Interaction of soil compaction, phosphorus and zinc on clover growth and accumulation of phosphorus

Soil compaction generally reduces crop performance because of degraded soil physical and biological properties, and possibly inappropriate soil nutritional status. The effects of varying compaction, and phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn) supplies on the growth of Berseem or Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrimum), and accumulation of P and Zn in shoots and roots were investigated in a pot experiment using a surface layer of a Typic Torrifluvent (USDA), Calcaric Fluvisols (FAO) soil. Plants were treated with three soil compaction levels, three rates of P and three rates of Zn in a factorial combination. Phosphorus accumulation in shoots did not change up to bulk densities of 1.65 Mg m⁻³ and declined at bulk density of 1.80 Mg m⁻³. Increasing the levels of Zn and P resulted in a significant increase in shoot dry mass (from 0.3 to 0.8 g pot⁻¹), and root length (from 11.4 to 32.5 m pot⁻¹). Shoot and root growth were reduced by soil compaction particularly at low P and Zn application rates. Shoot dry mass was reduced from 0.8 to 0.3 g pot⁻¹, and root length from 43 to 5 m pot⁻¹ at bulk densities of 1.4 and 1.8 Mg m⁻³, respectively. However, the accumulation of P (from 0.06 to 0.15 g kg⁻¹) and Zn per unit length of roots (from 0.8 to 1.8 μg pot⁻¹) increased as soil compaction increased. As the Zn supply increased, Zn accumulation per unit length of roots, and total Zn accumulation increased. Severe compaction reduced P and Zn accumulation in shoots and also decreased shoot dry mass, and root length compared to lower soil compaction levels. The present study suggests that Zn and P supply can moderate the adverse effect of soil compaction on clover performance.