Comparative Effect of Phosphorus Sources for Grain Amaranth Production

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) is expensive to the sub‐Saharan African resource‐poor farmers; therefore, there is a need for investigation of locally available alternative P sources to enhance farmers' productivity. Optimum P rate was determined during the early and late rains of 1999. Using the optimum P rate, influences of three P sources ogun rock phosphate (ORP), sokoto rock phosphate (SRP), single super phosphate (SSP) and a control were evaluated on amaranth varieties in 2000 at the vegetable research plots of the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan, Nigeria. In 1999, three grain amaranth varieties (NH84/452, NH84/445, and NH84/493) were combined factorially with four P rates: 0, 30, 60, and 90 kgP/ha. Application of P significantly increased plant height, number of branches, leaf dry weight, and grain yield (GY) per plant. Significant increase in GY was in the order NH/493>NH/445>NH/452. Optimum P rates across varieties for leaf dry‐matter yield was established at 51.8 kgP/ha and for grain yield production was 48.4 kgP/ha. The experiment in the following year, 2000, was a RCB design using the optimum P determined in 1999. Three P sources (ORP, SRP, SSP) and a control were factorially combined with the three amaranth varieties. In the 2000 experiment, grain yield was 21.3, 16.9, 16.0, and 7.8 g/plant, respectively, for SSP, SRP, ORP, and the control. Growth was ranked in the order SSP>ORP>SRP>control. It was concluded for fertilizer recommendation purposes that 50 kgP/ha is optimum for grain amaranth production and that amaranth productivity indices could be alternatively improved with indigenous P sources.     

Evaluation of phosphorus availability from three phosphorus sources in Nigerian soils

Abstract

In an attempt to search for a cheaper source of phosphorus (P), both for direct application and industrial use, three P fertilizers were evaluated in incubation and greenhouse studies. Indigenous Sokoto rock phosphate (SRP) imported, Togo rock phosphate (TRP), and conventional single superphosphate (SSP) were applied on three soil types namely Oxisol, Ultisol, and Alfisol at rates ranging from 0–800 mg P kg^‐1 soil. Evaluation of the P sources was conducted for 12 weeks in incubation study, and five weeks in the greenhouse using maize as test crop. Evaluation of direct application of SSP and SRP on an oxic paleudult was carried out in the field for three years. The results of incubation studies revealed in general, that P availability increased as fertilizer rates increased. The P availability was, however, greater when SSP was applied on the Alfisol than on the Oxisol and Ultisol. The rock phosphates on the other hand were more efficient on acid soils than on soils neutral in pH. Optimum P availability from the fertilizers was observed to occur predominantly between four and eight weeks of incubation. In the greenhouse study, SSP gave the highest cumulative P uptake and optimum rate of application was 200 mg P kg^‐1 soil, while optimum rate for rock phosphate was 400 mg P kg^‐1 soil. The agronomic effectiveness (EA) of the rock phosphates was about 40% relative to SSP on the Alfisol. The EA, however, for TRP and SRP was 120% and 160%, respectively, on the Oxisol, while on the Ultisol, SRP was equally effective as SSP and TRP had 65% effectiveness. The results of the field trial indicated that the SRP had 54%, 83%, and 107% agronomic effectiveness of SSP, respectively, in the first, second, and third year of cropping. Optimum rate for SSP and SRP application was considered to be 50 and 75 kg P₂O₅ ha^‐1, respectively.     

RESIDUAL EFFECTS OF PHOSPHORUS SOURCES IN GRAIN AMARANTH PRODUCTION

Productivity of grain amaranth can be improved at a reduced cost through combined use of low-cost rock phosphate (RP) phosphorus sources as well as selection of amaranth varieties with high phosphorus (P) use efficiencies. Rock phosphate sources are known to exhibit differences with respect to grain yield, disease tolerance and P use efficiency (PUE) in amaranth varieties. However, very little is known about their residual release of P. It is probable that the differential performances exhibited by the RPs might be a function of their P residual properties after cropping. Based on these premises this study was carried out to evaluate the residual effects of P sources under continuous croppings for grain amaranth production. The study was a factorial experiment with four replications. Four P sources: single super phosphate – SSP, ogun rock phosphate – ORP, sokoto rock phosphate – SRP, and control; three amaranth varieties: NH84/493, NH84/445 and NH84/452 were factorially combined with two soil types: Kandiudult and Haplustalf. In order to monitor the residual effects of the P sources the experimental plots were cropped consecutively three times. Results from the study revealed that sandy loam Haplustalf was better than the clayey Kandiudult soil in improving grain amaranth yield under continuous cropping system. Grain yield and relative agronomic efficiency (RAE) decreased with continuous cropping for SSP but increased with continuous cropping for ORP and SRP till second cropping, thereafter there was a decrease. Averaged over the three continuous consecutive croppings, SRP and ORP were 68.9% and 73.5% as effective as SSP in increasing grain yield respectively. It was concluded therefore that ORP and Haplustalf soil are best options for grain amaranth production under continuous cropping system.     

