Phosphorus foraging root development of Brassica rapa nothovar. grown in a phosphorus-deficient nonallophanic Andisol

Lateral root of Brassica crops firmly aggregated around Ca-alginate gel beads containing dicalcium phosphate dihydrate and -cyclodextrin (DCPD gel bead) in a phosphate (P)-deficient soil (Nanzyo et al., 2002, Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 48, 847–853). The first aim of the present study was to identify the component in the DCPD gel beads that accounts for the special root proliferation. This P-foraging root growth was observed in plots applied with either polyolefin-coated NH₄H₂PO₄ (POC-MAP) or DCPD powder instead of the DCPD gel beads. The POC-MAP neither contains Ca, alginate nor -cyclodextrin. The DCPD powder was applied in a similar number of spots with the number of DCPD gel beads. Thus, the essential component in the DCPD gel beads for the P-foraging root growth around them was P. The second aim was to examine the effect of various inorganic P sources on the P uptake of B. rapa nothovar. While significant P uptake was obtained in the plot applied with apatite from Florida, USA, sediment origin (F-Ap), almost no P uptake was obtained in that with apatite from Quebec, Canada, igneous origin in the P-deficient nonallophanic Andisol. Hence, a P-release level from F-Ap was near the lower limit for the P uptake by the B. rapa nothovar. under the present experimental conditions. These results indicate the P foraging characteristics of the Brassica roots contribute to improve the P recovery rate in the agricultural fields with localized application of moderately-soluble P fertilizers.