Rates of growth, potassium uptake, and changes in the potassium properties of four Queensland soils during intensive cropping by buffel grass, Cenchrus ciliaris

Abstract

Four Queensland soils were intensively cropped by buffel grass, Cenchrus ciliaris, in controlled environment growth rooms at three temperatures. Rates of growth (dry matter production) of tops and roots, of potassium uptake, and of changes in soil potassium properties were examined. With adequate potassium applied, growth rates for 31 weeks were nearly constant at 2.7, 2.6, 2.0, and 2.0 t/ha/week on a brigalow, grey clay, podzolic, and solodic soil, respectively. Without potassium, exchangeable potassium decreased quickly to a nearly common level on all soils, corresponding decreases occurred in the potassium content of tops and roots, and severe deficiencies with restricted yields soon resulted. Without applied potassium, moderate release of non-exchangeable potassium occurred on all soils during the first 4 weeks of cropping (0.10-0.18 m-equiv./100 g). Apparent fixation of potassium resulted in the succeeding 6-9 weeks, and, on the fine-textured soils (brigalow and grey clay) only, further slow release took place during the period of potassium deficiency when growth was slow. The overall release of non-exchangeable potassium by all four soils was small (0.02-0.16 m-equiv.1 100 g). Higher temperatures significantly increased yields of tops and roots, decreased the potassium concentration in the plants, increased the rate of depletion of exchangeable potassium, and had no effect on the release of non-exchangeable potassium. It is concluded that on these soils, particularly the solodic and podzolic, potassium deficiency will occur under intensive cropping.