Effect of interaction of water and phosphorus on maize growth and phosphorus accumulation in fluvo-aquic soil

Pot experiments in greenhouse were conducted to investigate effect of soil water and phosphorus interaction on maize growth and P accumulation in fluvo-aquic soil. The results indicate that heights and leaf areas of the plant were significantly affected by soil water and phosphorus. Plant height and leaf area of maize under the suitable phosphorus application and water stress condition increased by 69.7% and 33.6%, while those under suitable phosphorus application and suitable water condition increased by 38.3% and 48.0%. Under water stress, maize root development was enhanced, and resulted in higher root dry weight and higher root to shoot ratio compared to the suitable water treatments. Interaction of water and phosphorus could increase maize dry matter accumulation and represents positive interaction effects. Suitable soil water treatments could increase plant phosphorus accumulation amounts, but have little effects on plant phosphorus contents among suitable phosphorus treatments. Excess amount of phosphorus application could result in plant extravagant absorption of phosphorus under suitable water treatments, while decreased phosphorus absorption was occurred under water stress treatments. These results indicate that suitable water and phosphorus interaction could have a good coupled effect which is represented as water could promote phosphorus effects and phosphorus could promote water effects at the same time.