Development and evaluation of an improved soil test for phosphorus, 3: field comparison of Olsen, Colwell and Resin soil P tests for New Zealand pasture soils

Soil tests suitable for estimating the phosphorus (P) status of soils fertilised with soluble or sparingly soluble P fertilisers (reactive phosphate rock) were evaluated using the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture Technology (NZMAFTech) National Series forms of phosphate trials on permanent pastures located throughout NZ. This included a common core of treatments comparing Sechura phosphate rock (SPR) with triple superphosphate (TSP). At each site, a re-application of twice maintenance TSP was superimposed on one-half plots that previously had received six annual applications of increasing amounts of P (0, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 and 2.0 times the maintenance rate) in the form of TSP or SPR. Before the re-application of TSP, soil samples (0–30 and 0–75 mm depths) were collected from each plot. All the trials were run for 1 year during which seven to ten harvests were taken. Pasture response was expressed as percent increase in yield obtained with re-application over the previous treatment.The 0.5 NaHCO₃ based (Olsen P) extractant with different combinations i.e. soil volume (Olsen (v)), soil weight (Olsen (w)), shaking time variations (Olsen (16 h)) and soil:solution ratio (Colwell), and Resin P soil tests were conducted on soils taken from the plots prior to re-application of TSP. The Olsen (v), Olsen (16 h) and Colwell P values increased with increasing rates of P applied in all soils with values for sparingly soluble P materials being less than where soluble P fertiliser had been previously applied. The Resin P values showed similar increases with P applied regardless of the solubility of previously applied fertiliser. When the yield increases caused by TSP application to all treatments (irrespective of fertiliser source) were regressed against soil test values, Resin P explained 76% of the variation in yield response, compared to 50% by Olsen (v), 42% by Olsen (w), 39% by Olsen (16 h) and 40% by Colwell P. Partitioning the data according to fertiliser source slightly improved the coefficient of determination for Resin P for both the soluble (R²=0.81) and sparingly soluble (R²= 0.80) P fertilisers. With 0.5 M NaHCO₃ (Olsen) extractants, R² values consistently indicated a poorer prediction for the SPR treatments. A Resin P model was able to account for more variance in yield response to re-applied TSP, than an Olsen P model because the Olsen model underestimated the yield response to re-applied TSP on the PR treatments. The Resin test is more suitable than the current Olsen test for assessing the plant available P status of soils previously fertilised with fertilisers of varying solubility.Dr. A.G. Sinclair died on 3 December 1996 whilst this paper was in preparation.     

Development and evaluation of an improved soil test for phosphorus: 1. The influence of phosphorus fertilizer solubility and soil properties on the extractability of soil P

The objective of this work was to develop and evaluate a soil test suitable for estimating the phosphorus status of soils whether they were fertilized with soluble or sparingly soluble P fertilizers or both. Four New Zealand soils of contrasting P sorption capacity and exchangeable Ca content were incubated alone or with monocalcium phosphate (MCP), reactive North Carolina (NC) phosphate rock or unreactive Florida (FRD) rock, at 240 mg P kg^–1 soil, to allow the P sources of different solubilities to react with each soil and provide soil samples containing different amounts of extractable P, Ca and residual phosphate rock. The phosphorus in the incubated soils was fractionated into alkali soluble and acid soluble P fractions using a sequential extraction procedure to assess the extent of phosphate rock dissolution. Eight soil P tests [three moderately alkaline — Olsen (0.5M NaHCO₃) modified Olsen (pretreatment with 1M NaCl) and Colwell; three acid tests — Bray 1, modified Bray 1 and Truog; and two resin tests — bicarbonate anion exchange resin (AER) and combined AER plus sodium cation exchange resin (CER)] were assessed in their ability to extract P from the incubated soils.The 0.5M NaHCO₃ based alkaline tests could not differentiate between the Control and FRD treatments in any soil nor between the Control, NC and FRD treatments in the high P sorption soils. The acid extractants appeared to be affected by the P sorption capacity of the soil probably because of reabsorption of dissolved P in the acid medium. The AER test gave results similar to Olsen. Only the combined AER + CER test extracted P in amounts related to the solubility of the P sources incubated with each soil. Furthermore, when soil samples were spiked with FRD and NC and extracted immediately, the P extracted by the AER + CER test, over and above the control soils, increased with the amount and chemical reactivity of the rocks. There was no extraction of rock P by any of the alkaline extractions.Increases in the amounts of P extracted (P) by each soil test from the fertilized soils, over and above the control soils were compared with the amounts ofP dissolved from the fertilizers during incubation (measured by P fractionation). Soil P sorption capacity had least influence on the amounts of P extracted by the AER + CER and Colwell tests. However, the Colwell test was unable to differentiate between all P sources in all four soils and suffered from the disadvantage of producing coloured extracts. The AER + CER test appeared to have the potential to assess the available P status of soils better than the other tests used because of its ability to extract a representative portion of residual PR (in accordance with the amount and reactivity) and dissolved P, and thus to differentiate between fertilizer treatments in all four soils.     

