Predicting Plant Phosphorus Requirements for Hawaii Soils using a Combination of Phosphorus Sorption Isotherms and Chemical Extraction Methods

Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient for plant growth and reproduction. One of the tasks of soil testing is to identify whether the soil P level is sufficient to meet crop requirements, and if not, to provide an estimate of the quantity of P that must be added for good growth of a given crop. Data for 12 soils (11 series) from Hawaii were used to develop correlations between critical P concentrations in soil solution derived from P sorption isotherms with P extracted with Mehlich 3, Olsen, or modified Truog solutions. Extractable P, in turn, was correlated with P fertilizer requirements. Critical P levels in soil solution reported in the literature for various crops ranged from 0.005 mg L^?1 for cassava (Manihot esculenta) to 0.30 for lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and to 1.6 for nonmycorrhizal onions (Allium cepa). The P buffer coefficient, defined as the ratio of fertilizer P added to extractable P, averaged 2.2, 4.2, and 8.6 for the modified Truog, Olsen, and Mehlich 3, respectively. Phosphorus requirements for certain crops could be estimated by the following steps: (i) obtaining (possibly one time only) soil solution P levels via P sorption isotherm for a given soil (series or family), (ii) identifying the critical soil solution P for a given crop from the literature, (iii) regressing soil solution P against extractable P, and (iv) establishing relationships between extractable P and fertilizer P.     

Distribution and Dynamics of Phosphorus in an Agricultural Watershed with a Long-Term History of Poultry Waste Application

The objective of this research is to investigate the effects of long-term broiler litter application on soil phosphorus (P) and water quality and examine the spatial variations of soil P at a private poultry farm in Mississippi. Results indicated that the littered soil had 86 times more Mehlich III–extractable P in the surface horizon compared to the nonlittered soil. When compared to the runoff from nonlittered soil, mean soluble phosphate (PO₄)-P concentrations in the littered soil's runoff were 85 times greater throughout the study. Mass loss of P from the littered field was significantly greater than from the nonlittered field, and it decreased with each sequential runoff event. There were no linear relationships between the spatial variations of litter application rates and the P spatial variability in the littered soil; however, the variations in soil P levels could be a result of the cumulative effects of more than 20 years of litter application.     

Effects of Natural Fallow and Pig Slurry Drip Irrigation on Phosphorus Accumulation and Fractionation in a Coastal Saline Soil

Organic inputs are believed to be able to increase soil phosphorus (P) availability. Natural fallow and pig slurry amendments are the two important organic inputs for agricultural soils. The purposes of the study are to investigate P accumulation and to compare the differences of P fractionation patterns as affected by natural fallow and pig slurry drip irrigation in a coastal saline soil. The study showed that P accumulation occurred mainly in upper soil profiles and that natural fallow or pig slurry drip irrigation alone would not significantly influence total P distribution in soil profiles. However, soil P fractionation demonstrated that, from bottom to top, bioavailable P content and percentage increased whereas residual P percentage declined. The percentage of extractable inorganic P was almost twice as much as that of extractable organic P. In comparison with natural fallow conditions, under pig slurry drip-irrigation conditions, the transformation efficiency of superphosphate fertilizer HCl P_i into residual P was lower whereas the transformation efficiency of superphosphate fertilizer HCl P_i into bioavailable P was higher. The higher bioavailable P percentage and lower average C_org/P ratio in a long-term pig slurry drip-irrigation plot than those in other plots indicated that long-term pig slurry drip-irrigation was more efficient in improving soil P availability than natural fallow and short-term pig slurry drip irrigation.     

Influence of Soil Particle Size on the Measurement of Sodium by Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy

This study evaluates the effect of soil particle size (SPS) on the measurement of exchangeable sodium (Na) (EXC-Na) by near-infrared reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy. Three hundred thirty-two (n = 332) top soil samples (0–10 cm) were taken from different locations across Uruguay, analyzed by EXC-Na using emission spectrometry, and scanned in reflectance using a NIR spectrophotometer (1100–2500 nm). Partial least squares (PLS) and principal component regression (PCR) models between reference chemical data and NIR data were developed using cross validation (leaving one out). The coefficient of determination in calibration (R²) and the root mean square of the standard error of cross validation (RMSECV) for EXC-Na concentration were 0.44 (RMSECV: 0.12 mg kg^–1) for soil with small particle size (SPS-0.053) and 0.77 (RMSECV: 0.09 mg kg^–1) for soils with particle sizes greater than 0.212 mm (SPS-0.212), using the NIR region after second derivative as mathematical transformation. The R² and RMSECV for EXC-Na concentration using PCR were 0.54 (RMSECV: 0.07 mg kg^–1) and 0.80 (RMSECV: 0.03 mg kg^–1) for SPS-0.053 and SPS-0.212 samples, respectively.     

Relationship between Olsen P and Ammonium Lactate–Extractable P in Portuguese Acid Soils

The soil phosphorus (P) test in Portugal is based on extraction with ammonium lactate (AL) at acidic pH. Because this test is rarely used in other countries, it is desirable to see whether the AL-P values correlate with the more commonly used P tests. In this work, we compared AL-P with bicarbonate-extractable P (Olsen's method) for a group of 48 samples from Portuguese acidic soils differing widely in P status. Despite their contrasting composition, both reagents extracted phosphate from the same sources, albeit in different proportions. Both Olsen P and AL-P were strongly correlated with resin-extractable and dilute electrolyte-desorbable P, which are respectively related to the soil contents in phytoavailable P and P that can be released to runoff or drainage water. Olsen P and AL-P were strongly correlated (R² = 0.870), the correlation became stronger when three overfertilized soils were excluded (Olsen P = 2.35 + 0.45 AL-P; R² = 0.908; P ≤ 0.001, n = 45). No correlation was observed for a group of soils recently fertilized with Gafsa phosphate probably because the acidic AL reagent dissolved residual calcium phosphate, thus overestimating the soil content in desorbable P. On the basis of the present results and the AL-P-based fertility classes used for fertilizer recommendation purposes, Olsen P–based fertility classes were tentatively proposed for Portuguese acidic soils.     

Tillage and Lime Rate Effects on Soil Acidity and Grain Yields of a Ten-Year Corn–Soybean Rotation

Reduced tillage and no-tillage systems provide shallow incorporation of surface applied materials at best. Due to concern of over-liming the surface of agricultural soils, producers either reduce lime rates (and apply more often) or perform some sort of soil inversion to mix the lime deeper into the soil profile. The objective of the authors in this field study was to evaluate the effects of tillage, lime rate, and time of limestone application on corn and soybean growth, and assess the changes in soil acidity to an already acidic soil. Treatments consisted of a no lime check, two no-tillage systems with either a 4.5 ton ha^?1 lime application every two years or an annual application of 450 kg pelleted lime ha^?1, a continuous annual chisel tillage system with a 9.0 ton ha^?1 lime application every four years, and two inversion systems utilizing a rotary tiller (Howard Rotovator) where 9.0 ton lime ha^?1 was mixed into the soil followed by either continuous chisel tillage or continuous no-tillage. Inversions occurred in 1999, 2003, and 2007. Soil samples were collected annually in increments of 5 cm to a 30 cm depth for pH determinations. After 10 years, the continuous chisel system increased soil pH in the top 20 cm and had grain yields comparable to the no-tillage system, but not different than the no lime treatment. The no-tillage system increased the pH in the surface 15 cm of soil. The inversion treatments after soybean mixed the lime more thoroughly in the top 15 cm than inversion after corn and also increased the pH to a deeper depth. The pelleted lime had no effect on soil acidity. Soybean yields were affected by lime treatment with the no lime and pelleted lime having the lowest yields. This is most likely due to manganese (Mn) toxicity with these treatments. There was no perceived benefit of inversion of the soil with no-till or chisel systems.     

