Abstract

Co 10 finger millet was grown as test crop to study the utilization of added P in the form of pa labelled super phosphate. It was found that the fraction of P in plants derived from fertilizer increased progressively with increasing dose of added P. the proportion of fortilizer P being significantly higher at harvest stage than on the 35th day. Fertilizer Pro- mained in more available form throughout the crop growth than the native soil P and the percentage utilization of added P on the 35th day after transplantation, increased with in- creasing dose of P in calcareous and non-calcareous red soils The overall percentage uti- lization was higher in the non-calcareous red soil than in the calcareous red soil. At this stage a maximum of 9.34% in calcareous red soil and 12.86% in non-calcareous red soil of added P was utilized et 53 kg P/ha level by finger millet crop. At harvest stage, the maxi- mum percentage utilization of added P was 21.58 in calcareous red soil and 22.35 in non- calcareous red soil at 13 kg P/ha level. A direct relationship on the 35th day and an in- verse relationship at harvest stage existed between utilization and levels of fertilizer P applied.

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