RESEARCH ON FERTILIZER RESPONSE OF GRAHAM STYLO GROWN ON DIFFERENT SOILS

Ten types of soil were collected from Guangdong Province in South China and planted to Graham stylo (Stylosanthes guianensiss cv. Graham) in pots so that nutrient requirements could be assessed. The main results of the experiment are as follows: The response of the stylo to P fertilizer in many soils was good, but P fertilizer had no significant effect on stylo in the soil where available P was higher than 5 ppm. or available P was ranging from 3 to 5 ppm and the soil pH was greater than 7. Liming on high pH (>7) soil would decrease the availability of P. After soil P deficiency was corrected. K fertilizer was good for stylo growth and achieved significant effect on dry matter production, but it usually reduced crude protein content and caused luxury absorbption of K. P fertilizer could reverse the situation. The stylo in early growth stage showed no response to K fertilizer. K fertilizer had an accumulative effect on the late stage of the stylo. Liming in soil with the pH lower than 5 such as Quaternary red soil and granite soil had highly positive effect on the growth of the stylo and liming in soil with the pH greater than 7 such as limestone soil or purple sandy shale soil had highly negative effect on stylo growth. Liming in soils with the pH ranging from 5 to 7 had no significant effect. Liming. P. K fertilizing might affect the availability of trace elements such as B. Mo etc..