Comparing fertilizer phosphorus requirements of canola, lupin, and wheat

Increases in yield due to applications of phosphorus (P) (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 40 kg P/ha) applied as single (ordinary) superphosphate were measured for canola (Brassica napus), lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) in a field experiment on a deep sandy soil near Esperance, south-western Australia (WA). There are no data comparing the P requirements of these species grown at the same time, which was done by determining the amount of P required to produce 90% of the maximum yield for each species. The amount of P required was about 50% less for canola than wheat and about 10% more for lupin than wheat (60% more than canola). For each amount of P applied, the concentration of P in shoots and grain was greater for canola, followed by lupin and then wheat, suggesting that canola and lupin roots were better at accessing soil P than wheat. The critical concentration of P (diagnostic) required for 90% maximum yield of dried shoots measured in September was about 2.3 g/kg P for wheat, 2.8 g/kg P for lupin, and 3 g/kg P for canola. Similar critical values were obtained when P concentration in the shoots was related to grain yield (prognostic).