长期施用氮磷钾肥和石灰对红壤性水稻土酸性特征的影响

利用34年的长期定位施肥试验,研究不施肥(CK)、施氮磷钾肥(NPK)和氮磷钾化肥配施石灰(NPK+Ca O)对红壤性水稻土不同形态酸、土壤盐基离子及水稻植株阳离子吸收量的影响,探讨土壤交换性H+和Al3+占交换性酸的比例、土壤盐基离子、植株带出阳离子数量与土壤酸度的关系。结果表明,长期NPK处理早、晚稻土壤p H较CK处理分别降低0.2和0.3个单位,交换性酸提高2.3倍和4.2倍,水解性酸提高35.4%和40.0%;NPK+Ca O处理早、晚稻土壤p H较NPK处理分别提高0.5和0.7个单位,较CK处理分别提高0.3和0.4个单位,交换性酸、水解性酸均显著低于NPK和CK处理(p0.05)。土壤交换性H+、Al3+含量高低顺序均为NPK+Ca OCKNPK。土壤交换性盐基离子以交换性Ca2+所占比例最大(81.8%~89.3%),NPK+Ca O处理交换性Ca2+较CK和NPK处理分别提高40.1%和62.9%。交换性Ca2+、交换性盐基离子、盐基饱和度与土壤p H正相关,与交换性酸、水解性酸负相关,交换性Mg2+与交换性酸、水解性酸负相关,交换性Na+与水解性酸负相关。植株移出带走的钙、镁、钾、钠离子量及其总量对土壤p H、交换性酸和水解性酸有一定影响,但其相关性均不显著。研究表明长期施用化肥条件下通过配施石灰可有效缓解稻田土壤的酸化,促进酸性稻田土壤的生态修复与改良。     

Relationship between Norway Spruce Status and Soil Water Base Cations/Aluminum Ratios in the Czech Republic

There is a concern that soil acidification by acidic deposition, along with the resulting depletion of the labile pool of nutrient cations (e.g. Ca, Mg) and enhanced leaching of Al from soil may contribute to forest dieback. The molar ratios of Ca/Al or (Ca+Mg+K)/Al in the soil solution have been widely used as a criterion for risk of tree damage due to acidification. Intensity and quality of the crown and branch structure transformation due to formation of secondary shoots in successive series is a very sensitive indicator of long-term tree damage, and the subsequent regenerative processes. Soil water chemistry and crown structure transformation of Norway spruce were observed at 16 forest plots within the Czech Republic with the following results: parameters, expressing degradation processes in the crown (defoliation of primary structure), regeneration processes (percentage of secondary shoots) or synthetic stages of crown structure transformation showed high correlation with soil water (Ca+Mg+K)/Al ratio in organic horizons. No relationships were found for mineral horizons. The correlations between soil water and crown status parameters were considerably stronger when using the (Ca+Mg+K)/Al ratio rather than the Ca/Al ratio.     

Soil microbial biomass, dehydrogenase activity, bacterial community structure in response to long-term fertilizer management

This study describes the effects of balanced versus nutrient-deficiency fertilization on soil microbial biomass, activity, and bacterial community structure in a long-term (16 years) field experiment. Long-term fertilization greatly increased soil microbial biomass C and dehydrogenase activity, except that the P-deficiency fertilization had no significant effect. Organic manure had a significantly greater (P<0.05) impact on the biomass C and the activity, compared with mineral fertilizers. Microbial metabolic activity (dehydrogenase activity per microbial biomass C) was significantly higher (P<0.05) under balanced fertilization than under nutrient-deficiency fertilization. General bacterial community structure was analyzed by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) targeting eubacterial 16S rRNA gene. Mineral fertilization did not affect the DGGE banding pattern, while specific DGGE band was observed in organic manure-fertilized soils. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the change of bacterial community in organic manure-fertilized soil might not be because of the direct influence of the bacteria in the compost, but because of the promoting effect of the compost on the growth of an indigenous Bacillus sp. in the soil. We emphasize the importance of balanced-fertilization, as well as the role of P, in maintaining soil organic matter, and promoting the biomass and activity of microorganisms.     

