Drying Method Effects on Extractable Phosphorus Levels in Plant Tissue

Mayland, H.F. and Westermann, D.T. and Florence, A.R. (1978) Drying Method Effects on Extractable Phosphorus Levels in Plant Tissue. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis. 9(7):551-557.

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Abstract

The level of soluble tissue phosphorus (PO₄-P) may be correlated
with the plant P nutritional status, but the amount extracted
depends upon dry matter losses or the amount of enzymatic
or heat-induced hydrolysis of organic P compounds during sample
drying.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L) and sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L)
plant parts grown under low and high soil P conditions, were
freeze-dried or oven-dried at 40, 56, 70, or 100 C. Total K, P,
and 0.35 N acetic-acid-soluble P (measured as PO₄-P) were determined.
Dry matter losses were 0, 6.5, 3.6, 5.5, and 4.9 percent
for the respective drying methods. The total-P values, once corrected
for dry matter losses, were not affected by the drying
methods. The corrected PO₄-P values were 0.15, 0.17, 0.16,
0.16, and 0.19 percent, while the (PO 4-P)/P values were 0.63, 0.69,
0.67, 0.68, and 0.78 for each of the respective drying methods.
The potential utility of extractable PO₄-P in describing the
plants' P nutritional status will depend upon rigorous sample-drying
techniques. Freeze-drying was the most satisfactory method
tested, since it resulted in the least dry-matter loss and least
organic P hydrolysis.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	0415
Subjects:	Mass Import - unclassified
Depositing User:	Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:52
Last Modified:	31 Jan 2017 21:15
Item ID:	346
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/346