The residual value of rock phosphate and superphosphate from field sites assessed by glasshouse bioassay using three plant species with different external P requirements

A pot experiment with two lateritic soils measured the relative residual effectiveness (RRE) of superphosphate and three rock phosphate (RP) fertilizers applied six years previously in the field. Three plant species (lettuce, wheat and maize) having very different external P requirements were grown as indicators of P availability. Superphosphate had the maximum RRE (1.0) and low reactive Queensland RP had the minimum RRE (0.04–0.45) for all plant species. For one soil the RRE of reactive North Carolina RP was similar to that of superphosphate (0.87–1.04), but ranged from 0.07 to 0.30 for the other soil. The RRE of Calciphos (one soil only) ranged from 0.60 to 0.98 for all plant species.The RRE of rock phosphate decreased for the three crops in sequence maize> wheat> lettuce for a 30 days growth period. This ranking follows the increasing external P requirement of the three plant species. Very high rates of application of RP may have induced micronutrient deficiencies.     

The residual value of superphosphate and rock phosphates for lateritic soils and its evaluation using three soil phosphate tests

The residual value of superphosphate and several rock phosphates was measured in three field experiments in Western Australia. The rock phosphates were Christmas Island C-grade ore, calcined C-grade ore (Calciphos) and apatite rock phosphates. The predictive capacity of the Colwell, Olsen and Bray 1 soil tests for phosphate were also evaluated.As measured by yields of variously wheat, oats, barley or clover, the effectiveness of an initial application of superphosphate decreased to about 50% of that of newly applied superphosphate between years 1 and 2, and further decreased to about 20% over subsequent years. At low levels of application, all the rock phosphates were between 10–20% as effective as superphosphate in the year of application for all experiments. Relative to newly applied superphosphate their effectiveness remained approximately constant in subsequent years for two experiments and doubled for the other experiment.The Colwell soil test predicted that the effectiveness of superphosphate decreased to about 45% between years 2 and 3, followed by a more gradual decrease to approximately 15%. At low levels of application, the effectiveness of the rock phosphates as predicted by the Colwell soil test values was initially very low relative to superphosphate (2–30%), and remained low in subsequent years (2–20%). For superphosphate treated soil, the proportion of the added phosphorus extracted generally increased as the level of application increased. By contrast, for rock phosphate treated soil, the proportion of added phosphorus extracted decreased as the level of application increased.For all three experiments there were highly significant positive correlations between amounts of P extracted by the three soil tests. Consequently all soil tests were equally predictive of yield but usually for each soil test separate calibrations between yield and soil test values were required for the different fertilizers and for each combination of fertilizer and plant species and for each year.     

The comparative agronomic effectiveness of rock phosphate and superphosphate for banana

The agronomic effectiveness of three rock phosphates (Idaho, Florida and North Carolina) as influenced by mycorrhizal inoculation withGlomus aggregatum was evaluated using small banana (Musa paradisiaca L.) corms as planting material. The treatments included superphosphate and a no-P control. The soil was fumigated to eliminate mycorrhizal propagules. The amount of P added was based on the quantity of material needed as superphosphate to establish 0.2 mg P L^–1 in solution. Plants were grown in an Oxisol in 9-liter pots for 3 months after growth commenced. Plant dry weight, P percentage in the 3rd leaf, and total P uptake were increased when plants fertilized with insoluble rock phosphates were inoculated with mycorrhiza-producing fungi. Phosphorus uptake by plants fertilized with Idaho, Florida, and North Carolina rock phosphates was 0.18, 0.42, and 0.97 as much as by plants fertilized with superphosphate. The beneficial effect of mycorrhiza on phosphate uptake was 136, 30, 2 and 24% for plants fertilized with Idaho, Florida and North Carolina rock phosphate, and superphosphate, respectively.     

