy symptoms - purpling of leaf edges and
stunted growth*
6 Cl oa e-up of phosphorus defioienoy symptoms - stunting of
growth and purpling leaf edges*
7 Potassium defioienoy - marginal sooroh of lower leaves*
8 Potassium defioienoy - soorohing of outer edges*
9 Magnesium defioienoy - striping of lower leaves first, chlorosis
10 Magnesium defioienoy - chlorosis severe, moving to upper
leaves, reddening of loaner leaf edges*
11 Leaf defioienoy symptomst (a) nitrogen, (b) phosphorus,
(o) potassium, (d) magnesium, and (e) no defioienoy*
12 Removing a mid-rib sample for tissue testing*
i
INTRODUCTION AND REVIEff OF LITERATURE
Since Justus Ton Liebig proposed the theory that plants obtained
their nutrients from inorganic materials, soil scientists have been
seeking improved methods of diagnosing plant nutrient deficiencies*
Later research indicated that inorganic nutrients occur in the soil
both in available and unavailable forms, and the determination of
the quantities of available nutrients in the soil was found to be
a useful method in estimating fertility levels*
Little progress was made in devising improved soil testing
methods between 181*0 and 1900, but by 1930 soil testing techniques
were developed that closely estimated available lime (U) and
phosphorus (82) levels with reasonable accuracy* Many of the
tests developed were time-consuming and expensive, and agronomists
felt a pressing need for more rapid methods* In attempting to
simulate the feeding power of plant roots, many workers adopted the
technique of using a weakly acid solution of sodium acetate or a
similar extracting solution* Because of the adaptability and rapid­
ity of extracting plant nutrients in tills manner, such methods be­
came widely accepted after 1930*
Soil analyses have not correlated always with plant responses
because of many experimentally uncontrolled factors, such as inproper
fertiliser placement, poor root development, lack of aeration, ex­
cessive leaching, nutrient fixation and 1m antagonism* Eventually,
therefore, investigators turned toward plant analyses as a supple­
mental method to determine plant nutrient needs* Lagatu and Maume
(36) and Thomas (IS) analysed the composition of plant tissues by
the method knows as "foliar diagnosis", as an indicator of ferti­
lity level, but the method was time-consuming* Hoffer (32) pro­
posed a more rapid method of testing for nutrients in plant sap*
His work was followed by that of Enwert (22), Carolus (9), Thornton
(80), Hester (31)* Scarseth (61*), Wolf (88), Morgan (1*1*), Bray (7),
Shear (70), Richer (59) and others* These research workers proposed
methods that were designed to obtain quick qualitative field or
laboratory results showing relative fertility needs* 1 number of
research workers (12,23,61,63*65*66) have found such tissue tests
to be a valuable tool in the study of the prevailing nutritional
status of soils and plants* OCLson (50) noted that certain nutrient
deficiencies were shown by plant tissue tests prior to the appear­
ance of visual symptoms*
Cook (12) found that a combination of tissue tests and soil
tests leads to more reliable conclusions than soil testing alone*
Cook, et al (16) and Drake (20) found a relationship between quan­
tities of nutrients available in soil and plant sap* Pettinger (51*)
found a high correlation between the Neubauer-plant-aap analysis and
the Hoffer-stalk method for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium*
Thornton (80) developed an easily manipulated field tissue test for
the determination of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium with good
correlation between these tests and yield responses*
The use of visual symptoms as an aid for determining nutrient
deficiencies has been practiced since about 181*1«* Numerous workers
(1*1) have studied the nutrient disorder of plants by this method, but
it is not easy to diagnose deficiency symptoms by the appearance of
the plant because of the many factors or factor-combinations other
than a nutrient deficiency which may modify the appearance of the
plant. Sommer (72) found casesshare the soil contained a sufficient
supply of certain elements but other environmental conditions were so
unfavorable that the plants could not absorb proper quantities of
such nutrients. Deficiency symptoms are not always as specific as
often assumed; but, in general, certain plants do show them readily,
unless masked by insect or disease injury*
For the farmer and agricultural field worker, visual symptoms of
malnutrition in plants are a helpful guide* Visual methods can be
used with or without supplementary methods* Just as a physician uses
visual symptoms as a basis for diagnosing certain body disorders, the
agronomist may use plant symptoms as a basis for studying plant disorders.
Scarseth and Salter (67) suggested that no grower of plants can afford
to disregard the "hunger signs" shown by a "starving plant".
Scarseth (62) summarised the value of the three diagnostic
approaches thus: (1) soil testing may predict possible soil needs be­
fore planting the crop, (2) tissue testing may help determine the
nutrient during the growing season, and (3) visual plant deficiency
symptoms may indicate extreme and damaging shortages.
As previously mentioned, soil tests may indicate soil nutrient
deficiencies before planting the crop, while the testing of certain
plant tissues daring the growing season may reveal early elemental
deficiencies and the relative balance of nutrients in the plant*
Such deficiencies cannot be determined accurately by a soil analysis
alone. An abundant supply of soil nutrients may not be demonstrated
by the appearance of the growing plant and available plant nutrients
in the soil is only one of the many growth-factors operating (7k,8U)*
Therefore, when analysing the soil or plant tissues, all growth-
factors should be considered. Because of these many growth factors,
every available method (29) for diagnosing plant and soil deficiencies
should be used by the agronomist*
Only a fee workers use nutrient deficiency symptoms of plants as
a diagnostic technique; nevertheless, it is a useful tool. Goodall and
Gregory (29) consider this method valuable in research if the deficiency
characteristics are sensitive enough for reliable accuracy and easily
distinguished. Certain plants (111) serve as a more reliable indicator
of visual nutrient deficiencies than others. Corn, with its large,
wide leaves and fibrous root system, is more sensitive to supply
changes than many other plants* Visual methods of diagnosis may be
objectionable because of the delay suggested by Peach and Platimius
(52) of taro or three weeks between elemental deficiency and the
appearance of visual deficiency symptoms in the plant*
Purpose of the Investigation
In general, all of the research up to the present indicates
that soil testing, plant tissue testing and deficiency symptoms should
be used as a supplement to each other by agronomic workers in diagnostic
methods for soils and crops.
