Utilization of Added Phosphorus by Potato in Ootacamund Soils

An experiment was conducted on potato in small lysimeters, using four levels of phosphorus to find out how far the applied nutrient is used by the crop, and how the remaining nutrient could be accounted for. Utilisation of P by potato plants was observed to be low, inspite of high doses, although luxury consumption of P by potato plants was observed to some extent. P content In tubers at normal harvest was the best Indication for calculating the total quantity of P removed by potato crop. No loss of P was observed in the leachate. The balance sheet for P in the soil, showed that fixed P, formed the bulk of the added P in the lateritic soils of the Nilgiris.