Physical properties of a Luvisol for different long‐term fertilization treatments: I. Mesoscale capacity and intensity parameters

The physical properties of a Luvisol derived from loess near Bonn, Germany, under different long‐term fertilization treatments were examined. For the investigation of the impact of farmyard manure (FYM) on soil strength at the mesoscale (100 to 300 cm³ soil cores), undisturbed samples were taken from two different depths (10 and 40 cm), either with no fertilization at all, with full mineral fertilization, with FYM only, and with both mineral and organic fertilization. We investigated hydraulic and mechanical parameters, namely precompression stress, pore‐size distribution, saturated hydraulic and air conductivity, and calculated pore connectivity. Long‐term organic fertilization resulted in significantly more and coarser pores which in addition were more conductant and mechanically stronger by trend. Mineral fertilization also increased pore volume by trend but not pore functionality. Mechanical strength generally increased with fertilization by trend, however, was reduced again when organic and mineral fertilization were combined. Nonetheless, FYM led to relatively higher soil strength as the FYM‐treated plots with lower bulk density attained similar soil strength as the unfertilized but denser plots and thus supported the soil‐improving impact of organic amendments. The subsoil physical properties were rather unaffected by fertilization, but were dominated by texture.     

Microplate-scale fluorometric soil enzyme assays as tools to assess soil quality in a long-term agricultural field experiment

We investigated the potential of microplate-scale fluorometric soil enzyme assays to differentiate plots under contrasting long-term organic and mineral N fertilization regimens to determine the relevance of this analytical approach to soil quality related studies.Enzymes involved in the breakdown of cellulose and hemicellulose showed maximum activities in plots amended with manure. Conversely, the enzymes involved in the hydrolysis of starch and phosphate esters peaked under mineral N fertilization. Linear regression analysis indicated close associations between enzyme activities and other fundamental soil properties related to soil quality, and principal component analysis separated the soil samples according to their responses to organic and mineral N fertilization. We conclude that microplate-scale fluorimetry is a fast throughput tool for the measurement of multiple soil enzyme activities as soil quality indicators.     

The effect of site characteristics and farming practices on soil organic matter in long-term field experiments in the Czech Republic

Parameters for evaluating both the soil organic matter quantity (total organic C [TOC]) and quality (hot water extractable C [HWC], hydrophobic and hydrophilic components, soil hydrophobicity) were determined in soil samples taken from selected plots of 13 field experiments under different soil and climatic conditions in the period 2004–2008. Four variants were selected in each experiment: non-fertilized control (Nil), mineral fertilized variant (NPK), farmyard manured variants (FYM) and organic and mineral fertilized variants (FYM + NPK). The TOC and HWC content of topsoil differed mainly as a result of the site conditions. Both organic and mineral fertilization increased the TOC content of soil; the percentage increase in the HWC content was greater than that for the TOC content. Mineral and organic fertilization increased the hydrophobic organic component content but not the hydrophilic organic component content. A significant positive correlation was found between hydrophobic organic components and HWC content (R = 0.746, P < 0.01). Hydrophilic organic component content was highly significantly correlated with the TOC content (R = 0.728, P < 0.01). Soil hydrophobicity was affected by soil texture and clay content, and a positive effect of long-term organic fertilization on soil hydrophobicity, and thereby soil stability, was determined.     

长期施肥对农田土壤氮素关键转化过程的影响

当前,如何合理施肥、提高作物产量、维持土壤肥力、并兼顾生态环境效应是农业研究的主要挑战之一。本文综述了长期施肥对农田土壤氮素关键转化过程的影响,主要从土壤氮转化过程的初级转化速率角度综述肥料(有机肥和化学氮肥)对土壤氮素关键转化过程的影响。土壤氮素矿化-同化循环是自然界氮循环过程中两个至关重要的环节,是决定土壤供氮能力的重要因素。总体而言,长期施用氮肥,尤其是有机肥能显著提高初级矿化-同化周转速率;长期施肥可以刺激自养硝化作用,且有机肥的刺激作用更明显;施用化学氮肥和有机肥均能提高反硝化速率,且有机肥的刺激作用高于化学氮肥。有机肥一直被提倡和实践用来改善土壤肥力和提高土壤固碳能力,无论是单施有机肥还是有机-无机配施,均能有效地减轻硝酸盐污染,改善土壤肥力并提高作物产量。但是有机肥的施用并不是多多益善,有机肥过多施用也会增加氮损失的风险。因此,本文综述了长期施肥对农田土壤氮素关键转化过程初级转化速率的影响,讨论了各个氮转化过程之间的联系,以期增强人们对长期施肥措施影响农田土壤氮素循环的理解,并为合理施用氮肥、提高氮肥利用率、减少与氮相关的环境污染提供理论依据。     

