Leaf development, radiation interception and radiation-use efficiency of kale crops supplied with different rates of banded or broadcast phosphorus fertiliser

Abstract

Inadequate phosphorus (P) supply at crop establishment can reduce dry matter (DM) accumulation. A field experiment quantified the effects of banded or broadcast P fertiliser (0, 20, 40 or 60 kg P/ha) applied at establishment to moderately fertile soils on growth and development of ‘Regal’ kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala L.) crops. DM yield increased from 8710 to ~11 400 kg/ha by the addition of P fertiliser but was unaffected by the method of P application. The control crops accumulated 630 kg DM/100 degree-day (degree-day-accumulated heat available for crop growth) compared with ~800 kg/100 degree-day for the P-fertilised crops. The yield response to P was caused by an increased rate of development of leaf area index (LAI) and consequently earlier canopy closure that led to higher accumulated radiation interception (RIcum). The maximum LAI for the control crops was 3.80 or 24% lower than for fertilised crops. At the final harvest total RIcum for P-fertilised crops was 22% higher than the 592 MJ/m2 for the control, and this accounted for 80% of their yield differences. Leaf appearance rates were unaffected by P supply, with a common phyllochron of 109 degree-day. There was a consistent relationship between light interception and LAI, with a critical LAI of 3.40, extinction coefficient of 0.90 and radiation-use efficiency of 1.56 g/MJ photosynthetically active radiation. Overall, these results support a starter P application of at least 20 kg P/ha at establishment to maximise yields for kale crops when initial soil Olsen P levels ranged from 9 to 17 mg/kg soil.