Table 21. Approximate Absorption of Nutrients by Traditional Vegetable Crops.

		Nutrient Absorption (lb/acre)
Vegetable	Yield (cwt/acre)	Plant Part	N	P	K
Bean, green	100	Beans Plants Total	120   50 170	10   6 16	55   45 100
Broccoli	100	Heads Other Total	20 145 165	2   8 10	45 165 210
Brussels sprouts	160	Sprouts Other Total	150   85 235	20   9 29	125 110 235
Carrot	500	Roots Tops Total	80   65 145	20   5 25	200 145 345
Celery	1000	Tops Roots Total	170   25 195	35 15 50	380   55 435
Corn, sweet	130	Ears Plants Total	55 100 155	8 12 20	30   75 105
Honeydew melon	290	Fruits Vines Total	70 135 205	8 15 23	65   95 160
Lettuce	350	Plants	95	12	170
Muskmelon	225	Fruits Vines Total	95   60 155	17   8 25	120   35 155
Onion	400	Bulbs Tops Total	110   35 145	20   5 25	110   45 155
Pepper	225	Fruits Plants Total	45   95 140	6   6 12	50   90 140
Pea, shelled	40	Peas Vines Total	100   70 170	10 12 22	30 50 80
Potato	400	Tubers Vines Total	150   60 210	19 11 30	200   75 275
Spinach	200	Plants	100	12	100
Sweet Potato	300	Roots Vines Total	80   60 140	16   4 20	160   40 200
Tomato	600	Fruits Total	100   80 180	10 11 21	180 100 280

Source: Knott's Vegetable Growers Handbook. 4^th edition. Don Maynard and George Hochmut.

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