Comparative Effects of Rock Phosphates on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Colonization of Trifolium pratense L.

Abstract

The effect of five rock phosphates with different solubility (from Algeria, North Florida, North Carolina, Senegal, and Morocco) and that of single superphosphate (SSP) alone or with lime was investigated on the root colonization of red clover with indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). In a pot experiment, the phosphorus (P) sources were applied at four rates (0, 100, 400, and 1600 mg total P₂O₅ kg^?1 dry soil) to an acidic sandy soil (Nyírlugos) and to an acidic clay loam soil (Ragály). The arbuscule content of the roots was more sensitive to various rock phosphates than the infection frequency. No mycorrhizal colonization of roots was observed in the Nyírlugos soil at the 1600 mg P₂O₅ kg^?1 level of SSP or in either soil at the 1600 mg P₂O₅ kg^?1 level of SSP+lime, indicating that the mycorrhizal dependency of the host was eliminated by the highest soluble P concentrations in the soil.     

Agronomic Efficiency of Indian Rock Phosphates in Acidic Soils Employing Radiotracer A‐Value Technique

Abstract

A greenhouse pot culture study was conducted to evaluate the agronomic efficiency of two rock phosphates from Mussoorie (MRP) and Purulia (PRP) in two acidic soils from Dapoli (Maharashtra) and Aruvanthklu (Karnataka), India, by growing maize (cv. Ganga) as the test crop and using ³²phosphorus (P) single superphosphate (³²P=SSP) as a tracer (A‐value technique). Dry‐matter yield and P uptake increased significantly with the application of P fertilizers compared to control treatment (without P) in both the soils. There was no significant difference with respect to dry‐matter yield among the P fertilizer treatments. However, P uptake by the shoots was found to be significantly higher in the PRP treatment in only Dapoli soil compared to other P fertilizer treatments. Phosphorus derived from fertilizer decreased in rock phosphate treatments compared to standard ³²P‐SSP treatment in both the soils, indicating an excess availability of P from the rock phosphates. A‐values of soil and rock phosphate indicate a relatively higher P availability from Aruvanthklu soil compared to Dapoli soil; A‐values for the rock phosphates were in the order PRP>MRP. The substitution ratio showed that the availability of P from both the rock phosphates were less than SSP in both the soils.     

Phosphate Speciation and Citrate-Induced Mobilization of P in an Acric Oxisol

Billions of dollars are spent annually in Brazil on imported phosphorus (P) fertilizers for agricultural crops produced on Oxisols. Phosphate fixation by Oxisols is a main limitation to crop productivity because these highly weathered soils have a high phosphate adsorption capacity. The objective was to determine whether reaction of an Acric Oxisol with citrate increases P availability. Columns of P-amended subsoil material were leached with 1 mM citrate solution, and effluent was monitored. Solid-phase speciation was measured for different stages of leaching using X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy at the P K-edge. When soil columns were leached with up to 56 column pore volumes of 1 mM citrate solutions, no P was detected in column effluent samples, whereas aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) increased up to 30 and 1.4 µmol L^?1, respectively. The XANES analysis suggested that with increased leaching, a minor proportion of phosphate adsorbed on Fe-oxides increased as phosphate adsorbed on Al-oxides decreased. The results indicated that citrate tends to induce minor species redistribution of phosphate between Al- and Fe-oxide bound forms, but P mobilization was trivial compared with complexometric mobilization of Fe and Al.     

