An effect of phosphate fertilizer on accumulation of Na, Mg, K and Ca in Shallot Plants (Allium ascalonicum L)

The accumulation patterns of Na, K, Ca and Mg in tissue plants of shallots (Allium ascalonicum L) during its growth have been studied. In this experiment, local variety of shallots from Brebes farm, Central Java Indonesia was applied with two treatments of phosphate fertilizer (50 and 400 P2O5 kg/ha). Nutrient elements were measured using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) techniques. The samples were irradiated using thermal neutron flux 1.5 x 1013 n cm-2s-1 for 10 s and 2.5 min cooling times at the JRR-3M Research Reactor of Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute. There is a tendency that during growth, K content in the bulbs increased until harvest time, and the concentrations were higher than Mg and Ca. Mg content of leaves increased until five weeks and then decreased until senescent time, their concentrations are higher than K and Ca. The addition of P2O5 until 400 kg/ha caused significantly difference in small amounts of Na in the bulbs and stems, K in the bulbs, stems and leaves, Mg in all parts of plants also Ca in the roots, stems and leaves. Na content of roots, bulbs, stem and leaves were smallest comparing with K, Ca and Mg. (author)