Plant analyses and interpretation

Westermann, D.T. (2005) Plant analyses and interpretation. In: Sims, J.T. and Sharpley, A.N., (eds.) Phosphorus: Agriculture and the Environment. Agronomy Monograph, No. 46. pp. 415-436. American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America, Madison, WI.

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Abstract

Plant analysis historic beginnings are generally attributed to T. de Saussure (1804)
following studies by van Helmont, Joseph Priestly, Henry Cavenish, and Antonine
Lavoisier. de Saussure showed that the composition of plant ash varied with the
part analyzed, with the age of the plant, and with the soil upon which the plant
grew. The ash was chiefly composed of alkalis and phosphates. Erasmus Darwin
in his 1800 book, Phytogia: The Philosophy of Agriculture and Gardening (London,
J. Johnson) wrote that both nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) were essential
components of plants. In 1833, the Fifth Duke of Richmond showed that the value
of bone meal fertilizing was due to its P component rather than calcium (Ca), although
Justus von Liebig (1852) is generally considered the father of soil fertility.
Readers interested in additional historic information should consult Ulrich (1948),
Bear (1948), and Russell (1976).

Item Type:	Book Section
NWISRL Publication Number:	1170
Subjects:	Research methodology Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User:	Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:54
Last Modified:	02 Nov 2016 18:45
Item ID:	738
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/738