The initial and residual value for subterranean clover of phosphorus from crandallite rock phosphates,apatite rock phosphates and superphosphate

The residual value of phosphorus from superphosphate, crandallite rock phosphate (Christmas Island C-grade ore), 500°C calcined crandallite rock phosphate (Calciphos) and apatite rock phosphate from Queensland, Australia, was measured in a 6 year field experiment sited on lateritic soil in south-western Australia. Different amounts of each fertilizer were applied at the commencement of the experiment, and either left on the soil surface or mixed through the soil by cultivating to a depth of about 10 cm. Dry matter production of subterranean clover measured in spring (August) and bicarbonate-extractable phosphorus determined from soil samples collected in summer (January–February) were used as indicators of fertilizer effectiveness.The effectiveness values calculated for each fertilizer each year were similar for the treatments that were left on the soil surface and those which were mixed through the soil. The effectiveness of both ordinary and triple superphosphate were similar each year. They were the most effective fertilizers for the duration of the experiment. Using pasture yield as an indicator, the effectiveness of the superphosphates decreased by about 50% from year 1 to year 2, and by a further 10% over the remaining 4 years. Using bicarbonate-extracted soil phosphorus the effectiveness of both superphosphates decreased in a more uniform fashion by about 60% from year 2 to year 6. The effectiveness of all the rock phosphate fertilizers was approximately constant through time. As calculated from yield and bicarbonate-soluble phosphorus values, C-grade ore, Calciphos and the Queensland apatite were respectively 5%, 20% and 7% as effective as freshly applied superphosphate.The proportion of the total phosphorus content present in the rock phosphates which was initially soluble in neutral ammonium citrate was a poor predictor of the effectiveness of the phosphorus from these fertilizers determined using herbage yield or the amount of bicarbonate — soluble phosphorus extracted from the soil.The bicarbonate soil test did not predict the same future production for superphosphate and some of the rock phosphates in years 2 and 3 of the experiment, indicating that different soil test calibration curves are needed for the different fertilizers.     

Long-term residual value of North Carolina and Queensland rock phosphates compared with triple superphosphate

The effectiveness of large single applications of North Carolina reactive rock phosphate, Queensland non-reactive rock phosphate, and Calciphos, were compared to the effectiveness of superphosphate in field experiments in south-western Australia for up to 11 years after application. As measured using plant yield, superphosphate was the most effective fertilizer in the year of application, and relative to freshly-applied superphosphate, the effectiveness of the superphosphate residues declined to be about 15 to 65% as effective in the year after application, and 5 to 20% as effective 9 to 10 years after application. Relative to freshly-applied superphosphate, all the rock phosphates were 10 to 30% as effective in the year of application, and the residues remained 2 to 20% as effective in the 10 years after application. The bicarbonate soil test reagent predicted a more gradual decrease in effectiveness of superphosphate of up to 70% 10 years after application. For rock phosphate, the reagent predicted effectiveness to be always lower than for superphosphate, being initially 2 to 11% as effective in the year after application, and from 10% to equally as effective 10 years later. Therefore rock phosphates are unlikely to be economic alternatives to superphosphate in the short or long term on most lateritic soils in south-western Australia.     

Effectiveness of rock phosphate, coastal superphosphate and single superphosphate for pasture on deep sandy soils

