ECOPHYSIOLOGY OF CROPS’PHOSPHORUS

In nature, Phosphorus (P) exists in oxidized forms; orthophosphate (PO43−) is the most prevalent type. The majority of the time, plants get P through their roots absorbing soluble inorganic H2PO4– (Pi) from the soil. The process by which plants transform solar energy into food, fiber and oil requires phosphorus. Phosphorus is essential for photosynthesis, sugar metabolism, energy transfer and storage, cell division, cellular growth and genetic information transfer.