Since soil testing (8), tissue testing (80), and deficiency
symptoms (IjO) have been accepted as useful methods (55) of diagnosing
nutrient deficiencies, it was the purpose of this investigation to
determine the correlation of these three procedures.
The Jordan fertility plots serve admirably as a source of
material for such an investigation since they were established
approximately seventy years previous to the investigations and have
attained stable fertility levels, depending upon the fertiliser
treatment of each plot.
The two corn hybrids (Ohio K-2U and tt-15) that were grown on
each of the thirty-six plots of tier 1 (19U8) and tier 2 (19l;9) were
used as the test crop to determine the correlation and relationship
of soil tests, tissue tests and deficiency symptoms for nitrogen,
phosphorus, potassium and magnesium.
Later the study was enlarged to include the improvement and
development of any procedures necessary for the investigation.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A. The Jordan Fertility Plots
The Jordan Fertility Plots ( U8, 73* 76) were laid out in
1881 by Dr* Whitman Jordan, then chemist of the Pennsylvania Agri­
cultural Experiment Station* These plots have been continued since
that time without interruption, making them the oldest extensive,
continuous fertilizer experiments in America, Only the first two of
the original four tiers remain in the experiment. During the first
forty years (1881-1921) lime was only applied to plots Nos* 22, 23
and 3U. The primary objective of these fertility plots was to compare
the common fertilizer amendments available at the time the plots were
laid out* All plots of tier 2, except those receiving lime regularly
as a fertilizer amendment and two phosphoric acid-potash plots (7 and
2*>), received lime in 1922 and have been limed periodically to main­
tain a pH of approximately 6*5* Except for the burnt lime applied
only to the corn crop, fertiliser and manure treatments have been
applied to both corn and wheat.
Each tier of the Jordan Fertility Plots has been divided into
thirty-six paralled one-eighth acre plots with a width sufficient
for six corn rows* Table 1 shows a sketch of the plot arrangement
and treatments. An undisturbed grass strip, approximately one foot
wide, separates these plots to help prevent soil treatment mixtures.
Some of the plots are quite variable as a result of soil erosion,
especially those of low fertility* However, the dominating effect
of fertiliser treatments has overshadowed the variations within the
plots*
Table 1* Plan of the Pennsylvania Soil Fertility Plots of the
"General Fertiliser Series"*
Laid out in 1881 by Whitman Jordan
During the first ten rotations (1881 - 1921), the experiment sea
conducted as originally planned, exoept that beginning in 1917
superphosphate was substituted for boneblaok*
Tier 1 Tier 2 (Limed 1922)
1 No treatment 1 No treatment
2 N 24 N(D. B.) 2 N 24 N(D. B.)
3 P 3 P
4 K 4 K
5 NP 24 N(D. B«) 5 NP 24 N(D. B.)
6 NK 24 N(D. B.) 6 NK 24N (D* B.)
7 PK 7 PK Unlimed
8 No treatment 6 No treatment
9 NPK 24 N(D. B.) 9 NPK 24 N(D* B*)
10 NPK 48 N(D* B.) 10 NPK 48 N(D* B.)
11 NPK 72 N(D. B.) 11 NPK 72 N(D. B.)
D* B* - dried 12 NPK 30 N(D. B.) 12 NPK 30 N(D. B«)
blood 13 320 lbs CaS04 13 6 T.M + N, PK*
14 No treatment 14 No treatment
P. - 48 lbs 16 PK 15 PK
P^Og in super. 16 6 T* manure 16 S T* manure
phosphate 17 UPK 24 N(D* B.) 17 NPK 34 N(D. B)
18 8 T* manure 18 8 T* manure
K - lOQLbs K20 19 NPK 48 N(D. B.) 19 NPK 48 N(D* B.)
in muriate of 20 10 T* manure 20 10 IT* manure
potash 21 NPK 72 N(D* B«) 21 NPK 72 N(D* B«)
22 2 T* CaO 4 6 T*M(CaO to Com)22 6 r*M * P (CaO)#
On plot 12 & 23 2 T* CaO (to corn) 23 CaO#
35, P is de*> 24 No treatment 24 No treatment
rived from 25 Pk 25 PK Unlimed
bone meal 26 NPK 24 N(FaNOj) 26 NPK 24 N(NaNOs)
27 NPK 48 N(Ntif03) 37 NPK 48 N(NaNOS)
28 NPK 72 N(NaN03) 28 NPK 72 N(NaNOg)
29 PK 39 PK
30 NPK 24 N(NH4)2 S04 30 NPK 24 N(NH^2 s04
31 NPK 48 N(NH4j)2 S04 31 NPK 48 N(NH4)2 S04
32 NPK 72 N(NH4)2S04 SI NPK 72 N(NE4)2 SOft
33 320 lbs. Ca S04 33 CaS04 discontinued
34 2 T. CaCO. 34 CaCOg "
35 NPK 30 N(D* B.) 36 NPK 30 N(D. B.)
36 No treatment 38 No treatment
"To oora, €T* manure plus 30 lbs* $2°5* to sheet, 10 lbs* N(NaNOg) plus
60 lbs* PjgOfi plus 50 lbs* KgO* All treatments are applied to oom euid
wheat exoept as otherwise indicated*
#CaO discontinued in 1922*