不同施磷水平对土壤中重金属镉的钝化效果评价

通过室内培养试验,以P/Cd摩尔配比分别为0,2∶3,3∶2,2∶1,4∶1进行了不同磷肥钝化修复Cd污染土壤试验。采用毒性淋溶提取法(TCLP)和形态分析法评价了磷酸氢二铵(DAP)、磷酸二氢钾(MPP)、过磷酸钙(SSP)和磷酸钙(TCP)对污染土壤中Cd的钝化效果。结果表明,4种磷肥的钝化效果依次为:MPPDAPSSPTCP,4种磷肥的钝化处理可显著降低土壤中TCLP提取态Cd含量,在磷肥剂量水平P/Cd为4∶1时对土壤中Cd的钝化效果最佳,最大降低幅度为49%;添加磷肥能够大幅度提高土壤中速效磷的含量,相同磷水平下,土壤中速效磷含量高低次序为:MPPDAPSSPTCP,TCLP提取态Cd含量随土壤速效磷含量升高而显著降低(R=-0.903**);DAP,MPP,SSP和TCP处理后交换态Cd的浓度降幅分别为23.75%,39.06%,16.60%和18.36%,而碳酸盐结合态(WSA)、铁锰氧化物结合态(Fe-Mn-OX)、有机结合态(OM)和残渣态(RES)Cd的含量均有所升高,表明磷素是通过改变Cd的存在形态而降低其有效态含量的。     

Maize Inbreds' Response to Riecito Phosphate Rock and Triple Superphosphate on an Acidic Soil

Abstract

Tropical acidic soils require large inputs of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers to sustain crop production. Attempts to use phosphate rock (PR) as a cheaper P source have shown limited success because of low rock solubility. The objective of this study was to evaluate growth and P nutrition of aluminum (Al)‐tolerant maize inbreds fertilized with PR. Twelve Al‐tolerant inbreds from CIMMYT were planted in 2‐kg pots filled with an acidic soil very low in available P and fertilized with 0, 40, or 100 mg kg^?1 of Riecito PR or triple superphosphate (SP). Plant shoots were harvested 35 days after planting, and biomass, root length, P uptake, and soil residual P were determined. Inbreds were able to sustain growth when fertilized with PR. There was indication that various mechanisms were involved in the responses to PR fertilization. Cultivars combining high uptake and conversion efficiencies should improve maize utilization of PR.     

Potential use of rock-phosphate-solubilizing bacteria associated with wild rice as inoculants for improved rice (Oryza sativa)

A study was conducted to isolate P-solubilizing bacteria from the rhizosphere of three wild rice species and to test their ability to mobilize P from rock phosphate (RP). Inoculated seeds or seedlings of eight different strains were grown in soils supplemented with a P fertilizer mixture (PFM) consisting triple super phosphate (TSP) and RP, each providing equal amounts of P₂O₅. Crop growth, NaHCO₃-extractable P, crop P uptake and yield were compared with two uninoculated controls, with either TSP or PFM added. In the pot experiment, P availability varied from 20 to 48 mg P kg^?1 soil. Yields ranged between 4.8 and 6.6 g per pot and were not significantly different between treatments. In the field experiment, shoot P accumulation in inoculated and TSP-control treatments at the heading stage ranged between 79–129 mg and 219 mg per pot, respectively. Dual inoculants comprising Staphylococcus scirui, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus subtilus and Bacillus cereus increased yield by about 29% over PFM-controls (324 g m^?2) but those yields were 21% lower than TSP-controls (510 g m^?2). Therefore, application of inoculants combined with PFM is not a viable alternative for TSP under the tested conditions because yield was limited by the P availability.     

Residual effects of organic acid-treated phosphate rocks on some soil properties and phosphate availability

