EFFECT OF VARYING LEVELS OF ROCK PHOSPHATE ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF STYLO (Stylosanthes guyanensis Aubl.) UNDER ACIDIC SOILS

Abstract

Height of stylo plants at first and second cuttings significantly increased upon application of 300 kg/ha rock phoshate (103.71 kg P2O5). Fresh herbage yield also increased when 100 to 400 kg/ha of rock phosphate was applied. Totalfresh herbage and dry matter yields of Stylo applied with 100 kg/ha rock phosphate and supplemented with 30 kg N/ha and 60 kg K/ha were comparable to the yield of plants applied with 60 kg P2O5/ha from solophos. Plant tissue analysis from second to fourth cuttings revealed a general increase in P content, but not in N and K with increasing rates of rock phosphate application.