The effectiveness of coastal superphosphate and two rock phosphate fertilizers was compared with the effectiveness of single superphosphate for pasture production on deep, humic, sandy podzols in high rainfall (> 800 mm annual average) areas of south-western Australia. The pastures were subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) or mixed subterraneum clover and serradella (Ornithopus compressus). Coastal superphosphate was made by adding rock phosphate and elemental sulphur to superphosphate during manufacture, as it came out of the den before granulation. One rock phosphate was a 50% mixture of apatite rock phosphate from Nauru and Christmas Islands, and which was also used to make the single and coastal superphosphate used in this study, and superphosphate made in Western Australia at the time these experiments started. The other rock phosphate was Calciphos, the fertilizer produced by heating (calcining), at about 500 °C, Christmas Island C-grade ore, a calcium iron aluminium rock phosphate. There were two types of experiments. In the three Type 1 experiments, levels of each fertilizer were applied annually. In the two Type 2 experiments, levels of fertilizer were applied once only to new plots in different years. Coastal superphosphate was the most effective fertilizer in the Type 1 experiments, with both rock phosphates and single superphosphate being equally effective. All fertilizers were equally effective in the Type 2 experiments. There were large variations in fertiliser effectiveness values between yield measurements in the same or different years. It is known that P leaches from freshly-applied superphosphate in these soils. The extent of this leaching probably varies between yield measurements affecting effectiveness values determined for all fertilizers because the effectiveness values were calculated relative to the effectiveness of single superphosphate. The humic, sandy podzols remain wet during the growing season, are acidic, and are known from laboratory studies to possess adequate hydrogen ions to cause extensive dissolution of North Carolina rock phosphate so that rock phosphates are equally or more effective than single superphosphate in these soils. When elemental sulphur in coastal superphosphate is oxidized to SO₄ hydrogen ions are produced which in previous studies has been shown to enhance dissolution of rock phosphate in biosuper, a mixture of rock phosphate and elemental sulphur.     

The current and residual value of superphosphate,Christmas Island C-grade ore,and Calciphos as fertilizers for a subterranean clover pasture

The effectiveness in the year of application of three phosphorus fertilizers, superphosphate, Christmas Island C-grade ore, and 500°C calcined Christmas Island C-grade ore (Calciphos), was measured for 5 consecutive years in a field experiment on a lateritic soil. The residual value of the phosphorus fertilizers was also measured for 6 years. Dry matter production of subterranean clover-based pasture and bicarbonate extractable soil phosphorus were used as indicators of fertilizer effectiveness.Despite the use of very large amounts of C-grade ore and Calciphos, the plateau of the pasture yield versus fertilizer applied curve for these fertilizers did not reach the yield plateau achieved with superphosphate in either the short or long term.C-grade ore and Calciphos were 3% and 8% as effective as superphosphate for dry matter production in the year of application. Relative to superphosphate applied in the current year the effectiveness of superphosphate decreased by about 70% between the first and second year after application and decreased by a further 14% from year 3 to year 6. C-grade ore and Calciphos remained about 2% and 9% as effective as currently applied superphosphate each year.The residual value of superphosphate as measured by bicarbonate-extracted soil phosphorus decreased by about 60% from year 2 to year 7. The residual value of Calciphos was very low for year 2, doubled from year 2–4 and thereafter decreased gradually to its original value by year 7. The residual value of C-grade ore was extremely low throughout the experiment. Thus after year 2, compared to pasture yield, bicarbonate extracted soil phosphorus overestimated the residual value of superphosphate and calciphos.It follows that neither C-grade ore or Calciphos are suitable replacement fertilizers for superphosphate for use on pastures growing on lateritic soils in south-western Australia.     

The relative effectiveness of superphosphate and rock phosphate for soils where vertical and lateral leaching of phosphate occurs

Laboratory studies have shown that up to 70% reactive rock phosphate dissolves in three soil types found in the high rainfall (> 800 mm annual average) area of south-western Australia. Three field experiments were undertaken on these soils to compare reactive apatite rock phosphate from North Carolina (NCRP) with single superphosphate (SSP) as fertilizers for subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) pasture. Vertical leaching of phosphorus (P) occurs in one soil, a deep, very sandy, acid peaty sand. Lateral leaching of P occurs in the second soil, a shallow (3 cm) sand over a slowly permeable sandy clay loam. No leaching of P occurs in the third soil, a uniform, permeable red sandy loam with a moderate capacity to sorb P. All the soils remained moist to very wet for the 6 to 8 month growing season. Fertilizers were applied once only to different plots over a four-year period (1992 to 1995). Each year fertilizer effectiveness was determined relative to the effectiveness of freshly-applied (current) SSP using yield and P content of dried clover herbage and bicarbonate-soluble P extracted from the soil (soil test P) as indices of effectiveness.For the two P leaching soils, NCRP was less, equally, or more effective than current SSP in different years. This variation is attributed to the different extents of leaching of P from current SSP in different years which experienced different amounts of rainfall and associated leaching. For the non-P leaching soil, the effectiveness of current NCRP and the residual effectiveness of NCRP were from 5 to 80% the values for current SSP. When measured using soil test P, current NCRP and residual NCRP varied from 40% as effective, to equally or 30% more effective as current SSP at one site, but were about 20% as effective at the other two sites. For the two P leaching soils in some years, the residual value of RP was higher than that of current SSP, presumably due to the rapid leaching of water-soluble P from the SSP. As measured using yield, P content and soil test P, the relative effectiveness of SSP consistently decreased with increasing time from application; the decreases were much less obvious for NCRP.     

磷矿尾矿活化制备复合肥填充料的工艺条件研究

介绍了以磷尾矿粉为原料活化后制备复合肥填充料的工艺条件,通过正交实验对该工艺条件进行优化.实验结果表明,最佳的工艺条件为活化剂用量60 g,活化剂与增效剂配比1∶1.11,活化时间15 min,活化温度40℃,P2O5转化率为72.88％,有效P2O5质量分数为4.97％.产品添加5％的改良剂后与复合肥进行造粒,成球率＞70％,颗粒强度＞25 N.     

A comparison of seven soil P tests for plant species with different external P requirements grown on soils containing rock phosphate and superphosphate residues

Seven soil tests for phosphate (P) (Bray 1, Bray 2, Truog, ammonium oxalate, Colwell, iron oxide-strip (Pi) and resin-strip soil tests) were evaluated for predicting the yield of plant species which have very different external P requirements. Two acid, sandy soils that had been fertilized six years previously with superphosphate and three rock phosphates were used. A glasshouse pot experiment with lettuce, wheat and maize was used to calibrate the soil tests.For some soil P tests, different calibrations relating yield to soil P test values were required for each plant species, P fertilizer and soil combination. The Bray 2 and Truog soil P tests were the worst predictors of yield for both soils and all plant species. The Pi and ammonium oxalate tests were the most predictive tests for one soil when data for all fertilizers were considered. The Bray 1 and Colwell soil P tests were the most predictive for the other soil. The resin-strip P test was poorly predictive of yield of lettuce and wheat for both the soils. The accuracy in prediction of yield on the basis of P test value decreased in the sequence maize > wheat > lettuce. This rank is opposite to the increasing external P requirements of these species.     

Reactive rock phosphate fertilizers and soil testing for phosphorus: The effect of particle size of the rock phosphate

North Carolina rock phosphate (NCRP) (highly carbonate—substituted apatite) was ground to produce three samples with different particle size distributions. The effectiveness of these fertilizers was compared with the effectiveness of superphosphate in a field experiment and three glasshouse experiments using lateritic soils from south-western Australia. Non-reactive Queensland rock phosphate (low carbonate-substituted apatite from the Duchess deposit) was also used in the pot experiments. Bicarbonate-soluble phosphorus extracted from the soil is widely used in Western Australia to predict plant yields from previously-applied fertilizer dressings. For both field and pot experiments bicarbonate-extractable phosphorus (soil test value) was measured and related to subsequent plant yields.As calculated from the initial slope of the relationship between yield and the level of P applied, finely powdered NCRP was about 5–32% as effective as freshly-applied superphosphate in the year of application and also for two years after application in the field experiment, and for two successive crops in the three pot experiments. For both field and pot experiments, finely powdered NCRP, was at best, 1.5–2.0 times as effective as granular NCRP. Relative to freshly-applied superphosphate, the effectiveness of rock phosphates usually decreased with increasing level of application.For each of the crops in the field experiment, the relationships between yield and phosphorus content of plants (i.e. internal efficiency curves) were similar for all fertilizers. Thus the low effectiveness of the rock phosphates relative to superphosphate was solely due to much less phosphorus being taken up by plants. By contrast, in the pot experiments internal efficiency curves differed for different fertilizers. This is attributed to differences in the rate of phosphorus uptake by plant roots during the early stages of plant growth.For both field and pot experiments, soil test calibrations (the relationship between yield and soil test value) differed for rock phosphates and superphosphate. For superphosphate, soil test calibrations also differed for the three different years after the initial application of this fertilizer in the field experiment. For the second crop in the pot experiment, soil test calibrations differed for superphosphate applied at different times (before the first and the second crop). These results point out the difficulty of applying soil testing procedures to soils that have experienced different histories of fertilizer application.     

A comparison of five soil phosphorus tests for five crop species for soil previously fertilized with superphosphate and rock phosphate

The P_i, Colwell, Bray 1, calcium acetate lactate (CAL) and Truog phosphorus (P) soil test reagents were assessed in two field experiments on lateritic soils in Western Australia that had been fertilized four years previously (1984) with triple superphosphate, North Carolina rock phosphate, Queensland rock phosphate, and in one experiment, Calciphos. Soil samples to measure soil P test were collected February 1987. Soil P test was related to seed (grain) yields measured later in 1987. Different crop species were grown on different sections of the same plot at each site. The species were lupins (Lupinus angustifolius), barley (Hordeum vulgare) and oats (Avena sativa) at one site, and lupins, oats, triticale (×Triticosecale) and rapeseed (Brassica napus) at the other site. For each reagent, the soil P test calibration, which is the relationship between yield, expressed as a percentage of the maximum yield, and soil P test, generally differed for different plant species and for different fertilizer types. Variations in soil P test required to produce half the maximum yield of each species at each site was least for the CAL reagent followed by the Colwell reagent.     

The fertilizer effectiveness of calcined Christmas Island C-grade aluminium-iron phosphate rock and superphosphate during the early stages of plant growth

A glasshouse trial with wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Gamenya) in which harvests were taken at intervals up to 24 days has shown that the effectivness of calcined Christmas Island C-grade aluminium-iron phosphate rock (C500) relative to superphosphate remained low. Relative growth rates did not change despite a decrease in the concentration of bicarbonate extractable phosphorus in soil fertilized with superphosphate. Different numerical values of relative effectiveness based on plant yield and phosphorus uptake respectively may be attributed to different internal efficiencies of phosphorus use for the two fertilizers.     

Long-term field evaluation of phosphate rock and superphosphate use strategies in acid soils of Hungary: Two comparative field trials

The effect of two P-forms and the P fertilization system were studied in field trials set up on two moderately acidic Hungarian soils. Reactive Algerian rock phosphate and Kola superphosphate doses were based on the phosphorus equivalence. The experimental design makes it possible to compare the effect of annual 35 kg/ha P doses with initial one-time application of the 175 kg/ha P level in a five-year interval. Ammonium-lactate (AL)-, NaHCO₃ (Olsen)- and DW-P contents as well as Lakanen- Erviö (LE)- soluble Cd, Cr and Sr contents were also determined. The results of the first five-year period are reported in the paper. Responses to P fertilization were related to the original P supply of the soils. There was no significant difference between the two P forms and between the P fertilization systems on both grain yield and P-uptake. While AL- method overestimated, and Olsen-method – on the other hand – underestimated the P supply of reactive Algerian rock phosphate, distilled water (DW)-soluble P contents indicated the soil P status more accurately. Phosphorus balances were positive after the fifth year of the trials in the P treated plots. The soluble Cd and Cr contents did not increase in the Algerian rock phosphate treated plots. On the other hand, Kola superphosphate application at 175 kg/ha P level resulted in higher LE-Sr contents in soils. The Algerian rock phosphate is an economic alternative P source on the moderately or strongly acidic Hungarian soils.     

