Interactive effect of chromium and phosphorus on growth, dry matter yield and their distribution in wheat shoot

A pot experiment using sandy soil was conducted in screen house to evaluate the interactive effect of chromium (0, 1, 2, 4 and 8 mg kg⁻¹ soil) and phosphorus (0, 15, 30 and 60 mg kg⁻¹ soil) on growth and dry matter of shoot in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. WH-542), in relation to tissue concentration and uptake of chromium (Cr) and phosphorus (P). Application of Cr to the soil decreased the length and dry matter of shoot significantly irrespective of applied P and the maximum reduction of 39% and 42%, occurred respectively with 8 mg Cr kg⁻¹ soil. Phosphorus application, on the other hand, increased the growth and dry matter significantly in all the Cr added soil. Chromium content in shoot and its uptake increased markedly with the increasing doses of Cr in the soil. The magnitude of increase in tissue Cr content was higher in the absence of P than in its presence. Consequently, the level of Cr decreased by 15% and 25% in shoot with application of 30 and 60 mg P kg⁻¹ soil, respectively, which ultimately attributed towards the increase in dry matter of the shoot. The content of P in tissue increased and its uptake decreased markedly with increasing levels of Cr in the soil, irrespective of the rates of P applied. It is concluded that added P alleviates the deleterious effect of Cr in the soil and improves the growth and dry matter of shoot in wheat.