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When the bulk of phosphorus (P) is located near the soil surface, spring drying of topsoil in Mediterranean-type climates can reduce P availability to crops and cause potential yield loss. In crop species that require a P supply during spring, deep-placement of P fertiliser has proved an effective method of improving P availability and grain yields; however, the spring P demand of field-grown canola (Brassica napus L.) and therefore potential response to deep P placement is not known. This study investigated the effect of deep- (0.170.18m), conventional- (shallow, 0.070.08m), split- (50% deep, 50% shallow), and nil-P fertiliser treatments on P accumulation and seed yields of canola in two field trials. In addition, a glasshouse experiment with different depths of P fertiliser placement and topsoil drying at different growth stages was conducted. In the glasshouse study, deep P placement resulted in greater P uptake by plants, but did not increase seed yields regardless of the time of topsoil drying. At the relatively high-soil-P field site (canola grown on residual P application from the previous year) in a dry season, there was no biomass response to any residual P fertiliser treatments, and P accumulation had ceased by mid flowering. At the low-P field site, P accumulation continued throughout flowering and silique-filling, and seed yields increased significantly (P≤0.05) in the order of split- > deep- > shallow- > nil-P treatments. Improved seed yields in the split- and deep-P treatments appeared to be the direct result of enhanced P availability; in particular, P uptake during vegetative growth (winter) was higher in the treatments with deep P placement. A greater understanding of P accumulation by field-grown canola in relation to soil P properties is needed for better defining optimum P fertiliser placement recommendations.

The effect of localised phosphorus (P) fertiliser placement and in particular, deep P fertiliser placement, on the comparative root growth and P uptake of fibrous vs tap-rooted crops is not known. In this study, we examined the root growth and P uptake of wheat (Triticum aestivum L), canola (Brassica napus L), and narrow-leaf lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L) in a split-root system and in columns with deep (19 cm) or shallow (5 cm) P fertiliser sources in glasshouse conditions. In the split-root system, plants of all three species grown under heterogeneous soil P conditions absorbed more P and produced greater root and shoot biomass than those under homogeneous P supply. Root plasticity differed between species under heterogeneous soil P supply: canola and wheat allocated relatively more root biomass and root length to the high P zone than narrow-leaf lupin. In the column experiment, there was no difference in the amount of P accumulated in shoots of any crops grown in the deep vs shallow P fertiliser treatments. Root proliferation occurred within the shallow and deep-P fertiliser bands in all three species; however, root distribution above or below the bands did not differ between deep or shallow P fertiliser treatments in any species. Whilst root plasticity responses to heterogeneous soil P supply differed among species, root architecture (fibrous vs taproot) did not confer any advantage or disadvantage to the acquisition of P from deep vs shallow P fertiliser bands. Moreover, whilst roots proliferate in the vicinity of P fertiliser bands, root distribution outside of the bands appears to remain unaltered in both fibrous and tap-rooted crops during early growth.

The effect of limited P or K supply during and after flowering on canola (Brassica napus L.) seed yields is not known. To determine the growth stage at which canola had accumulated sufficient P or K for maximum yields, we conducted two sand culture experiments in which external P (Experiment 1) or K (Experiment 2) supply was removed at four growth stages (GS 4.7; GS 4.9-5.5; GS 6.2 and maturity). Two levels of P/K supply (adequate or high) were included in each experiment. Plants had accumulated enough K by early flowering (GS 4.7) for maximum seed yields at both adequate and high K supply. Under high P supply, canola plants had accumulated sufficient P by early flowering (GS 4.7) for maximum yields. Under adequate P supply, yield loss occurred when P was removed at early flowering (GS 4.7), predominantly due to a combination of fewer siliques and fewer seeds per silique on branches. Yield loss when P supply was removed at late flowering (GS 4.9-5.5) was due to fewer seeds per silique on branches. Early P removal caused more P remobilization from vegetative organs to the seed. When K was supplied until later growth stages, K concentration in the silique walls increased under both adequate and high K supply. Stem K concentrations also increased under high supply. The results suggest that when P supply is near-limiting, canola requires a continued supply of P post-flowering for maximum seed yields.

The role of hydraulic lift in nutrient uptake from dry topsoil is unclear. Vertically-split root systems were used to measure hydraulic lift and phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) uptake at the rosette and flowering stages of two canola (Brassica napus L.) cultivars (Trigold and Boomer with small and large root systems, respectively) grown in soil low in P and K. Rubidium (Rb) was used as a tracer to examine K uptake from K fertiliser banded in dry topsoil. During vegetative growth, statistically significant hydraulic lift was measured, irrespective of cultivar root size or a specific nutrient (P or K) placed in the topsoil. The Rb tracer revealed significant amounts of K were absorbed from the dry soil, but at rates five-fold lower than from the moist soil. The water lifted could not prevent cessation of P uptake by Boomer and a reduction in P uptake by Trigold. During mid to late flowering, ion uptake from the dry topsoil was impeded despite the continuation of hydraulic lift up to 28 days after the topsoil was dried. Minimal fine root growth following topsoil drying (and reduction in fine root biomass in some treatments) appeared to be the primary cause of impeded nutrient uptake.

The phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) accumulation patterns of canola (Brassica napus L.) are poorly understood, although such information is essential for determining optimal P- and K-fertilizer strategies. This study investigated the patterns of P and K uptake and distribution among plant organs of three early or midmaturing canola cultivars (Tribune, Trigold, and Boomer) differing in K efficiency compared to wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Nyabing). Plants were grown in a glasshouse with nonlimiting P and K supply and harvested at eight growth stages until maturity. Maximum P accumulation by all canola cultivars occurred during late flowering (GS 5,5; 84 d after sowing), whereas P accumulation in wheat plants peaked just prior to anthesis (Z59; 73 d after sowing). Maximum accumulation of K in canola cultivars Tribune and Trigold occurred 73 d after sowing (GS 4,8), but peaked earlier (61 d after sowing) in Boomer canola (GS 4,2) and Nyabing wheat (Z55). The results highlight the importance of early P and K supply to both species; however, the extended uptake of P and K by the canola cultivars Trigold and Tribune compared to wheat suggests that availability of soil P or K postflowering may be of more importance to canola than to wheat.