PHOSPHORUS AND LIMING EFFECTS ON EARLY GROWTH OF SELECTED PLANT-SPECIES GROWN ON AN ULTISOL

A series of pot experiments were conducted to test the effect of phosp horus (P) application and liming on early growth performance of Zea ma ys, Mucuna pruriens and nine woody species (Albizia ferruginea, Cajanu s cajan, Dactyladenia barteri, Dalbergia sissoo, Enterolobium cyclocar pum, Flemingia macrophylla, Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala, and Pentacletra macrophylla) on an Ultisol. Low reponse to liming and high response to P application were observed in this trial. Early top growth of the eleven species was correlated to seed size and seed nitr ogen (N), P, and calcium (Ca) contents. Highest correlation was observ ed with seed P content (r = 0.896*). Large seeded size species (D. ba rteri, E. cyclocarpum, M. pruriens, and P. macrophylla) showed the lea st reponse to P application, while the remaining small seeded size spe cies showed significant responses to P application. The large seeded s pecies also showed relatively less increases in N, P and Ca uptakes wi th P application and liming. The pot test can be used in prescreening of woody species for use on low P and acid soils. The results also emp hasize the need for seed size consideration in multipurpose trees and shrubs selection for establishment in low P and on degraded soils