EFFECTS OF DIRECT DRILLING AND SHALLOW CULTIVATION ON THE NUTRIENT CONTENT OF SHOOTS OF WINTER-WHEAT AND SPRING BARLEY ON CLAY SOILS DURING AN UNUSUALLY DRY SEASON

The uptake of P, K and N by winter wheat and spring barley grown after direct drilling, tine cultivation and plowing on 3 clay soils was examined during the driest season since meteorological records commenced in England. The concentrations of P and K in shoots were little affected by the method of cultivation, in spite of the concentration of these nutrients in the surface layers of the soil following direct drilling. The N concentration was lower in the early stages of growth of winter wheat after direct drilling or shallow cultivation, but not subsequently nor at any stage in spring barley.