Influence of soil organic carbon on the interpretation of soil test P for wheat grown on alkaline soils

Organic carbon is known to alter crop response to applied phosphorus (P) but that fact has not been incorporated in soil test interpretations. To achieve this objective, field experiments with wheat were conducted for four years on alkaline soils of Punjab, India. The experimental soils ranged from loamy sand to loam in texture, 7.4 to 9.6 in pH, 0.16 to 0.75% in organic carbon (OC) and 2 to 40 mg Olsen extractable P kg^–1 soil. Response of wheat to fertilizer phosphorus application was related to the combined effect of Olsen P and soil OC content. At a given Olsen P level, wheat yield was a function of soil OC content. Multiple regression analysis of the data showed that OC content <0.2% did not affect yield significantly. At values >0.6%, OC along with Olsen P accounted for 97% of the variation in yield and there was no response to applied fertilizer P. Yield isoquants for 4 and 5 tons grains ha^–1 showed that for a given Olsen P level, as OC content increased the amount of fertilizer P required to achieve a yield target decreased. It was shown that OC may be used to approximate the contribution of organic P mineralization to plant available soil P during a growing season. The reliability of fertilizer recommendations based on Olsen P may be improved on some alkaline soils by consideration of soil OC content.     

The Olsen P method as an agronomic and environmental test for predicting phosphate release from acid soils

The role of soil phosphorus (P) in the eutrophication of fresh water systems is well established. It is crucial therefore to assess the potential loss of P from soil in the various scenarios where soil can come into contact with water. To date, such assessment has often been based on soil P tests that are used for agronomic purposes (e.g. fertilizer recommendations). The purpose of this work was to examine the usefulness of one such test (viz. the Olsen test, which is based on extraction with bicarbonate) for predicting not only the amount of soil P available to plants, but also that which can be desorbed to water in a group of 32 Portuguese soils, of which 29 were acid and 3 calcareous. To this end, we (i) assessed the total amount of phytoavailable P in soil by successively pot-cropping Chinese cabbage, buckwheat and rye; and (ii) measured the amount of phosphate-P desorbed to a dilute electrolyte mimicking fresh water over periods of up to 218 days at soil:solution ratios of 1:100, 1:1000 and 1:10000. Total phytoavailable P and Olsen P were found to bear a quadratic relationship, with Olsen’s extractant underestimating the content in phytoavailable P of soils with high Olsen P contents relatively to soils with low contents. The “change point” at which phytoavailable P began to increase rapidly per unit change in Olsen P was 53 mg Olsen P kg⁻¹ soil. For the acid soils, a significant quadratic relationship was found between the amount of P desorbed to water and Olsen P at the three soil:solution ratios studied. However, these relationships became less significant when only the soils with an Olsen P value of less than 50 mg kg⁻¹ were considered. For the acid soils, the change point at which P input to water began to increase rapidly per unit change in Olsen P was 20, 61 and 57 mg kg⁻¹ at the 1:100, 1:1000 and 1:10000 ratio, respectively. At comparable Olsen P values, the calcareous soils released more phosphate to water than the acid soils. On the basis of our results, we suggest the following environmental threshold values for Olsen P in acid soils: 20 mg kg⁻¹ for P desorption scenarios where the soil:solution ratio is high (e.g. drainage water) and 50 mg kg⁻¹ for desorption scenarios where the soil:solution ratio is low (e.g., runoff, water in reservoirs). Both values are higher than the agronomic threshold above which plants are well supplied with P.     

