The growth and nutrient uptake of pea plants were studied over a range of rates of oxygen supply and fertilizer levels. Oxygen diffusion rates, which varied from very low to those adequate for plant growth, as determined by platinum electrode techniques, were obtained by varying the depth of water table. Three fertilizer rates were used to determine the extent to which fertilization might alleviate low oxygen supply. Nutrient uptake was measured by chemical analysis of roots and tops of the plants. At very low oxygen diffusion rates, fertilizer had little effect on growth. Increasing the rate of O 2 diffusion from 15 × 10 ‐8 g. cm. ‐2 min. ‐1 to 72 × 10 ‐8 g. cm. ‐2 min. ‐1 increased growth and nutrient uptake. High and medium fertilizer rates partially but not completely reduced the effects of low oxygen supply.
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Cline et al. (1959) studied this question.