EFFICIENCY AND INTERACTION AMONG NUTRIENTS IN CROP PRODUCTION IN COTTON, BEANS, SOYBEAN AND WHEAT

Abstract

This research aimed to evaluate saturation kinetic models of plant responses to fertilization, and to understand possible interactions among nutrients in the efficiency of nutrient use in crop production. Data of soybean (Glycine max), wheat (Triticum aestivum), cotton (Gossipium hirsutum), and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) responses to nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium fertilization showed hyperbolic curves and followed a Michaelis-Menten relationship. The data were evaluated by Lineweaver-Burk to obtaining the kinetic constants kmax (theoretical maximum performance) and ks (amount of nutrient to reach half theoretical maximum performance). The effect of a second factor (limestone, nitrogen or phosphorus) in changing the kmax and ks of the first nutrient under evaluation. A second nutrient increases the efficiency of the first nutrient under evaluation, by increasing kmax without or with increase in ks. In both situations, the highest efficiency of use of nutrient happens at low-level fertilization. Although maximum crop productivity is always desirable, it demands elevated levels of nutrients, but the efficiency of nutrient use decreases drastically as the level of the nutrient increases, especially when ks is low. In addition, elevated levels of fertilizers in agriculture leads to exhaustion of nonrenewable natural resources and environmental pollution.