p-rank of a group ($d_p(G)$)

For a finitely generated group, let $G^p$ denote the subgroup generated by all $p$th powers. Its p-rank isThis is the dimension of the largest quotient that is an elementary abelian group of exponent $p$. In a group presentation with $d$ generators and $s$ relators that are not $p$th powers, reduction of the exponent sums modulo $p$ gives at most $s$ linear constraints. Hence $d_p(G)\ge d-s\ge {\mathrm{def}}_p(\mathcal{P})$. In particular a presentation of p-deficiency at least one yields a surjection onto $C_p$.