Seed Coating and Localized Application of Phosphate for Improving Seedling Growth of Grasses on Acid, Sandy Red Earths

摘要

The seedling growth of tropical grasses on acidic, sandy red earths was improved greatly by the napplication of small amounts of phosphate fertilizers in close proximity to the seed. Fertilizer had nto be applied within 5 cm of the seed of Anthephorapubescens to have any effect. Many phosphorus nsources stimulated seedling growth of Cenchrus ciliaris when applied as coatings to the fascicle (the npropagule containing the grain). Water-soluble orthophosphates proved the best phosphorus nsources for the purpose. Optimum rates of coating ranged up to 2 mg phosphorus per fascicle n(10 mg monosodium phosphate), depending on the availability of surface soil moisture. nValuable grasses such as C, ciliaris could be introduced into millions of hectares of native pastures non infertile, sandy soils in north-eastern Australia, at reasonable cost, if a suitable commercial coating nprocess can be developed.