STUDIES ON THE NUTRIENT PHYSIOLOGY OF THE CHINESE KALE (Brassica alboglabra Bailey) I. CHARACTERISTICS OF NUTRIENT ABSORPTION

In the amounts of NPK absorbed by the Chinese kale plant, K was greatest, N next and P Leart. The absorption ratio of NPK changed with the growth stage, NK level in the plant was higher, and K uptake was obviously greater than N before flower bud differentiation, thereafter, NK became proportionally less during flower stslk formation, the ratio of N, P2O5, K2O being 5. 3 : 1 : 5. 5 al harvesting.The contents ( % ) of N, P and K in the Plant decreased gradually, bnt the amounts absorbed increased gradually with growth. The uptake during flower stalk formation constituted 3/4 of the total amount.The distribution of N3 P and K changed with growth, and more than 95% of them were distributed to stems and leaves before flower bud differentiation. The proportion of nutrients in stems and leaves decresed rapidly during flower stalk formation. At harvesting, the proportion of N, P, K, Ca and Mg in the flower stalk reached 3/4 of total N, 2/3 of total P, K, Ca and Mg, respectively.