Forms of Al in soil and soil solution in a long‐term fertilizer application experiment

Under the conditions of a long‐term fertilizer experiment, this study aimed to determine the contents of total and exchangeable aluminium in soil as well as the Al concentration in the soil solution. Additionally, Al speciation was evaluated with the use of the MINTEQA2 software. The results obtained indicated that under the conditions of long‐term application of different mineral fertilizers or farmyard manure, the soil reaction changed to a great extent (pH 3.58–6.78). At the same time, the content of total Al in soil fluctuated from 18.85 to 22.13 g/kg and that of exchangeable Al ranged from 1.42 to 102.66 mg/kg. The concentration of Al in the soil solution was highly differentiated (5.19–124.07 μmol/L) as well as that of free aluminium ions (Al³⁺) (0–16.9 μmol/L). In acidic soils, aluminium complexes with organic matter are the predominant forms of Al in the soil solution. In soils with neutral soil reaction, there were no free aluminium ions. Soil liming and addition of organic amendment were the treatments that restricted the presence of toxic aluminium forms in soil.     

Availability of Microelements as Affected by Soil Reaction and Fertilization in Long-Term Field Experiments

Results presented in this paper come from two long-term fertilization experiments carried out in Skierniewice (since 1923) and _ yczyn (since 1960). The top layer of soil in Skierniewice contains a little more clay and silt (17%) than at _ yczyn (14%), but the climatic conditions are alike - the mean for many years shows the precipitation of 520mm and temperature 7,9°C. Soil samples for the determination of microelements were collected in the years 1999 and 2000 from the control plots (Ca) and from combinations corresponding to 3 fertilization systems: mineral (CaNPK), organic (Ca + FYM) and mixed organic-mineral (CaNPK + FYM). The contents of B, Cu, Zn, Mn were determined in 4 extract solutions: 0,01mol CaCl2, EDTA, 1mol HCl and HF (total contents). The paper presents average results for the last two years. The following amounts of microelements (%) in relation to the total contents in particular extract solutions were obtained: CaCl 2 m Cu 0,4< Zn 2,2< Mn 3,5 < B 5,0; EDTA - B 2,4 < Mn 5,7 < Zn 9,0 < Cu 13,9; HCl - B 7,8 < Cu 37,3 < Zn 37,6< Mn 72,5. The soil contents of readily soluble forms of Mn were significantly higher in non-limed than in limed soil, while the amounts of B, Cu and Zn were higher in limed soils as some amounts of Cu and Zn were present in lime fertilizers. In the system of mineral fertilization, some amounts of boron and zinc were introduced to the soil together with fertilizers, however, they were insufficient in view of nutritional requirements. On the other hand, in the organic-mineral system the amounts of introduced boron were adequate, copper and zinc twice higher and manganese four times higher. The use of mineral fertilization alone for 26 years, leads to soil depletion of zinc and copper and the use of manure alone enriches soil in those components.     

Fertilization effects on organic matter of arable soils in diverse environmental conditions of the Czech Republic

Site specific variables and anthropogenic factors influence composition of soil organic matter (SOM). We evaluated quantity and quality of SOM under different fertilization regimes and site conditions. The study combines data based on repeated measurements obtained from six long-term field experiments, which have been established between 1955 and 1983 at ten locations, resulting in thirteen site and experiment combinations. The experimental sites cover a wide spectrum of pedological and climatic conditions of the Czech Republic. Four basic fertilization regimes were selected: unfertilized plots, mineral-only fertilized plots, plots with application of farmyard manure, and both organic and mineral fertilized plots. The study employs compositional data analysis, principal component analysis, and mixed effect linear models for statistical inference. Under combined organic and mineral fertilization, total soil organic C (SOC) increased by 1?3 g kg^?1. Evidence of possible priming effect was obtained for mineral-only fertilization. Local site conditions were the dominant factor shaping SOM properties. The positive relationship between proportion of clay in soil and decomposition index (DI) was confirmed. In the absence of fertilization, DI was eleven times higher in clay-rich than in clay-poor soil. This effect was moderated by fertilization, decreasing to a seven-fold difference under the full fertilization regime.     

