The Effect of Low Phosphorus on Nine Grass Cultivars for Derelict Land Reclamation

Abstract

The growth of 9 commercially available grass [Lolium perenne, Festuca rubra, F. tenuifolia, Agrostis tenuis] cultivars was studied at 4 P levels (0.003, 0.06, 1.25, 25 .mu.g P ml-1) in flowing solution culture. At the lowest P level which may relate to the P status of reclaimed wastes where fertility has been allowed to fall, the red fescues and fine-leaved sheep''s fescue performed best, the growth of the browntop bent cultivars being severely restricted. The largest intraspecific cultivar differences were shown between the bents, Boral being productive at high P. Species were shown to differ in their P contents, the bents having the highest P values.