The effects of the application of organic acid-treated phosphate rocks on the growth and nutrient uptake of Italian rye grass (Lolium multiflorum Lam. cv. Tachiwase) and some properties of the soil were evaluated in a greenhouse pot experiment. Phosphate rocks (PRs) collected from six countries; China, Florida (USA), Jordan, Sri Lanka, Togo, and Tanzania, were treated with 1 M oxalic or tartaric acid at the ratio of 2.5 mL g^-1 PR. The organic acid-treated PRs, containing 12–31% water soluble P, were applied to a granitic regosol (pH 5.8) at 200 mg P pot^-1 (4 kg soil). Untreated PRs and single superphosphate (SSP) were included in the treatments. Italian ryegrass was grown for 175 dafter planting (DAP) with ample supply of other nutrients and water. Shoots were harvested at 56, 119, and 175 DAP and the soils were analyzed for pH and Olsen-P after the experiment. Application of organic acid-treated PRs consistently increased the dry matter yield and P uptake of the plants compared with the application of untreated PRs at each harvest, but they were less effective than SSP. A larger amount of P (calculated per unit water-soluble P applied) was recovered from the organic acid-treated PRs than from SSP. The amount of residual extractable P in the soils with the organic acid-treated PRs was about the same as or significantly larger than that in the soil treated with SSP. Soil pH was also significantly higher than in the control and SSP soils. The results suggest that organic acids could be used to improve the P availability of PRs to plants with favorable residual effects in terms of available P and soil pH, without exerting any adverse effects on plant growth or nutrient acquisition.     

Cadmium leaching from some New Zealand pasture soils

Cadmium (Cd) inputs and losses from agricultural soils are of great importance because of the potential adverse effects Cd can pose to food quality, soil health and the environment in general. One important pathway for Cd losses from soil systems is by leaching. We investigated loss of Cd from a range of contrasting New Zealand pasture soils that had received Cd predominantly from repeated applications of phosphate fertilizer. Annual leaching losses of Cd ranged between 0.27 and 0.86 g ha^–l, which are less than most losses recorded elsewhere. These losses equate to between 5 and 15% of the Cd added to soil through a typical annual application of single superphosphate, which in New Zealand contains on average 280 mg Cd kg^?1 P. It appears that Cd added to soil from phosphate fertilizer is fairly immobile and Cd tends to accumulate in the topsoil. The pH of the leachate and the total volume of drainage to some extent control the amount of Cd leached. Additional factors, such as the soil sorption capacity, are also important in controlling Cd movement in these pasture soils. The prediction of the amount of Cd leached using the measured concentrations of Cd in the soil solution and rainfall data resulted in an overestimation of Cd losses. Cadmium concentrations in drainage water are substantially less than the current maximum acceptable value of 3 µg l^?1 for drinking water in New Zealand set by the Ministry of Health.     

Not All Phosphate Fertilizers Immobilize Lead in Soils

The effects of six phosphate (P) fertilizers in mobilizing and immobilizing water-soluble lead (Pb) were determined in a contaminated soil (Alfisol from Shaoxing) from China and four Australian soils (an Oxisol from Twonsville Queensland and three South Australian soils from Cooke Plains (Typic Palexeralf)), Inman Valley (Vertisol), and Two Wells (Natric Palexeralf). The fertilizers tested were single superphosphate (SSP), triple superphosphate (TSP), monoammonium phosphate (MAP), diammonium phosphate (DAP), monocalcium phosphate (MCP), and dicalcium phosphate (DCP) to produce an initial P concentration of 1,000 mg/L. The Chinese soil contained 16,397 mg/kg total Pb, but the Australian soils were uncontaminated. The four Australian soils were each spiked with 1,000 mg Pb/kg soil (as Pb(NO₃)₂) and incubated for a month. Single superphosphate treatments decreased total soluble Pb in soil solution to 2–14 % of those of the nil-P (0P) treatment in the four Pb-spiked soils and to 48 % in the Chinese Pb-contaminated soil. The DAP treatment followed by the MAP treatment greatly increased the total soluble Pb in soil solution up to 135–500 % of the 0P treatment, except in the Two Wells soil. MCP could decrease the total soluble Pb in Cooke Plains, Inman Valley, Shaoxing, and Two Wells soils while increase it in the Queensland soil; DCP decreased the total soluble Pb in Cooke Plains and Queensland soils while increased it in the Shaoxing and Inman Valley soils. There were close relationships between the total soluble Pb, total soluble Al, and total soluble Fe in the water extracts of each. Soluble Al and Fe ions in soil solution increased soluble Pb concentrations. We conclude that not all phosphate fertilizers immobilize Pb in soils equally well. SSP and TSP are excellent Pb-immobilizing fertilizers, while MAP and DAP are strong Pb-mobilizing fertilizers. MCP and DCP are either Pb-immobilizing fertilizers or Pb-mobilizing fertilizers depending on their reactions with individual soils.     

