Evaluation of two unusual high analysis compounds as fertilizers,including possible slow release features

The fertilizer potential of two unusual N-P compounds with cage structures was evaluated in pot experiments where plants were repetitively cut over 400 days. One of the compounds, hexamethyl-hexaaza-tetraphosphaadamantane (APA), having 41.6% P and 28.2% N, showed high fertilizer capability. After more than 400 days, dry matter yield of Rhodes grass given APA was 83–102% of that given conventional N-P sources, and yield of Townsville stylo 60–70%. Curves for N and P uptakes over time were of sigmoidal form, with the steepest parts between days 40 and 120, suggesting a slow-release feature. However growth was depressed up to day 40, presumably by some toxic factor associated with the decomposition of the APA. This toxicity was avoided if some conventional fertilizer was applied with the APA.The other compound, the tetrasulphide of APA (APAS) had only limited fertilizer potential. Plants did absorb P and S at least from this compound, but Townsville stylo yield was only 32–38% of that with conventional fertilizers, and Rhodes grass yield not much greater than from control pots. The possible slow-release feature, and the toxic effect, did not occur with APAS.