长期施肥对黑土、棕壤微生物量的影响

以公主岭黑土长期定位试验和中科院沈阳生态试验站棕壤长期试验为平台,对不同施肥处理土壤微生物量碳、氮含量的变化及其与土壤有机碳、全氮的关系进行研究。结果表明,长期不同施肥处理黑土和棕壤微生物量碳、氮含量不同,大小依次为有机肥配施化肥>有机肥>化肥>不施肥,其中有机肥配施化肥处理可以显著提高土壤微生物量碳、氮。微生物量碳、氮含量与土壤有机碳、全氮含量之间具有极显著的正相关关系。同时,有机肥配施化肥处理能够显著增加土壤微生物商。     

干旱扰动下长期不同施肥潮土微生物群落稳定性研究

土壤微生物群落稳定性是土壤健康的重要组成部分和评价指标，揭示长期不同施肥的农田土壤微生物群落稳定性有助于指导田间施肥管理，保障农田生态系统的土壤健康和可持续发展。本研究依托中国科学院封丘农业生态实验站长期定位试验，通过对三种不同施肥处理的潮土进行干旱扰动和复水回复的培养试验，从多种微生物群落响应指标（脱氢酶活性、细菌群落alpha多样性、关键物种丰度、微生物群落结构和分子生态网络拓扑属性）分别量化和比较了不同施肥处理的微生物群落稳定性（抵抗力和回复力）。结果表明，与不施肥处理（CK）和平衡施用化肥处理（NPK）相比，有机无机肥配施处理（OM）能够显著增加微生物群落稳定性，表现在OM的微生物群落响应指标在干旱-复水过程中的变化最小，抵抗力与回复力均优于CK和NPK。复水后不同施肥处理的细菌群落alpha多样性、关键物种丰度和网络拓扑参数能够回复到初始水平，而群落结构和脱氢酶活性不能完全回复，说明细菌群落alpha多样性的回复快于群落结构和功能。本文基于多种微生物群落响应指标定量计算微生物群落的抵抗力和回复力，结果表明有机无机肥配施能显著提高微生物群落稳定性，是保障农田生态系统土壤健康和可持续发展的优良管理措施。     

Soil Nutrient Evolution during the First Rotation in Organic and Conventional Farming Systems

Since 2008, a 5-year crop rotation experiment (winter wheat, pea, potato, barley undersown with red clover, and red clover) has been run in Tartu, Estonia, to evaluate the changes in soil chemical parameters under four fertilizer managements: (1) unfertilized conventional plots (conventional I), (2) conventional plots with addition of mineral fertilizers (conventional II), (3) organic plots with cover crops during the winter period (organic I), and (4) organic plots with the same cover crops plus a yearly amendment of 40 t ha^–1 of cattle manure (organic II). After the first rotation, results showed significant differences (P < 0.05) in soil acidity dependent on the system with mean values ranging between 5.67 (conventional II) and 6.10 (organic II). In the organic II system, manure had a significant effect on the system, increasing the organic carbon (C) content by 0.34%, but in both organic systems, both cover crops and cattle manure were insufficient for maintaining a constant level of plant-available phosphorus (P) or potassium (K) in the soil. In the conventional II system, mineral fertilizers provided a sufficient amount of nitrogen (N) to the system and increased the concentration of P to 8.7 mg per kg. The yearly mineral or organic amendments did not counteract the significant decrease in soil-available K after the first rotation. Lastly, calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) availability, strongly influenced by the soil pH local conditions, decreased with time for all systems even though organic ones presented greater concentrations of both compounds. In conclusion, the four fertilization systems managed independently would not guarantee a constant soil nutrient concentration after the first rotation.     