Reclamation of Alkali Soils: Influence of Amendments and Leaching on Transformation and Availability of Phosphorus

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) availability to plants in reclaimed alkali soils was the main objective of this study, which was also focused on P transformations, decrease in Olsen‐P content, and magnitude of P lost in leachate in course of amendment application and leaching. Liquid sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) was added to nonalkali soils to set up four ESP (exchangeable sodium percentage) levels (viz., 2.9, 25.0, 50.0, and 75.0), but actual ESP levels obtained were 2.9, 24.6, 51.2, and 75.3. Amendments (viz., gypsum and pyrites) and P treatments (viz., 0 and 50 mg P Kg^?1) were mixed with dry, sieved soil before filling into PVC (polyvinyl chloride) drainage columns, which were then compacted to uniform bulk density and leached with deionized water for 30 days. Results indicated that the pH and electrical conductivity (EC) of the soils increased with increase in ESP level of the soil but decreased with amendment application. Phosphorus addition to alkali soils decreased the pH on day 30, but it could not affect the EC of the soils. Successive increase in the ESP level of the soil increased the pH and EC off the leachate. Gypsum‐amended soils exhibited lower pH and EC values than pyrite‐amended soils. The EC of the leachate decreased sharply with time in amended soils, but the pH decreased slowly. Phosphorus addition affected the leachate pH earlier than the soil pH. Cumulative volume of leachate decreased with increasing ESP levels, but it increased with amendment and phosphorus application. Leaching of P increased with increase in ESP levels, and the maximum cumulative loss of P was 11.2 mg Kg^?1 in the 75.3 ESP soil. Cumulative P lost in the pyrite‐amended soils was higher than the gypsum‐amended soils. Phosphorus leaching in the gypsum‐amended soils stopped at day 10 and beyond, but it continued until day 30 in the pyrite‐amended soils. Part of the applied P in alkali soils was also lost along with the native P, whereas it was protected in the nonalkali soils. OlsenP increased with increasing ESP levels, and alkali soils invariably contained higher Olsen P than nonalkali soils. At day 30, alkali soils contained much higher Olsen P (12.6 mg Kg^?1) than nonalkali soils (5.9 mg Kg^?1). In general, there was a decrease in the Olsen P with both of the amendments, but it decreased more with pyrites than with gypsum. Phosphorus added through monopotassium phosphate (KH₂PO₄) remained extractable by Olsen's extractant up to day 30. Results also indicated that percent distribution of ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl)‐P, calcium (Ca)‐P, and unknown P increased with rising ESP levels but iron (Fe)‐aluminum (Al)‐bound P and residual P decreased. Percent distribution of Ca‐P and unknown P exhibited an increase with time also. Unamended alkali soils contained more NH₄Cl‐P than amended ones. Iron and Al‐ bound P and residual P increased more with pyrites, whereas formation of Ca‐P and unknown P was enhanced with gypsum. Applied P tended to convert more into NH₄Cl‐P, Ca‐P, and residual P than to Fe‐Al‐bound P or unknown P fractions. Models developed to estimate Olsen P and P concentration in leachate, through pH or EC, have application value for P management in alkali soils that are leached after application of amendments.     

Factors Influencing the Dissolution of Phosphate Rock in a Range of High P‐Fixing Soils from Cameroon

Abstract

A laboratory incubation experiment was conducted to evaluate the soil factors that influence the dissolution of two phosphate rocks (PRs) of different reactivity (Gafsa, GPR, reactive PR; and Togo‐Hahotoe, HPR, low reactivity PR) in seven agricultural soils from Cameroon having variable phosphorus (P)‐sorption capacities, organic carbon (C) contents, and exchangeable acidities. Ground PR was mixed with the soils at a rate of 500 mg P kg^?1 soil and incubated at 30°C for 85 days. Dissolution of the PRs was determined at various intervals using the ΔNaOH‐P method (the difference of the amount of P extracted by 0.5 M NaOH between the PR‐treated soils and the control). Between 4 and 27% of HPR and 33 and 50% of GPR were dissolved in the soils. Calcium (Ca) saturation of cation exchange sites and proton supply strongly affected PR dissolution in these soils. Acid soils with pH‐(H₂O)<5 (NKL, ODJ, NSM, MTF) dissolved more phosphate rock than those with pH‐(H₂O)>5 (DSC, FGT, BAF). However, the lack of a sufficient Ca sink in the former constrained the dissolution of both PRs. The dissolution of GPR in the slightly acidic soils was limited by increase in Ca saturation and that of HPR was constrained by limited supply in protons. Generally, the dissolution of GPR was higher than that of HPR for each soil. The kinetics of dissolution of PR in the soils was best described by the power function equation P=At^B. More efficient use of PR in these soils can be achieved by raising the soil cation exchange capacity, thereby increasing the Ca sink size. This could be done by amending such soils with organic materials.     