Phosphate availability in calcareous Vertisols and Inceptisols in relation to fertilizer type and soil properties

The availability to plants of fertilizer phosphorus (P) applied to soil, as measured by chemical extraction, is used to estimate P fertilizer needs. We studied the availability of P, applied as monocalcium phosphate (MCP) powder, ordinary superphosphate (OSP) granules and diammonium phosphate (DAP) granules in 24 calcareous Vertisols and Inceptisols of Andalusia, Spain, by using laboratory incubation techniques. The soils differed widely in their P adsorption- and Ca-phosphate precipitation-related properties. For MCP, availability (defined as the proportion of added P that is recovered by extraction with NaHCO₃ or is isotopically exchangeable) decreased markedly with incubation time and increasing addition rate. The mean recoveries after 180 d of incubation at field capacity at a rate of 246 mg P kg^–1 soil were 17% for Olsen P, 38% for Colwell P, and 16% for isotopically exchangeable P (IEP). Increasing the application rate to 2460 mg kg^–1 resulted in recoveries of 6% for Olsen P, 25% for Colwell P, and 4% for IEP. While IEP-based recovery was not significantly correlated to any soil property, that based on Olsen P (and, to a lesser extent, Colwell P) decreased sharply with increase in the ratio of clay (or Fe oxides) to total (or active) calcium carbonate equivalent. Accordingly, Olsen P might overestimate P availability in those soils relatively rich in carbonate and poor in clay and Fe oxides. On the other hand, recovery of applied P from soils containing more clay and Fe oxides, by a sequential extraction (with H₂O, two 0.5M NaHCO₃ treatments, 0.5M HCl), was lower than 100%, thereby suggesting phosphate occlusion by Fe oxides or clay.Availability of the fertilizers tested 90 d after application was found to decrease in the following order: MCP powder (rate, 246 mg kg^–1) > DAP granules (rate, 547 mg kg^–1) > MCP powder (rate, 738 mg kg^–1) > OSP granules (rate, 308 mg kg^–1). Differences between fertilizers tended to increase with increasing carbonate content in the soil. This may have been due to precipitation of Ca phosphates caused by the presence of Ca in the fertilizer and the high Ca- supplying capacity of the more calcareous soils.     

Assessment of the relative agronomic effectiveness of phosphate rocks under glasshouse conditions

Six phosphate rocks (PRs) of varying reactivities were compared with monocalcium phosphate (MCP) in a glasshouse experiment growing perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne cv. Nui) as the test plant on four soils of contrasting P sorption capacity and exchangeable Ca. The cumulative dry matter yield over 10 harvests showed a significant response to P application in all soils. Based on relative yield and P uptake, MCP was the most effective P fertilizer followed by the reactive phosphate rocks, which were superior to the unreactive rocks in all soils. The relative agronomic effectiveness (RAE) and substitution ratio (SR) of individual PR fertilizers, calculated with respect to MCP using the methods of vertical and horizontal comparison, respectively, were similar over a range of fertilizer rate. There was a decline or slight increase in the performance of PRs with time in the low P sorption soils but a consistent increase in the high P sorption soils. Some initial influence of exchangeable Ca content of the soils on the relative performance of PRs was also observed. Generally the PRs performed better in high P sorption soils than low P sorption soils and in low exchangeable Ca soils than high exchangeable Ca soils.     

Phosphorus supplying capacity of heavily fertilized soils II. Dry matter yield of successive crops and phosphorus uptake at different temperatures

Nine heavily fertilized soils were collected from southern and central Norway. A greenhouse experiment in the phytotron was conducted to evaluate the P supplying capacities of these soils at different temperatures (9, 12 and 18 °C). The crops were grown in succession and the sequence was oat, rye grass (cut twice), oat, rape and oat. Effect of temperature on dry matter (DM) yield and P uptake was more marked up to the fourth crop but the effect varied among crops. The DM yields of oat and rape increased with increasing temperature but the opposite was the case with rye grass. The yield differences among soils at 12 °C were highly significant (p < 0.01) in contrast to 9 and 18 °C. The amount of P taken up by plants in these soils was highest at 18. °C. The P supplying capacity was highest in the soils with higher content of organic P. Generally, the soils of very fine and coarse texture classes failed to supply enough P to crops to avoid P deficiency in the successive crops. Soil P test (P-NH₄-lactate) values in most of the soils increased with increasing temperatures. The highest temperature effect was seen in the Særheim sand soil. Soil P test extractants P-AL, Bray-1 and Colwell-P were used to determine P in the soil after each harvest and the soil P test values were compared with P uptake by crops. Only the P-AL extractant was significantly correlated to cumulative P removal (CPR) by plants in most of the soils. Regression equation was calculated for each soil. The value of removed P per harvest (RPH) varied from 10.33 to 20.87 mg P kg^–1 soil. Phosphorus drawdown slope was determined for each soil and the number of consecutive harvests necessary to reduce the P-AL value to a normal level (110 mg P kg^–1 soil) was calculated. The drawdown slope varied widely (1.257–2.801) and this reflected the P buffer capacity and the number of crops required to lower the soil test P value to a normal level. The highest drawdown slope was found in the soils with higher P supplying capacities. The Bray-1 extractant was significantly correlated in the soils with higher buffer capacity but the Colwell-P method did not show significant correlation in any of the soils.     

