Mobility, solubility and lability of fluid and granular forms of P fertiliser in calcareous and non-calcareous soils under laboratory conditions

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2005

Authors

Lombi, E.
McLaughlin, M.
Johnston, C.
Armstrong, R.
Holloway, R.

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Plant and Soil: international journal on plant-soil relationships, 2005; 269(1-2):25-34

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E. Lombi, M. J. McLaughlin, C. Johnston, R. D. Armstrong and R. E. Holloway

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Abstract

Despite a long history of application of phosphorus fertilisers, P deficiency is still a major limitation to crop production on calcareous soils. Recent field research conducted in highly calcareous soils in southern Australia has demonstrated that both grain yield and P uptake of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is greater when fluid forms of P are used compared to granular forms. To improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying this response to P in the field, we compared the lability, solubility and mobility of P applied as either a fluid (3 products) or granular (3 products) form to two calcareous and one alkaline non-calcareous soils in the laboratory. Over a five-week period, between 9.5 and 18 % of the P initially present in the fertiliser granules did not diffuse into the surrounding soil. The degree of granule dissolution was independent of the soil type. In contrast, P solubility, lability and diffusion were significantly greater when fluid products were applied to the calcareous soils, but not to the alkaline non-calcareous soil. These findings are discussed in relation to field trials results where fluid products outperformed granular fertilisers.

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The original publication can be found at www.springerlink.com

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