Evaluation of Dolomite Phosphate Rock–N‐Viro Soil Mixtures for Growth of a Horticultural Crop in an Acidic Sandy Soil

Abstract

Most agricultural soils in the Indian River area, South Florida, are sandy with minimal holding capacity for moisture and nutrients. Phosphorus (P) leaching from these soils has been suspected of contributing to the eutrophication of surface waters in this region. Dolomite phosphate rock (DPR) and N‐viro soil are promising amendments to increase crop production and reduce P loss from sandy soils. Soil incubation and greenhouse pot experiments were conducted to examine the effects of Florida DPR–N‐viro soil mixtures on the growth of a horticultural crop in an acidic sandy soil and to generate information for developing a desired formula of soil amendments. Dolomite phosphate rock and N–viro soil application increased soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), extractable P, calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg). N–viro soil had greater effect on soil pH, organic matter content, and microbial biomass than the DPR. Comparatively higher nitrification rates were found in the N–viro soil treatment than the DPR treatment. A systematic decrease in soil‐extractable P was found with increasing proportions of N‐viro soil from the combined amendments. Greenhouse study demonstrated that the application of DPR and N‐viro soil significantly improved dry‐matter yield and increased plant P, Ca, and Mg concentrations of radish (Raphanus sativus L.). Based on dry‐matter yield and plant N uptake, the combined amendments that contained 30% or 20% of DPR materials appear to be optimal but remain to be confirmed by field trials.     

Phosphorus Availability in Soils Amended with Different Phosphate Fertilizers

Abstract

Accurate measurement and characterization of phosphate rock dissolution are important for a better understanding of phosphorus (P) availability in soils. An incubation study was carried out on two New Zealand topsoils (0–15 cm; high P buffering capacity Craigieburn and low P buffering capacity Templeton) amended with North Carolina phosphate rock (NCPR) and water‐soluble phosphate (WSP) at 218 mg P kg^?1 (equivalent to 60 kg P ha^?1). Isotopic exchange kinetics was carried out after 12 h and 28 days of incubation to characterize P availability. This study showed that sensitivity of capacity factors (r₁/R, n) to explain changes in E_1min values was affected by the P buffering capacity of the soils. The recovery of applied P in the E pool (Rec_inE%) with extended incubation time was similar from the NCPR and WSP treatments (3.1–3.3%) in the Craigieburn soil compared with the Templeton soil in which Rec_inE% values were greater in WSP (9%) than NCPR (1.3%) treatment. The higher values of P derived from the applied P fertilizers in the E pool (Pdff_inE%>80%) suggested that the NCPR application in both soils would be efficient for increasing P availability to plants.     

Alkalinity exacerbates phosphorus deficiency in subtropical red soils: Insights from phosphate-solubilizing fungi

Red soils in subtropical regions are often low in available phosphorus (P), a vital plant nutrient. Phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs) can release P from phosphate reservoir, making it accessible to plants. However, the complex interactions between PSMs and minerals in red soils are not yet fully understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of Aspergillus niger, a typical phosphate-solubilizing fungus (PSF), on phosphate dissolution in two representative red soils – an acidic soil and an alkaline soil. In the acidic red soil, the fungal abundance reached 3.01 × 10 ⁷ cfu g⁻¹ after a 28-day incubation period, with respiration of ~2000 mg C kg⁻¹. The secretion of oxalic acid promoted P release from inorganic phosphate (from ~1 to 187 mg kg⁻¹). Additionally, the contents of amorphous Fe/Al oxides decreased, which otherwise could have contributed to P sorption in the soil. In contrast, P availability declined in the alkaline red soil after the addition of A. niger, regardless of the P source (inorganic or organic phosphate). Meanwhile, the fungal respiration decreased to ~780 mg C kg⁻¹. Therefore, alkaline red soils with abundant carbonates are susceptible to P deficiency due to both the diminished function of PSMs and strong soil buffering. These findings have important implications for sustainable agriculture on alkaline red soils, as they suggest that the use of PSMs to improve P availability may be limited.     