Induced phosphorus fixation and the effectiveness of phosphate fertilizers derived from Sukulu Hills phosphate rock

A greenhouse study was conducted with two surface, acidic soils (a Hiwassee loam and a Marvyn loamy sand) to measure the effect of increasing P-fixation capacity, on the relative agronomic effectiveness (RAE) of phosphate fertilizers derived from Sukulu Hills phosphate rock (PR) from Uganda. Prior to fertilizer application, Fe-gel was added to increase P-fixation capacity from 4.4 to 14.3% for the Marvyn soil and from 37.0 to 61.5% for the Hiwassee soil. Phosphate materials included compacted Sukulu Hills concentrate PR + Triple superphosphate (CTSP) at a total P ratio of PR:TSP = 50:50; 50% partially acidulated PR (CPAPR) from Sukulu Hills concentrate PR made with H₂SO₄; and Sukulu Hills concentrate PR (PRC) made by magnetically removing iron oxide from raw PR ore. Triple superphosphate (TSP) was used as a reference fertilizer. After adjusting soil pH to approximately 6, P sources were applied at rates of 0, 50, 150, and 300 mg total P kg^–1 soil. Two successive crops of 5 week old corn seedlings (Zea mays L.) were grown. The results show that the RAE of the phosphate materials measured using dry-matter yield or P uptake generally decreased as P-fixation capacity was increased for both soils. CTSP was more effective in increasing dry-matter yield and P uptake than CPAPR. PRC alone was an ineffective P source. Soil chemical analysis showed that Bray 1 and Mehlich 1 extractants were ineffective on the high P-fixation capacity Fe-gel amended Hiwassee soil. Mehlich 1 was unsuitable for soils treated with PRC since it apparently solubilizes unreactive PR. When all of the soils and P sources were considered together, Pi paper was the most reliable test for estimating plant available P.     

Assessment of methods for studying the dissolution of phosphate fertilizers of differing solubility in soil

Relationships between plant response and rates of dissolution of ground (< 150µm) North Carolina phosphate rock (NCPR), NCPR 30% acidulated with phosphoric acid (NCPAPR) and monocalcium phosphate (MCP) were assessed in pot experiments. The three fertilizers were incubated for 1, 50 and 111 days, at the rates of 75, 150 and 750µg P g^–1 soil, using two soils with different P-retention capacity. After each period of incubation, four pots were set up from each treatment, and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) was grown in a growth chamber for about six weeks to assess the agronomic effectiveness of the fertilizers. Results in dry matter yield and P uptake showed that immediately following application (1 day incubation), the MCP (solution) was supplying more P to plants than either the NCPR or the NCPAPR applied at the same rate. After 50 and 111 days of incubation, the NCPR and NCPAPR were just as effective in the lower P-retention Tekapo soil. The relative agronomic effectiveness (RAE) of the NCPR and NCPAPR compared with MCP was generally poorer in the higher P-retention Craigieburn soil than in the Tekapo soil shortly after application, but improved with time of incubation. Ryegrass responses to the application of the three fertilizers corresponded to the changing trends of exchangeable P in the soils, measured by the isotopic method.Regressions were made between plant P uptake and indices describing the intensity factor (water extractable P), quantity factor (Bray I P, Olsen P, 0.5M NaOH extractable P and isotopic exchangeable P) and the kinetic factor (F_in) of soil P supply to plants in the Tekapo soil. The percentage of variation in plant P uptake explained by individual indices was generally less than 80%, no matter which of the three single variable models, the Mitscherlich, the quadratic or the power function was fitted. However, more than 96% of the variation in plant P uptake in the Tekapo soil could be explained by the power function models involving two variables. The rate of P dissolution (F_in) determined by the isotopic dilution method was included in all the two variable models. The results suggest that assessment of soil P supply to plants should consider the kinetic factor in addition to the intensity and quantity factors, particularly where P fertilizers with differing solubility are applied.     

Phosphorus effectiveness in fertilized soils evaluated by chemical solutions and residual value for wheat growth

Nineteen soils from the south east of the Province of Buenos Aires (Argentina) that had been fertilized with moderate amounts of P (10–40 kgP/ha) during the last 10 years were used to investigate the effect of time on the decline of P availability as measured by three soil tests (Bray 1, Bray 2, Olsen) and the null-point method. Differences in rates of P decline among soils and chemical methods were characterized by an exponential coefficient for time (b ₂) in equations which describe the changes of the added P retained by the soil (Pr =ac ^b1 t ^b2). The rate of decline of P for the nineteen soils calculated for the soil test methods was ordered decreasingly as: null-point > Olsen > Bray 1 > Bray 2. The ability of the chemical methods for assessing the residual value of P for wheat growth (RV) was tested in a pot experiment on seven of the soils that differed in their individual rates of reaction with P. Differences between soils in the rate of reaction with P as measured in the laboratory by the null-point method and by the Olsen test were reflected in different residual values for P fertilizer for wheat plants. Thus the value ofb ₂ for these methods was well correlated with the observed residual values. The soil properties commonly associated with the retention of P were not related to the value ofb ₂ suggesting that more than one soil property may be involved in the measure ofb ₂. The exponent for timeb ₂ may be used as an index of the ability of the soil test to reflect the decline of P availability with time.     

Effect of fertilizer type,sampling depth,and years on Colwell soil test phosphorus for phosphorus leaching soils

The relationships between (i) soil test phosphorus (P) (Colwell sodium bicarbonate procedure) and the level of P applied (from 0 to 1000 kg total P ha^–1) (relationship 1), and (ii) yield and soil-test P (relationship 2, the soil P test calibration), were measured in two field experiments on very sandy, P-leaching soils in the high rainfall (> 800 mm annual average) areas of south-western Australia. The soils were humic sandy podzols, or haplohumods, comprising 97% sand (20 to 2000 m). The experiments started in April 1984 and were terminated at the end of 1990. Soil-test P, measured on soil samples collected to 5, 10 and 25 cm depth each January in the years after P application, was related to yields of dried clover (Trifolium subterraneum) herbage measured later in each year. The four P fertilizers studied were single superphosphate, coastal superphosphate (made by adding, just before granulation, extra rock phosphate together with elemental sulphur while manufacturing single superphosphate), apatite rock phosphate, and Calciphos.Relationship (1) was adequately described by a linear equation (R² > 0.80, most being > 0.90). The slope coefficient estimates the extractability of P from the soil by the Colwell procedure, and is called extractability. Relationship (2) was adequately described by the Mitscherlich equation (R² > 0.75, most being > 0.90). For relationship (2), use of percentage of the maximum (relative) yield eliminated differences due to different maximum yields and yield responses (maximum yield minus the yield for the nil-P treatment). Soil test P ranged from about 4 to 150 g Pg^–1 soil. Soil test P and extractability were generally higher for samples of the top 5 cm of the soil than the top 25 cm, and were largest for single superphosphate and lowest for apatite rock phosphate. Both extractability (relationship (1)) and the curvature coefficient of the Mitscherlich equation (relationship (2)), differed for different P fertilizers and different soil sample depths. The curvature coefficient also differed for different yield assessments (harvests) in the same or different years. Different soil P test calibrations were required for different P fertilizers, soil sample depths and harvest in the same or different years. It is concluded that soil P testing provides a crude estimate of the current P status of P-leaching soils in Western Australia.     

Comparison of greenhouse and 32P isotopic laboratory methods for evaluating the agronomic effectiveness of natural and modified rock phosphates in some acid soils of Ghana

