Effect of mineral fertilization and growth regulators on the content of mineral components in pea plants

The aim of the study has been to determine the effect of mineral fertilization and growth regulators on the content of mineral components in plants of two pea cultivars. The research was based on a two-factor pot trial. Two cultivars of pea were gown: cv. Poker (sugar pea with traditional foliage) and cv. Wenus (a general use, narrow-leaf cultivar). The effect of traditional fertilization with single NPK fertilizers was compared to that with multi-component fertilizers: Polifoska 6 and Amofoska 3 (alone or with the growth regulators: auxins IBA and NAA, triacontanol, L-tryptophan, adenine and cyokinin BA). Seeds of sugar pea cultivar Poker contained more phosphorus, potassium and calcium than those of universal cv. Wenus. Higher concentration of potassium in vegetative organs was found in cv. Wenus. Fertilization with Polifoska 6 increased the content of phosphorus in seeds and vegetative organs whereas Amofoska 3 stimulated mainly the accumulation of potassium. The growth stimulators tended to depress the content of phosphorus, potassium and magnesium in seeds but raised their levels in vegetative organs. Cultivar Poker, a traditional pea variety, was characterised by a more desirable distribution of phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium than narrow-leaf cv. Wenus. Mineral fertilization, compared to the control, stimulated more strongly the uptake of phosphorus than that of calcium and consequently lead to the narrowing of the mol calcium to phosphorus ratio. In contrast, the growth regulators improved that ratio owing to the increased transfer of calcium to seeds. Cv. Wenus was characterised by a broader K : (Ca + Mg) ratio in all examined aerial organs than cv. Poker. Mineral fertilization considerably increased these values.