STUDIES IN SOIL AND PLANT MANGANESE: IV. SUPERPHOSPHATE FERTILIZATION AND MANGANESE CONTENT OF YOUNG OAT PLANTS

Results for manganese content of young oat plants and for soil pH from a field experiment involving eight experimental centres receiving applications of lime and phosphate, both at five levels, have been analysed statistically. Manganese content of the oats increased as a result of superphosphate fertilization. This increase was significant at the 0.005 level of probability. Superphosphate treatments have been shown to decrease the soil pH, the effect being significant at the 0.02 level of probability. The roles of phosphate and acidity in increasing the uptake of manganese by the crop have been compared. The possibility of direct and indirect action of these influences has been discussed in the light of other reported investigations.