Soil sulphur status following long-term annual application of animal manure and mineral fertilizers

 In agricultural systems with low S inputs, crops rely on the release of S from organic forms in the soil. In the Askov long-term experiments, started in 1894 on both sandy and loamy soils, soil S status following long-term application of animal manure and mineral fertilizers was investigated in the growing season of 1995. In a field trial with oil-seed rape (Brassica napus, L.) soil analysis, leaf tissue analysis, yield and S removal in plant material was used to characterize differences in availability of soil S. One half of all plots received 63 kg S ha^–1 as gypsum. Long-term fertilization with animal manure or NPK fertilizer increased the content of soil organic C in both soils and of organic S in the sandy soil compared with unfertilized plots. Although dry matter yields were unaffected, the S uptake in harvested crop parts increased considerably after S application. The amounts of N and S in harvested seeds and straw were closely related, but the N : S ratio decreased when S was applied. Soil and plant analyses both indicated that critical levels of S concentrations were reached, and that S application was capable of raising S concentrations well above the critical level. Because no additional mineralization from residual organic S took place, it was concluded that the residual S effect from long-term annual applications of animal manure or mineral fertilizers did not significantly increase the level of soil S available for crops with a short growing season, such as oil-seed rape. Received: 9 January 1998     

Effect of mineral and organic fertilization on soil organic carbon content as well as on grain production of cereals in the IOSDV (ILTE) long-term field experiment,Keszthely, Hungary

The study was conducted in the international mineral and organic nitrogen fertilization trial (IOSDV) located in Keszthely in the western part of Hungary. The soil class of the study site was Ramann-type brown forest soil (Eutric Cambisol). The factors of the experiment are the increasing rate of mineral N fertilization and the complementary application of different forms of organic fertilizers in a three-course crop rotation (maize, winter wheat and winter barley) set up in 1983. The organic carbon content of the soil (C_org%) definitely increased after application of organic manure (OM), similarly to the average yield of the cultivated crops. After application of OM the increase in C_org content was 0.20%, and after straw + complementary N application it was 0.12%, compared with plots without organic manures. Mineral N fertilizer did not significantly influence the C_org content in soil over this period. Depending on the type of crop, the specific year and the N content of the soil, the combined application of mineral fertilizers and organic manures resulted in a 12–17% increase in crop yield, in general, whereas at maximum yields the increase accounted for 5–10%.     

Development of Resin Disc Soil Testing in Rice Crop in Relation to Kinetics of Nutrient Adsorption on Resin

The aim of this investigation was to develop a durable, rigid, and reusable resin disc for soil testing with the hypothesis that a uniformly shaped disc of cation/anion exchange resin placed in direct contact with the soil will accumulate ions from the soil by processes similar to those for living plant roots in the natural soil–solution–plant continuum. To develop regression equations for the relationship of resin-adsorbed quantity (RAQ) to yield of rice, soils were collected before sowing from different plots of a rice field where a fertility gradient had been created in the previous year by growing rice with different doses of fertilizers. For resin-disc soil testing, a soil sample is made into a saturated paste and placed in intimate contact with the resin disc. After 24 h (as decided from the kinetic experiment), the resin disc–soil assembly was dismantled. Ammonium, phosphate, sulfate, and potassium ions were extracted from the discs. Rice was grown in those plots without any fertilizer, and yields were recorded. Regression analysis was done between yield and nutrients adsorbed by the resin (NAR). The same soils were also analyzed for organic carbon, phosphate, sulfate, and potassium by the conventional chemical extraction method. Multiple regression analyses of grain yield (Y) as the dependent variable and resin-adsorbed N (RN), resin-adsorbed P (RP), resin-adsorbed K (RK), and resin-adsorbed S (RS) as independent variables produced the following relationships: Y = 5.95 + 5.13RN + 23.85RP – 2.4RK + 1.05RS, multiple R² = 0.793. The resin-disc method gave much better regression with rice yield than the conventional chemical extraction method.     

Organic Fertilization in Traditional Mediterranean Grapevine Orchards Mediates Changes in Soil Microbial Community Structure and Enhances Soil Fertility

Soil microbial populations and their functions related to nutrient cycling contribute substantially to the regulation of soil fertility and the sustainability of agroecosystems. A field experiment was performed to assess the medium‐term effect of a mineral fertilizer and two organic fertilization systems with different nitrogen sources on the soil microbial community biomass, structure, and composition (phospholipid fatty acids, pattern, and abundance), microbial activity (basal respiration, dehydrogenase, protease, urease, β‐glucosidase, and total amount of phosphomonoesterase activities), and physical (aggregate stability) and chemical (total organic C, total N, available P and water‐soluble carbohydrates) properties in a vineyard under semiarid Mediterranean conditions after a period of 10 years. The three fertilization systems assayed were as follows: inorganic fertilization, addition of grapevine pruning with sheep manure (OPM), and addition of grapevine pruning with a legume cover crop (OPL). Both treatments, OPM and OPL, produced higher contents of total organic carbon, total N, available P, water‐soluble carbohydrates, and stable aggregates. The organic fertilization systems increased microbial biomass, shifted the structure and composition of the soil microbial community, and stimulated microbial activity, when compared with inorganic fertilization. The abundances of fungi and G+ bacteria were increased by treatments OPM and OPL, without significant differences between them. Organic and inorganic fertilization produced similar grapevine yields. The ability of the organic fertilization systems for promoting the sustainability and soil biological and chemical fertility of an agroecosystem under semiarid conditions was dependent of the organic N source. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Total organic carbon and its composition in long-term field experiments in the Czech Republic

