Phosphorous ( P ) and its Importance in Plants
anthocyanin phosphorous cycle |
| http://msucares.com/crops/soils/images/phosphorus.gif |
Phosphorous plays an important role in photosynthesis, respiration, energy storage and transfer, cell division and enlargement in plants.
Phosphorous is a component of the complex nuclei, acid structure of plants, which regulates protein synthesis. Phosphorus is recommended as row applied starter fertilizer for increasingly early growth.The structures of both DNA and RNA are linked together by phosphorous bonds. Phosphorous is a vital component of DNA the genetic memory unit of all living things.
Phosphorous helps plants in Stimulated root development, increased stalk and stem strength, improved flower formation and seed production, more uniform and earlier crop maturity, increased nitrogen fixing capacity of legumes, increased resistance to plant diseases and supports development throughout entire life cycle.
Phosphorous deficiency is more difficult to identify than Nitrogen and Potassium. The plants are usually dark bluish green in colour with leaves and stem becoming purplish. The purplish colour is due to accumulation of sugars that favors the synthesis of anthocyanin (a purplish colored pigment), which occurs in the leaves of the plant.
Soil phosphorus is classified into organic and inorganic groups. Organic phosphorous is found in plant residues and manures. Inorganic forms of phosphorous consist of apatite complexes of iron and aluminium phosphates and phosphorus absorbed onto clay particles.
