Phosphorus seed coatings for pasture species. II. Comparison of effectiveness of phosphorus applied as seed coatings, drilled or broadcast, in promoting early growth of phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.) and lucerne (Medicago sativa L.)

Abstract

The relative efficiency of phosphorus (P) seed coatings and drilled and broadcast applications of P was investigated in a glasshouse experiment conducted with phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.) and lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) in P-deficient soil. Two P sources (monocalcium phosphate [MCP] and dicalcium phosphate [DCP]) were used at three rates in seed coatings (0, 5 and 10 kg P ha-1) or at six rates each of drilled or broadcast applications (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 40 kg P ha-1). MCP coatings severely reduced lucerne emergence and hence yield, but had little effect on phalaris emergence. No other fertilizer treatment affected emergence. The height of phalaris plants at 27 days after sowing (d.a.s.) was increased as much by seed coatings containing MCP at 5 kg P ha-1 as by drill or broadcast applications of MCP at 20 kg P ha-1. Plant height of the MCP seed coating treatments was also less variable than the other application methods, suggesting that the coatings provided more uniform access to P. Seed coatings containing DCP at 10 kg P ha-1 increased phalaris plant height more than did drilled or broadcast applications at 40 kg P ha-1, but there was no effect of any DCP treatment on lucerne growth at 27 d.a.s. The relatively large differences observed in plant height between different application methods at 27 d.a.s. diminished over time until, at 57 d.a.s., only small differences were evident. The dry matter yield and P content of both species were increased by increasing rates of MCP, but DCP had little effect at any rate. The reduced differences between the seed coating treatments and the other application methods at harvest may have been due to the limited soil volume of the pots used; further work is necessary in larger soil volumes to determine the significance of the early growth advantage conferred on phalaris by the phosphorus seed coatings, and to find ways of protecting lucerne from soluble P sources during germination.