Effect of Placement on the Absorption of Rb86 and P32 from Soil by Corn Roots

Abstract

Abstract Placement of Rb 86 and P 32 in the soil affected their relative uptake by corn roots. Autoradiographic techniques were used to determine the uptake processes involved. Banding of the fertilizer rather than mixing with the soil affected Rb 86 uptake more than P 32 uptake. The diffusion rate for Rb 86 in the soil was much larger than for P 32 . Also, Rb 86 was translocated more extensively throughout the corn root than was P 32 . The greater uptake of Rb 86 from band applications appeared to be due to both a greater facility for uptake by a small portion of the root and a greater diffusion of Rb 86 out of the band.