The early requirement for plant nutrients by subterranean clover seedlings (Trifolium subterraneum)

Abstract

Growth studies of subterranean clover seedlings grown in water culture solutions revealed that the seedlings quickly exhausted the seed supplies of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. The seedlings had depleted their initial mineral reserves and were in need of additional supplies within 7 days for calcium, approximately 10 days for phosphorus, 14 days for nitrogen and magnesium, and 21 days for potassium. Nitrogen-deficient plants recovered quickly after being transferred to a complete nutrient solution. Calcium-deficient plants did not recover. Plants grown in nutrient solution that lacked phosphorus had longer roots than those affected by deficiency of nitrogen, potassium, calcium, or magnesium. For the first 45 days after germination, seedlings in phosphorus-deficient solutions developed longer roots than control plants.