Abstract

Total organic carbon content and its composition have been evaluated in the topsoil in the selected plots of 13 long-term field experiments conducted in different soil and climate conditions. The altitude of the sites ranged from 225 – 670 m above sea level. Four variants of the organic and mineral fertilization were selected in each experiment: Nil, which did not receive any organic or mineral fertilizers since the beginning of the experiment, mineral fertilized variant NPK, organic fertilized (manured) variant FYM and both organic and mineral fertilized variant FYM + NPK. Total organic carbon (C) content in the topsoil differed as a result of the soil and climate conditions (it ranged from 0.96 – 1.80% C in the Nil variants) and due to the organic and mineral fertilization. The inert and decomposable part of the soil organic C content was calculated and the hot water soluble carbon content was determined. Relationships between the individual SOM fractions have shown a highly significant correlation, except for the decomposable C calculated as a difference to Nil variant.     

Soil Total Nitrogen and Natural 15Nitrogen in Response to Long-Term Fertilizer Management of a Maize–Wheat Cropping System in Northern China

The Fengqiu long-term field experiment was established to examine effects of organic manure and mineral fertilizers on soil total nitrogen (N) and natural ¹⁵N abundance. Fertilizer regimes include organic manure (OM), one-half N from organic manure plus one-half N from mineral N fertilizer (1/2OMN), mineral fertilizers [N–phosphorus (P)–potassium (K), NP, NK, PK], and a control. Organic manure (OM and 1/2OMN) significantly increased soil total N and δ¹⁵N, which was expected as a great amount of the N applied remained in soils. Mineral NPK fertilizer and mineral NP fertilizer significantly increased total N and slightly increaed δ¹⁵N. Phosphorus-deficient fertilization (NK) and N-deficient fertilization (PK) had no effect on soil total N. Significantly greater δ¹⁵N was observed in the NK treatment as compared to the control, suggesting that considerable N was lost by ammonia (NH₃) voltalization and denitrification in this P-deficiency fertilization regime.     

Interrelations in Phosphorus and Potassium Accumulation Characteristics of Plants Grown in Different Soil Types

Nutrient accumulation characteristics and mineral content of plants depend on several factors such as crop and site characteristics, environmental conditions, and soil nutrient levels. Nutrient interactions are rather complex and may have an important role in this context. It is evident that phosphorus (P)–potassium (K) interaction is a part of cation–anion balance in plants. Although several authors demostrated the positive P-K interaction in plants, results are still inadequate. Studies on P-K interaction and adequate P/K ratios are needed to improve nutrient efficiency. Pot experiments were carried out under greenhouse conditions with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) grown in three soils different in texture, soil organic matter (OM), pH, and available nutrient levels: an Eutric cambisol, a Calcaric fluvisol, and a Haplic phaeosem. Soil samples were taken from selected plots of National Long-Term Fertilization Trials (NLFT) after 30 years of fertilization. Besides the unfertilized control, increasing rates of P were applied in four replicates at four levels of P supply resulting from long-term P fertilization. Dry-matter (DM) production, P and K accumulation characteristics, nutrient concentrations, and K/P ratios of perennial ryegrass were studied for 4 months by taking four cuts. From the results, it was evident that both P and K accumulation of plants were closely related to DM accumulation. Phosphorus accumulation characteristics and amounts of P taken up by plants responded both to the level of long-term P supply and to rates of freshly applied P. Better levels of P supply had a beneficial influence on K uptake and K concentrations in plants. Phosphorus concentrations ranged between 0.20% and 0.53% P, whereas concentrations of K were between 1.63% and 5.64%. As the interaction between P and K may influence that of other nutrients, further research is needed to identify these relationships.