Agronomic effectiveness of partially acidulated rock phosphate and fused calcium-magnesium phosphate compared with superphosphate

The agronomic effectiveness of two partially acidulated rock phosphate (PARP) fertilizers, made from either North Carolina or Moroccan apatite rock phosphate, and a fused calcium-magnesium phosphate (thermal phosphate or TP), was compared with the effectiveness of superphosphate in two glasshouse experiments. A different lateritic soil from Western Australia was used for each experiment. Oats (Avena sativa) were grown in one experiment and triticale (×Triticosecale) in the other. Fertilizer effectiveness was measured using (i) yield of dried tops, (ii) P content (P concentration in tissue multiplied by yield) of dried tops, and (iii) bicarbonate-extractable soil P (soil test value).The following relationships differed for the different fertilizers: (i) yield of dried tops and P content in the dried tops; (ii) yield and soil test values. Consequently the fertilizer effectiveness values calculated using yield data differed from those calculated using P content or soil test data. Freshly-applied superphosphate was always the most effective fertilizer regardless of the method used to calculate fertilizer effectiveness values. For one of the soils, as calculated using yield data, relative to freshly-applied superphosphate, the PARP and TP fertilizers were 15 to 30% as effective for the first crop, and 20 to 50% as effective for the second crop. The second soil was more acidic, and for the first crop the PARP and TP fertilizers were 80 to 90% as effective as freshly-applied superphosphate, but all fertilizers were only 5 to 15% as effective for the second crop. For each soil, the two PARP fertilizers had similar fertilizer effectiveness values. Generally the TP fertilizer was more effective than the PARP fertilizers.     

Effectiveness of two partially acidulated rock phosphates,coastal superphosphate and Ecophos,compared with North Carolina reactive rock phosphate and superphosphate

The effectiveness of coastal superphosphate, a partially acidulated rock phosphate (PARP) made from apatite, and Ecophos, a PARP made from calcium iron aluminium (crandallite millisite) rock phosphate, was compared in pot experiments with the effectiveness of ordinary superphosphate (OSP) and North Carolina reactive apatite rock phosphate (NCRP). There were three experiments using different lateritic soils collected in Western Australia. Fertilizer effectiveness was measured using yield of dried wheat (Triticum aestivum) tops grown for 28 days. Three successive crops were grown. The phosphorous (P) fertilizers were applied and mixed with the soils before sowing the first crop. In addition, OSP was added to extra pots before sowing crops 2 and 3 in order to measure the effectiveness of the original P fertilizers relative to freshly-applied OSP for these crops.As measured using plant yield, coastal superphosphate was the most effective P fertilizer for three crops on an acidic peaty sand (pH water 5.0). Relative to freshly-applied OSP, it was 154% as effective for crop 1, 75% as effective for crop 2, and 36% as effective for crop 3. Corresponding values for Ecophos were 44, 29 and 19%, and for NCRP, 77, 67 and 29%, with the original OSP treatment being 61 and 56% as effective for crops 2 and 3. For three crops on a lateritic gravel loam (pH 6.5), both coastal superphosphate and OSP were the most effective fertilizers, and were equally effective for crop 1, and relative to freshly-applied OSP, were about 31% as effective for crop 2, and 16 and 21 % as effective for crop 3. Corresponding values for Ecophos were 47,15 and 11%, and NCRP, 33,15 and 5%. For two crops in a loamy sand (pH 5.4), OSP was the most effective fertilizer, and, relative to fresh OSP, it was 36% as effective for crop 2. Relative to fresh OSP, the effectiveness for crops 1 and 2 of coastal superphosphate was 57 and 18%, for Ecophos 71 and 27%, and for NCRP 50 and 36%.     

Studies on the effectiveness of various sulfur fertilizers under controlled conditions

