Buy a subscription

Home Contact Sitemap login Checkout

Farming Smarter

Farming Smarter
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Who We Are
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Contact Us
  • What We Do
    • What We Do
    • Agronomy Research
    • Commercial Innovation
    • Field Tested
    • Knowledge & Network
  • What We Offer
    • What We Offer
    • Sponsorship Packages
    • Events
    • Research Projects
      • Research Projects
      • Agronomy Research Projects
      • Field Tested Projects
      • Commercial Innovation Projects
    • Subscriptions
      • Subscriptions
      • FS Agronomy Subscription
      • FS Digital Subscription
    • Smart Partner Program
    • Speakers
  • Get Involved
    • Get Involved
    • Jobs
    • Sponsorship
    • I want to help!
    • With On-farm Research
    • With Product Testing
    • With Small Plot Research
    • Internship Opportunities
    • Volunteer!
    • Support Research!
  • Learning Resources
    • Learning Resources
    • Conservation Agronomy
    • Magazine
    • Online Classroom (CEU)
    • News Articles
    • Videos
    • Publications & Reports
      • Publications & Reports
      • Published Papers
      • Research Reports
    • Podcasts
    • 360 Videos
Print This Page

Soil Savvy - Phosphorus Deficiency

Thursday, October 14, 2021

Besides nitrogen, phosphorus is one of the most critical essential elements for adequate crop growth and productivity in agricultural ecosystems.

Phosphorus is involved in the synthesis of several essential compounds required for plant growth and functioning. These compounds include adenosine triphosphate (ATP); the energy currency of the cell, containing a high-energy phosphate group that helps in the storage, transport, and exchange of energy in the biological systems. They also include deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which is the driver of genetic inheritance, and ribonucleic acid (RNA), which regulates protein synthesis.

phosphorus deficiency
Phosphorus deficiency on corn.

Availability of phosphorus promotes multiple aspects of plant growth. These include photosynthesis, flowering, seed production, and root growth including nodule formation and nitrogen fixation in leguminous plants

Additionally, phosphorus also helps to prevent lodging in cereal crops by strengthening the structural tissues of the stalk. Phosphorus deficiency leads to stunted, and thin-stemmed plants. However, phosphorus deficiency may be less noticeable compared to other nutrient deficiencies. This is due to many cases having a lack of symptoms on foliage.

Phosphorus is very mobile within the plant, meaning phosphorus from older leaves is transferred to the younger, rapidly growing leaves. Thus, the older leaves may show deficiency symptoms such as premature senescence, yellowing, and purpling in some cases

Phosphorus deficiency may also cause delayed maturity, poor flowering, and low seed quality in the crops.

The following articles in this series will discuss different forms of plant-available phosphorus in soils, challenges associated with phosphorus fixation, and impacts of environmental quality.

Farming Smarter

211034 Hwy 512, Lethbridge County, AB
T1J 5N9 Canada

Quick Links

Who We Are

What We Do

What We Offer

Get Involved

Learning Resources

More

Staff Directory

Contact

Copyright © Farming Smarter 2023. All rights reserved | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions