EVOLUTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF SOME NUTRIE NTS IN LEAVES, STALK AND COB OF 3 ITALIAN VARIETIES OF SORGHUM DURING ITS DEVELOPMENT

The distribution and dynamics of some macro and micro nutrients in lea ves, stalks and cobs of three Italian Sorghum varieties, Soave and Ves pa, sugary and NK 121, an early hybrid, grown in the same soil near Fl orence (Italy), have been studied from the beginning of plant developm ent to grain maturity. Significant time changes in N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe and Mn contents were found in the aerial parts of the plant during th e whole growth period for the three varieties. A greater amount of mac ro and micro nutrients seems to be required by the early hybrid variet y NK 121.