Three factorial experiments with four replications were conducted in a greenhouse to examine the effectiveness of gypsum, elemental sulfur (ES powder) and three S containing N fertilizers, viz., ammonium sulfate (AS), urea + ES, and Ureas (20% AS and 80% urea). All experiments were conducted twice in different years.In the first experiment with uncropped soil, the effects of soil type, leaching rate (2.3 and 6.9 mm water per day) and urea addition on sulfate leaching losses were studied. Leaching losses decreased in the order Ureas > ammonium sulfate (AS) > gypsum urea + ES. Increasing the leaching rate greatly increased sulfate losses from both soils. Losses were greater in the sandy Typic Hapludoll than in the clayey Oxic Paleustalf. Sulfate adsorption was found to decrease strongly with rising the pH in both soils. Hydrolysis of urea temporarily raised the pH of the soil, thereby increasing the sulfate leaching losses.In the second experiment the effects of S rate (0–65 mg per kg soil), split application and leaching rate (0 and 2.3 mm per day) on sulfate leaching losses and apparent S recovery (ASR) by three successive cuts of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) were studied. Herbage yield more than doubled when S was applied. The effectiveness of the sulfate fertilizers was greater when S was split-applied than given all at once. With split applications the ASR decreased in the order: Ureas > AS > gypsum > urea + ES > ES powder. ES fertilizers were least effective, because the oxidation rate of ES to sulfate was clearly too slow.In the third experiment the effects of S rate (0–40 mg per kg soil) and split application on sulfate leaching losses and ASR in the grain of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were studied under leaching conditions (2.3 mm per day). Grain yield increased strongly due to S application. Split application greatly increased the effectiveness of the sulfate fertilizers and appeared to be an effective tool in satisfying the S need of the crop under leaching conditions. Again, ES fertilizers were least effective, because the oxidation rate of ES was too slow to meet the S demand of the crop.In all experiments leaching losses of sulfate from the ES fertilizers were smaller than from the sulfate fertilizers.     

The role of soil pH in the dissolution of phosphate rock fertilizers

The influence of soil pH on the dissolution of phosphate rock fertilizers was investigated in laboratory experiments with reactive North Carolina phosphate rock (PR) in a lateritic soil adjusted to several pH values. Increased soil pH resulted in decreased dissolution as estimated by the increase in exchangeable calcium (Ca) method. The extent of PR dissolution was related to soil pH by an equation of the form Log Ca = a–b pH, and it increased with contact period and rate of PR application. Increased plant available P, as estimated by NaHCO₃ soluble-P (BicP) was about one third of the P dissolved from PR. BicP was related to soil pH by an equation of the form Log Bic P = c–d pH. Dissolution of PR in soil can be considered as a simple chemical reaction between apatite and hydrogen ions supplied by soil constituents.     

Decreases in Colwell bicarbonate soil test P in the years after addition of superphosphate, and the residual value of superphosphate measured using plant yield and soil test P

Decreases in Colwell bicarbonate soil test P in the years after applying single (ordinary) superphosphate, and the residual value of superphosphate, was measured in a long-term field experiment on a duplex (texture contrast) soil (sand over lateritic ironstone gravel clay sand at 10–15 cm), at Wongan Hills, Western Australia, typical of many soils used to grow crops in Western Australia. Ten levels of P (0–91 kg P ha-1) were applied once only in late May to different plots in different years from 1988 to 1993. Wheat (Triticum aestivum), or lupin ( Lupinus angustifolius)) were sown in late May of each year, when the P treatments applied that year were banded (drilled) with the seed. Soil samples were collected each June to measure soil test P. Seed (grain) yields of the crops were measured each December. The residual value (RV) of P applied in previous years was calculated relative to P applied in the current year, using grain yields (RV_yield) and soil test P (RV_soil). Soil test P measured on soil samples collected in June was related to yields measured in December that year to provide soil P test calibrations. Relative to P applied in the current year, soil test P decreased by between 15 to 30% for P applied one year previously, by 25 to 30% for P applied three years previously, and by 60 to 70% for P applied six years previously. Soil test P was affected by spatial variation, and it also varied in the different years, for P applied in the current year, one year previously, two years previously, etc. Compared with P applied in the current year, mean RV_yield determined in the different years decreased by about 40% one year after P application, followed by a further 20% decrease for P applied two years previously, followed by a further 20% decrease for P applied three to five years previously. Relative to current P, RV_soil decreased by about 25% one year after P application, followed by a further 20% for P applied two years previously, followed by a further 10% for P applied three years ago, and followed by a further 6% for P applied four and five years ago. As measured in the different years, the soil P test calibration varied between years for P applied one, two etc. years previously. This was so even when the same cultivar of wheat was grown at the same site in different years.     

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.