Determination of optimum nutrient element ratios in plant tissue

A new approach for determining optimum nutrient element ratios in plant tissue is presented. Essential steps in the procedure involve: a) measuring patterns of response to pairs of nutrient elements in factorial fertilizer trials, b) modeling the yield response surface using a bivariate, Mitscherlich‐related response function, c) defining balanced nutrition in terms of the parameters of the response surface, d) identifying combinations of P and S fertilizer resulting in balanced nutrition, and e) determining from plant chemical analysis the ratio of nutrients in plant tissue in nutritionally balanced combinations. The approach is illustrated by data from a phosphorus (P) by sulfur (S) factorial field fertilizer trial on a mown mixed white clover (Trifolium repens cv Grasslands Huia) and ryegrass (Lolium perenne L cv Grasslands Nui) sward. Different parameters of yield [total dry matter production, clover dry matter production, clover nitrogen (N) uptake] required different ratios of S:P in fertilizer and consequently in plant tissue for nutritional balance. Also, plant tissue S:P ratios for balanced nutrition declined as the level of nutrition increased. Economic optimum S:P fertilizer ratios were higher than those ratios required for nutrient element balance due to the lower cost and higher effectiveness per kilogram of fertilizer S compared with fertilizer P. Ratios of S and P to N in clover tissue were useful indicators of the adequacy of S and P for clover which was dependent on N2 fixation for its N supply. It is suggested that a nutrient element index system showing both relative and absolute nutrient element status might be built around N as an internal standard for legumes dependent on N2 fixation and possibly also for non‐legumes.