Phosphorus deficiency is one of the major constraints for normal plant growth and crop yields in the acid soils of Ghana and therefore addition of P inputs is required for sustainable crop production. This is often difficult, if not impossible for small-scale farmers due to the high cost of mineral P fertilizers and limited access to fertilizer supplies. Direct application of finely ground phosphate rocks (PRs) and their modified forms have been recommended as alternatives for P fertilization. The direct application of the natural and modified PRs to these acid soils implies the need to predict their agronomic effectiveness of the PRs in the simplest and most cost-effective manner. In this study the classical greenhouse pot experiment was compared to the ³²P isotopic kinetics laboratory method for evaluating the agronomic effectiveness of natural and modified Togo PR in six highly weathered Oxisols from southwest Ghana. In the ³²P isotopic kinetics laboratory experiment the six soil samples were each fertilised at the rate of 50 mg P kg^–1 soil in the form of triple superphosphate (TSP), Togo PAPR-50%, and Togo PR, respectively. Controls without P amendment were also included. Isotopic exchange kinetics experiments were carried out on two sets of samples, immediately after P fertilizer additions (without incubation) and after 6 weeks of incubation under wet conditions and at a room temperature of 25 °C. In the greenhouse pot experiment, P fertilizers in the form of Togo PR, Togo PAPR, Mali PR and TSP were each applied to the six soils at rates equivalent to 0, 30, 60, and 120 kg P ha^–1, respectively. The P fertilizers were mixed with the soils and maize (Zea mays L.) variety Obatanpa was grown for 42 days before harvest. The isotopic kinetics data of the control samples indicated that 5 of the studied soils had very low P fertility status as reflected by their low P concentrations in solution (C_P<0.02 mg P l^–1) and low exchangeable P (E₁min < 5 mg P kg^–1). The capacity factor and the fixation index of the soils were variable. Application of water-soluble P as TSP increased both the C_P and E₁ values of all the soils above the critical levels. Togo PR was least effective among the fertilizers tested for all soil soils, except in Boi soil. Acidulation of Togo PR (Togo PAPR-50%) was an effective means to increase its agronomic effectiveness. Direct application of natural Togo PR would be only feasible in the Boi soil series as reflected by its high Pdff% value in soil solution. Incubation with the P fertilizers caused an increase in the soil pH and a decline in the effectiveness of the applied P fertilizers, irrespective of the soil and the fertilizer utilized. Based upon the results of the greenhouse pot experiment, the relative crop response index (RCRI) in terms of increasing dry matter yield and P uptake followed the order of TSP > PAPR = Mali PR >Togo PR = Control. Both the laboratory index, Pdff% in soil solution derived from the isotopic method and the RCRI values obtained from the pot experiment produced similar results in ranking the P fertilizers tested according to their agronomic effectiveness. The isotopic kinetic method may be considered as an alternative to both greenhouse and field methods in the evaluation of agronomic effectiveness of P fertilizers in tropical acid soils when it offers comparative advantages in assessing the soil P status and its changes. But trained staff and adequate laboratory facilities are needed to perform this technique. Also the method can be used as a reference for comparison purposes as in this case. Further research is needed to assess the overall agronomic effectiveness (immediate and residual effects) of PR sources in predominant cropping systems of this region of Ghana.     

How do soil P tests,plant yield and P acquisition by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lotus tenuis</Emphasis> plants reflect the availability of added P from different phosphate sources

The relative effectiveness (RE) of each one of three different sources of P—P in solution (Psol), triple superphosphate (TSP) and phosphate rock (PR)—for reflecting the availability of P in a P-deficient soil were assessed by measuring in Lotus tenuis variables associated with growth, organ morphology, and plant tissue P-content together with the amounts of P extracts from soil by two of the currently used soil-P tests—Bray I and Olsen. A hyperbolic equation was used to fit the response curves of each one of those plant variables to added-P. The ratio between the shapes of paired response curves of any P-sources was used to compute the RE and substitution rate (K) of one source relative to the other. More P was needed from TSP and PR compared to Psol-100% soluble P-source. On the average P applications as TSP relative to Psol and PR relative to TSP were only 68 and 63% effective respectively for plant growth. Plant roots were more sensitive than soil-P tests to detect shifts in P-availability from different P-sources. Because soil tests are commonly used to estimate the current P status in soil in order to calculate the optimum application levels of fertilizer P for a crop or pasture, these results would have practical agronomical consequences if reproduced in other cultivated species because they show that the response curve of a plant species as a function of added P and soil test might differ among fertilizer types, measured plant variables, and the test used to measure P availability in the soil.     

Extractable phosphorus to predict agronomic effectiveness of ground and unground phosphate rocks

The reactivity of 11 phosphate rocks (PRs), both in their finely ground and unground forms, and containing up to 12% of CaCO₃ were estimated from the P extracted with 2% citric acid, 2% formic acid and neutral ammonium citrate. With the neutral ammonium citrate, PRs were also extracted sequentially. To determine the relative agronomic effectiveness (RAE) of PRs a greenhouse experiment was conducted using three soils of different P retention, and growing ryegrass as the test plant. PRs were applied at three rates plus control. Ground Sechura PR was employed as the standard PR and single superphosphate was included to determine maximum dry matter production. Three cuts of ryegrass were taken over 4 months in 2 soils, and 8 cuts over 10 months in one soil. RAE of the PRs was calculated from dry matter yields obtained at a fertiliser P rate where superphosphate gave 90% of the maximum attainable yield, and also from the yield and P uptake values averaged over rates of application.Amount of P extracted by the different reagents correlated closely with each other (R² 0.82–0.99). Chemical extractable P integrated the effect of particle size as well as the inherent chemical reactivity of PRs. Formic P expanded the scale and thus was the most sensitive indicator to rank PRs. The ranking of PRs were similar between soils. RAEs between soils correlated significantly (R² = 0.88–0.91). For predicting the agronomic potential of PRs, RAEs calculated from 4 cuts of ryegrass over 4 months appeared to be as good as those calculated from 8 cuts, over 10 months.The total P of PRs was smaller in the large and very small size fractions than in the intermediate ones. With unground rocks the extractable P decreased with increasing particle size mainly due to their decreasing specific surface area. Practical implications of these results are discussed. Extractable P did not decline with increasing total P in the different size fractions of PRs. End-over-end shakers, unlike wrist-action shakers, gave consistent extractable P values.Formic-P was the best predictor of the agronomic effectiveness of PRs even when the data from ground and unground PRs, and from 3 soils of differing P retention were treated as one population (R² = 0.87–0.92).     

Evaluation of the agronomic effectiveness of natural and partially acidulated phosphate rocks in several soils using32P isotopic dilution techniques

The agronomic effectiveness of two natural phosphate rocks (PRs) from North Carolina (USA) and Togo and their 50% partially acidulated products (PAPRs) was evaluated in two greenhouse experiments using³²P isotopic dilution techniques, namely L and A_L values.In the first experiment rye grass was grown in a soil from Ghana. While the proportion of P in the plant derived from the P fertilizer (Pdff) ranged on. the average from about 10% for the PRs up to 80% for the PAPRs, the P fertilizer recovery was less than 1% for a 60-day growth period. In the second experiment, average values of P in the maize plants derived from the PAPRs ranged from 35% to 75% in 3 different soils. Both PRs were ineffective with the exception of North Carolina PR in the Seibersdorf soil. The P fertilizer recovery was 0.25% for the North Carolina PR in this soil whereas the recovery values ranged from 1.2% to 1.6% for the PAPRs.Mean values of the relative fertilizer efficiency estimated from the L values of each soil were less than 1% for the PRs whereas the values for the PAPRs which were dependent on soil type ranged from 20% up to 45%. The coefficient of relative effect of partial acidulation, that was calculated from the ratio of A_L values for PR and PAPR in each soil indicated that partial acidulation increased the effectiveness of the natural PRs in all soils under study.This study showed that the use of³²P isotope dilution techniques allows an accurate measurement of the P availability from natural and modified PR products to crops. Another advantage is that quantitative comparison of the P sources under study, PRs and PAPRs in this case, can be made even in soils where there is no response to the applied P sources.     

Evaluation of soil phosphate status where phosphate rock based fertilizers have been used

Soil phosphorus (P) tests have usually been calibrated using regression relationships between test values and crop yields for soils with a history of soluble P fertilizer use. However, the regression relationships have frequently been found to be different where phosphate rock (PR) based fertilizers have been used. Consequently, the traditional soil P tests often give incorrect estimates of soil P status of PR fertilized soils where calibrations were derived using soils treated with soluble P fertilizers. Alkaline soil tests (e.g., Olsen, Colwell) usually underestimate, while acid tests (e.g., Truog, Bray 2) usually overestimate, the soil P status of PR fertilized soils where normal calibrations are used. Several ways of overcoming this problem are discussed. Separate calibrations can be used for soluble and PR based fertilizers. In practice, this could involve mathematical modification of test values obtained with PR fertilized soils to enable use of the normal calibrations. Soil and fertilizer P models are available which use fertilizer history to derive current fertilizer recommendations and/or predict consequences of different fertilizer strategies. These could be extended to include functions describing the dissolution of PR in soil. This requires more detailed information on PR dissolution rates in different soils. Two soil tests for use with both soluble P and PR fertilized soils have recently been developed. They are the iron-oxide impregnated paper and the mixed anion exchange membrane/cation exchange membrane tests. While more evaluation is required in field situations, evidence to date indicates that both tests show promise.     

Phosphorus availability from phosphate rock and sewage sludge as influenced by the addition of water soluble phosphate fertilizer

Phosphorus (P) inputs are required for sustainable agricultural production in most acid soils of the tropics and subtropics. Phosphate rocks (PR) and organic materials have been suggested as alternative P sources in these soils. Quantitative information on the P availability from sewage sludge (SL) is scanty. Methods to improve the effectiveness of PR such as partial acidulation and compaction with water-soluble P sources have been recommended. The objective of this greenhouse study was to evaluate the relative agronomic effectiveness (RAE) of Florida PR and sewage sludges (irradiated and non-irradiated) applied alone and in mixture with a water-soluble source (triple superphosphate, TSP) at two rates (50 and 150 mg P kg^–1 soil). The ³²P isotope dilution technique was utilised to determine the proportion of P in the plant taken up from the P fertilizer treatments. Wheat was grown on an acid loamy sand Dystric Eutrocrepts and harvested 6 weeks after planting. Results on total P uptake and the RAE of the P fertilizer sources tested indicated that the addition of 50 mg P kg^–1 soil as TSP was adequate in supplying P to the 6-week-old wheat plants as compared to PR and sewage sludge. Intermediate values were obtained for the mixtures. Similar responses were observed for the high P rate. For a given P rate, phosphorus uptake from PR and SL in presence of TSP was higher than P uptake from these sources alone, indicating an enhancement effect of TSP on the effectiveness of these non-readily available sources. With respect to P uptake from PR applied alone, the relative increases in P uptake from PR due to TSP influence were 52 and 67% for the low and high P rates, respectively. The relative increases in P uptake from SL due to TSP when compared to P uptake from SL alone were 102 and 59% for the low and high P rates of application. Application of a water-soluble P fertilizer together with a non-readily available P source shows an enhancement on the P uptake from the non-readily available P source by the wheat plants. In this experiment the estimated enhancement effects are very likely underestimated.     

Comparison of Olsen and Pi soil tests for evaluating phosphorus bioavailability in a calcareous soil treated with single superphosphate and partially acidulated phosphate rock

The Pi test for phosphorus (P) is a new method in which strips of iron oxide impregnated filter paper are used as a sink to sorb and extract P from a soil solution. In a greenhouse experiment, the Olsen and Pi tests were compared for their effectiveness in evaluating P availability to maize on calcareous soils. Phosphate rock from Togo, partially acidulated with H₂SO₄ at 50% acidulation level (PAPR 50% H₂SO₄) and single superphosphate (SSP) were applied at different rates to a calcareous soil (Vernon Clay, pH 8.2, CaCO₃ 18.9%) which was preincubated with KH₂PO₄ to raise plant-available P to different levels. In soils treated with SSP, dry-matter yield of maize correlated equally well with Pi-P and with Olsen-P (r = 0.96^***). P uptake correlated significantly with P_i-P (r = 0.94^***) as well as Olsen-P (r = 0.97^***). Likewise, in soils fertilized with PAPR, significant correlations were found between dry-matter yield and Pi-P (r = 0.97^***) and between dry-matter yield and Olsen-P (r = 0.94^***). When all the data were pooled, Pi-P and Olsen-P correlated equally well with both dry-matter weight (r = 0.97^***) and P uptake (r = 0.94^***). Phosphorus extracted by the Pi test correlated significantly with P extracted by the Olsen test (r = 0.99^***).     

Calibration of available P in soils from derived savannah zone of western Nigeria

Extractants for determining soil available P are useful in fertilizer recommendations when calibrated with actual yield responses. The relationships between relative (or percent) yield and soil P test levels can be described using various mathematical models, and the relevant critical P levels estimated.Critical P values for 60 cultivated savannah surface soils estimated in a greenhouse study and for 20 soils in 20 field observations varied with extractants. Most of the soils studied were deficient in P with 4–10 mg kg^–1 available P range. Calibration of P in soil using the Cate and Nelson's analysis of variance method, Mitscherlich and quadratic equations compared favourably. The advantages of the Cate and Nelson's procedure were discussed.     

Relationship between extracted phosphorus and sorghum yield in a Vertisol and an Alfisol under rainfed cropping

Little attention has been devoted to calibrating the soil tests for P in the field for crops grown under rainfed conditions in different soil types. Field experiments were conducted during the 1990 rainy season (June-September) at the ICRISAT Center, Patancheru (near Hyderabad), India on nearby Vertisol and Alfisol sites having a range in extractable P, for establishing relationships between extractable P and sorghum yield.In the Vertisol, 90% relative grain yield of sorghum was obtained at 2.8 mg kg^–1 Olsen extractable P while in the Alfisol, 90% relative grain yield was achieved at 5.0 mg P kg^–1 soil. These results suggest that a single critical limit of available P does not hold true for grain sorghum in the two soil types under similar agroclimatic conditions and that the critical limit is lower for the clayey Vertisol than the sandy Alfisol.