The control of soil physical conditions in pot trials.

Abstract

The sensitivity of plant yield to increasing availability of water, and the depression caused by low soil aeration in pot culture has been examined. The influence of these effects upon the reliability of pot trials is discussed. The need for standardization of physical conditions, particularly where responses in different soils are compared, is stressed and the basis for the technique evolved for a fertility survey on soils of widely different characteristics is given. Pot water contents based on pF are considered desirable, and the water content corresponding to pF 2 has been found satisfactory, in this respect for routine trials.