Soil Phosphorus Extracted by Bray 1 and Mehlich 3 Soil Tests as Affected by the Soil/Solution Ratio in Mollisols

Different relationships between soil-test methods results have been reported in several agricultural regions. Differences in the same soil-test procedure (e.g., soil/solution ratio) exist between soil-testing laboratories from different agricultural regions. Our objectives were to (1) determine the effect of soil/solution ratio on the amount of phosphorus removed by Bray 1 and Mehlich 3 methods, (2) compare the amounts of phosphorus removed by Bray 1 and Mehlich 3 in Mollisols from the Pampean region, and (3) determine whether soil/solution ratio affects the relationship between Bray 1 and Mehlich 3. Soil phosphorus availability was determined with two extractants (Bray 1 and Mehlich 3), using two soil/solution ratios (1:10 and 1:8, wt/v) in 72 soils (noncalcareous, loess-derived Molisolls) from the Pampean region. The amount of phosphorus removed was 20–24% greater when using 1:10 than 1:8 (wt/v) soil/solution ratio. This effect was significantly greater in Bray 1 than in Mehlich 3 (p = 0.04). When compared using the same soil/solution ratio, Mehlich 3 removed 4 to 8% more phosphorus than Bray 1. The soil/solution ratio used in the comparison affected the relationship between both extractants. The difference between extractants was slightly greater with a soil/solution ratio of 1:8 than of 1:10 (p = 0.03). Our results showed that even when using the same method, changes in the procedure (like soil/solution ratio) may cause different soil-test results and also differences in the relationship between two extracting solutions. Therefore, reported relationships between two methods are only valid for the soils and region where the relationship was developed and should not be extrapolated to other regions, even with similar soils.     

Soil Organic Carbon,Biochar, and Applicable Research Results for Increasing Farm Productivity under Australian Agricultural Conditions

The conversion of vegetative biomass waste to biochar (biologically derived charcoal) is a source of carbon (C) that can be used to increase the level of soil organic C (SOC) in agricultural soils. This review collates available research into the effects of biologically derived C species with respect to the direct and indirect effects on agricultural productivity and their potential for use in Western Australian agricultural systems. There is a growing requirement to quantify the effect of specific biochar applications for agroecological purposes and to verify biosequestered C for climate-change-mitigation activities. This work provides a review and assessment of safe biochar application rates and examines the present levels of scientific uncertainty surrounding the efficacy and reliability of applying biochar to soils in relation to crop productivity.     

Effect of Phosphorus Fertilizer Rate on Irrigated Russet Burbank Potato

Phosphorus (P) fertilizer is routinely applied to potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in Manitoba, Canada; however, little information is available regarding P responses in this region. Field studies were conducted from 2003 through 2006 to determine the impact of P rate [0, 15, 29, 43 kg P ha^?1 as broadcast incorporated monoammonium phosphate (MAP)] on Russet Burbank potato. Increasing P rate resulted in a linear increase in marketable yield in 2005, a quadratic increase in 2006, and no effect in 2003 and 2004. Phosphorus application had no effect on the yield of tubers <85 g, tuber number, or quality, but petiole P concentration and postharvest soil-test P levels increased with increasing P rate. Results of this and other studies show that P fertilization may improve potato yields, although increases are not completely predictable. Additional research is required to refine soil-test guidelines and petiole P sufficiency levels for this region.     

Pulverizing Soils for Laboratory Analysis

Soil-testing laboratories utilize a range of grinder types to pulverize soils for laboratory analysis. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of soil particle diameter and laboratory subsample size on analysis variability on nitrate, Bray 1 extractable phosphorus (P), extractable potassium (K), and soil organic matter (SOM). Four soils collected for the Agricultural Laboratory Proficiency Program were pulverized using four types of commercial grinders and analyzed for particle-size distribution, P, and K. In a second study, soils were pulverized to pass sieves of 2.0, 1.0, and 0.50 mm and subsampled for P, K, and SOM. Results of the commercial grinders indicate a range in mean particle diameters from 0.15 to 0.60 mm, with the lowest for the grinder utilizing a hammer mill design. Sieve-size analysis results indicate that the coarsest 2.0-mm fraction had the largest variability for all soil analyses evaluated. Analyte variability decreased with decreasing sieve size. Mean Bray P, K, and SOM-LOI (Loss-on-Ignition) mean concentrations were not statistically significantly different across the sieve sizes evaluated. Laboratory analysis variability for extractable Bray P increased as subsample size was reduced.