Comparative effects of foliar- and root-applied phosphorus on one-year-old trees

Abstract

The response of one-year-old peach trees growing in sand culture to foliar applications of 1 per cent potassium dihydrogen phosphate given in summer, autumn, or summer ± autumn after initial pH adjustment to 2.5, 4.5 or 6.5 was compared with that of controls fed ± phosphate via roots. After one season, it was clear that foliar-applied phosphate had been less effective than root-applied phosphate as a means of increasing tree growth and phosphorus content. This result allied with other published information suggests that foliar applications are an inefficient means of supplying phosphate to fruit trees.