The effect of age on the response of wheat to nutrient stress

Abstract

Wheat plants (CV. Gamenya) were deprived of nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium at several stages of development. Starvation for only two weeks affected the growth rate at early stages, but not at later stages, and had no effect on dry-weight of the ear. Continuous starvation for any of the nutrients at any stage up to ear emergence reduced the weight of inflorescence, the reduction being greater the earlier starvation occurred. Starvation of any of the three nutrients after ear emergence had no effect on dry-weight. Potassium starvation before joitning prevented stem elongation more than starvations for nitrogen or phosphorus.