Wheat grain yield,phosphorus uptake and soil phosphorus fraction after 23 years of annual fertilizer application to an Andosol

A field experiment was conducted on an Andosol to evaluate wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield, P and N uptake and soil P fraction after long-term fertilization (no fertilizer, NPK, NP, NK and PK treatments). Application rates of N, P and K fertilizers were 100, 65 and 83 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ by ammonium sulfate, superphosphate, and potassium chloride, respectively. Phosphorus fertilization was critical for grain yield since the NK treatment did not increase yield compared with no fertilizer treatment. Agronomic efficiency of P was greater than agronomic efficiency of N, although apparent recovery of P and N were 17 and 53%, respectively. Combination application of fertilizer P and N resulted in the greatest grain yield over 23-year cultivation. Interaction impact on grain yield between P and N ranged from 71 to 109%, and was greater than the values for cereals in the earlier works. The N/P ratios of wheat decreased by P application and increased by N application. The N/P ratios in NPK and NP treatments were higher than the values attaining maximum yield for cereal crops reported by other works.