Phosphate sorption in some representative soils of Bangladesh

An experiment was conducted to observe the phosphate sorption potential of some soils of Bangladesh. Three soil series of calcareous origin, namely Sara (Aquic Eutrochrept), Gopalpur (Aquic Eutrochrept) and Ishurdi (Aeric Haplaquept), and two soil series of non-calcareous origin, namely Tejgaon (Rhodic Paleustult) and Ghatail (Aeric Haplaquept), were selected. The soils were equilibrated with dilute solution of calcium chloride containing graded concentrations of phosphate (0, 1, 2, 5, 10, 25 and 50?μg?P?mL^?1), and the amount of phosphate sorbed or desorbed was determined. Although all the soils showed potential for sorbing phosphate from applied phosphorus, their ability to sorb phosphorus differed. Increasing rates of phosphate application increased the amount of P sorption but reduced phosphate sorption percentage in all soils except Tejgaon. Phosphate was sorbed by the soils in the order: Tejgaon > Ghatail > Ishurdi > Gopalpur > Sara at 50?μg?P?mL^?1 application. Soils possessing higher amounts of free iron oxide and clay sorbed more phosphate from applied phosphorus.     

Phosphate fertilizers influence leaching of lead and arsenic in a soil contaminated with lead arsenate

Use of high rates of monoammonium phosphate (MAP) or monocalcium phosphate (MCP) fertilizers has the potential to alter Pb and As mobility in soils contaminated with lead arsenate pesticide residues. A laboratory column experiment was conducted to determine the effects of P amendment source (MAP, MCP), P rate (0, 0.31, 0.62 g column^–1), and amount of leaching (1, 2 pore volume displacements, PVD) on Pb, As, P, pH, and salinity distribution within and leaching from a Burch loam soil containing 1800 mg Pb kg^–1 and 400 mg As kg^–1 Addition of either MAP or MCP significantly increased the amount of As leached from the soil. The P amendments reduced the amount of Pb in the first PVD but enhanced Pb in the second PVD so that the cumulative amount of Pb leached was independent of treatment. Phosphorus source, P rate, and quantity of leaching water influenced the total amount of leachate As, and soil and leachate P, pH, and salinity. Use of phosphate fertilizers on lead arsenate-contaminated soils may temporarily enhance potential for As phytoavailability or As contamination of groundwater.Dept. of Agronomy and Soils Paper No. 9001-11. Project No. 0747, College of Agric. and Home Economics Res. Ctr., Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA 99164.     

Can phosphorus fertilizers sparingly soluble in water decrease phosphorus leaching loss from an acid peat soil?

The potential risk of phosphorus (P) loss in surface run‐off can be decreased using sparingly soluble forms of P fertilizer (e.g. reactive phosphate rock (RPR)). However, it is unclear whether RPR can decrease P loss in leachate, especially when applied to soils with a small anion storage capacity (viz. P sorption capacity) and pH. Our hypothesis was that at low soil pH, the solubility of RPR would increase and result in P losses in leachate similar to those receiving single superphosphate (SSP), but at higher pH, less P would be lost from soils receiving RPR than SSP. Lysimeters containing a crushed, sieved acid mesic Organic (viz. peat) subsoil (30–60 cm) were limed to pH 4.5, 5.5 or 6.5 and treated with SSP or RPR at rates of 0, 50, 100 or 200 kg P/ha. Lysimeters were sown with ryegrass and watered over 12 months under controlled conditions and the leachate collected. Losses of filtered (< 0.45 μm) reactive inorganic P (FRP) and unreactive or organic P (FUP) in leachate were greatest for pH 4.5 treatments and least for the pH 6.5 treatments. The difference in FRP and FUP leachate losses in RPR‐ and SSP‐treated soils was smaller at pH 4.5 and 5.5, and increased at pH 6.5 as losses from soils receiving RPR decreased compared to those receiving SSP. The results suggest that RPR can be used as a strategy to decrease P losses in leachate from an acid Organic soil with small P sorption capacity when limed to > pH 5.5.