Phosphorus-use Efficiency by Pepper (Capsicum frutescens) and Okra (Abelmoschus esculentum) at Different
Phosphorus Fertilizer Application Levels on Two Tropical Soils
Abstract:
Crop growth is continuously threatened by Phosphorus (P) limitation on most tropical and temperate soils. Besides P
fertilizer management, soil type could significantly determine the efficiency of P use by specific crop species. In this
study, the influence of 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg P2O5 kg-1 soil on the growth, P nutrition
and production of two fruit vegetables (hot pepper, Capsicum frutescens and okra, Abelmoschus esculentum) were
evaluated. The goal was to ascertain and compare P use efficiency by the crops on typical tropical soils (a medium acid, Oxic
Paleustalf and a slightly acid, Typic Paleudalf). Growth in height, number of leaves and leaf area as well as biomass
production, fruit yield, P content and uptake were determined. Increasing rates of P supply had insignificant (p<0.05)
effect on the growth of the crops on both soil types within the first four Weeks After Planting (WAP). Phosphorus at 50 mg
P2O5 kg-1 application level, however, produced the tallest pepper plants (27.0 cm) on the
Oxic Paleustalf after five weeks while it was the 150 mg P2O5 kg-1 level that produced the
tallest plants (40.0 cm) at the 6th week on the Typic Paleudalf. Soil available P values obtained after cropping increased
significantly with increasing rates of added P. Okra plants were more efficient in their use of P than the pepper plants on
the two soil types. It was evident that okra could be produced more successfully on soils with relatively low native or added
P compared with pepper.
Ezekiel A. Akinrinde and Ismail O. Adigun , 2005. Phosphorus-use Efficiency by Pepper (Capsicum frutescens) and Okra (Abelmoschus esculentum) at Different
Phosphorus Fertilizer Application Levels on Two Tropical Soils. Journal of Applied Sciences, 5: 1785-1791.
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